most prized names.

Troy Darrell, who entered the ring more than 80 times in a 13-year amateur and professional career, has been away from the sport since his retirement in 1991.

All it took was one phone call from his old friend and manager, Allan (Forty) Rego, to bring him back. Since last November, Darrell has been lending insight into both boxing and life at Rego's makeshift gym, carved out of the garage beside his Warwick home.

"Me and Forty have a great relationship,'' said Darrell. "I've talked about (starting a club), a lot of people have talked about it. It's needed.'' Rego, however, is the only one to do it since the sport's demise following Quinn Paynter's appearance in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

For Rego, Darrell's presence "gives someone the kids can look up to.'' For Darrell, it's a blast from the past.

"It was a great experience,'' Darrell says of his career. "It allowed me to develop character, meet different people and gave me a chance to travel.'' "Where I grew up, in the back of town, it was pretty hard. A lot of people got into mischief but boxing helped me a lot. It helped me see the world.'' At 36, Darrell still maintains his fighting weight and looks like he could go 15 rounds. Of course, he's taken up martial arts (when not working at Sealand Construction) and currently holds a brown belt in karate.

Boxing, though, is his first love. He still follows it and watches it on television whenever possible. Just like Bermudians used to follow his career and cram into his fights as he battled for the world welterweight through super middleweight belts.

After going 48-6 as an amateur, Darrell turned pro and with Rego guiding his way, punched his way to a 26-3 mark with 22 knockouts.

To hear many observers tell it, those losses could have easily been reversed.

Darrell suffered close decisions at the hands of former US gold medallist and middleweight champion Frank Tate, former number one contender Michael Olajide and to Randall Yonkers at BAA Gym seven years ago.

It was after that fight that Darrell quit the boxing game without ever being knocked out.

Injuries, however, got the better of him. Fluid build-up under his left eye forced him to undergo surgery and sore hands from his fearsome punching power prompted him to quits.