Amateur boxers Sharieff Wales and Trace Easton have both slugged their way into the finals of the 2003 Caribbean Amateur Boxing Association Championships currently underway in Nassau, Bahamas.

Another of the Island's promising future prospects, Chanjiv Simmons, was due to fight in his opening bout last night.

Bermuda's Andre Bean, meanwhile, forfeited his opening fight against Barbados' Ricardo Worrel after lasting only two rounds. Bean - contending with a severe cough - tossed out the white flag early in the third round after complaining of shortness of breath.

However, not even the presence of nagging coughs could stop Wales and Easton as the local pair recorded convincing wins en route to tomorrow night's final.

Easton went the entire distance before being awarded a points decision over an opponent from Aruba in the middleweight division, while, in punishing fashion, Wales floored his rival - also from Aruba - in the second round in the super-heavyweight division.

Wales' opponent simply refused to come out of his corner for the third round and the Bermudian won via a technical knockout.

"We have had a very strong showing here in Bahamas so far," said the local quartet's coach Chuck Renaud from Barbados yesterday.

"I think that the Island will be very proud of us when we get back home.

"The competition is extremely tough and the fights are all world class."

Despite being stricken by colds, Renaud said the local boxers were coping fine.

"It's just something that we have to get over," he added. "And I think that they are trying very hard to do just that.

"If Chanjiv gets through to the final tonight (last night) then we will be looking real good. But the overall morale in the camp is beautiful."

Also accompanying the young local boxers in the Caribbean are Bermuda Amateur Boxing Association president James Marina, coach Angelo (Forty) Rego, team physician Angela Marini and local boxing referees Anthony Mouchete and Leon Raynor.

Equally pleased by the team's success thus far was Marina.

"We are very ecstatic to be in the finals and I really hope that we can bring some gold (medals) back home," said the senior official.

Both Wales and Bean fight out of Police Gym, Easton out of Controversy Gym, while Simmons trains under the watchful eye of renowned local boxing promoter Rego.

A total of 17 countries from the Caribbean are competing in this year's event and the Bermuda contingent are due to arrive back on Tuesday.