Barbadian professional boxer Cobia ‘The Soldier’ Breedy wants to see a lot more support being thrown behind athletes that continue to put the island on the map and bring recognition on the international stage.
The 28-year-old wrote his name in the annals of Barbados’ boxing last Saturday when he became the first Barbadian boxer to feature on Showtime television in a World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight title eliminator bout.
During a telephone interview with Barbados TODAY, Breedy who fought extremely well during the 12 round showdown against world number two featherweight Tugstsogt ‘King Tug’ Nyambayar, but lost on a split decision is calling for athletes like himself to be better promoted in Barbados. Breedy won five of the 12 rounds in the 115 to 111 points split.
Based in Clinton, Washington, DC, Breedy has urged the powers that be not to wait until the athletes do well or make it to the top for Barbados then to offer or provide assistance. The time for upliftment he said was now.
“I need to be promoted back home, they need to put my picture up, I am not asking for too much. I gave people hope that night (Saturday) because I got up and I fought. Every time I look on the news back home somebody getting shot, getting killed, people need hope.
“Sports need to be the number one priority to give kids hope. If you don’t give kids hope they are not going to want to do sports and then they will go find themselves in trouble and find themselves in the streets,” Breedy said.
He added: “We have to do better and support our own. Don’t support us when we are at the top. What if I was to win a World title belt next month? You have to do it now, build us up. People saw me fighting on national Showtime television and they were like that’s Cobia Breedy from Barbados. All I am asking for is support. I am doing big things over here and I need the government, Rihanna, everybody to back me. That’s all I’m asking for.”
Originally from Kendall Hill, Christ Church and a past student of Princess Margaret Secondary School, Breedy left Barbados with a dream of one day becoming a world champion and six years on he is on his way.
Gauging from his performance against two-time Olympian Nyambayar a few days ago, he is well on his way to fulfilling his desire. His track record is 15 wins, with five knockouts, and five losses. Breedy, who weighs 126 pounds, is coached by Floyd Seymour and Barry Hunter
So good was Breedy – ranked 25th among world featherweights i- n the ring last Saturday that had he won, it would have positioned him for a title fight in the next couple months. In the opening round Breedy got dropped but like a true warrior got back up and fought all the way
He is extremely confident in delivering a world title someday soon. He also insists that if locally the Barbados Boxing Association, government and all stakeholders work together, Barbados could produce champions in all disciplines.
“I will get a belt and I will be a world champ and I will always represent Barbados because I love my country and I am a hundred percent Bajan, no matter what,” he said.
Breedy also believes he has a lot to give back and would love the opportunity to do so. He added: “I want to come home and give back. But I also need my government’s support and I want to speak to the kids in schools. I want to give people hope. People need to know about me leaving Barbados, coming to America and following my boxing dream to become a world champion.
“I fought on television where the odds were against me. Nobody thought I was going to give this dude problems. I was the underdog and I did that, I lost the fight but I won the fans and I became a television-friendly person. This is not going to be the end, I am going to be back on television very soon.”
morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb
