HARVEST-  “I’ve put myself through some of the hardest and painful training and I’m still here standing stronger than ever.” That’s how Obed Bartee described his latest preparations prior to making the trip to Belgrade, Serbia as a member of Team USA at the 2021 Elite Men’s World Boxing Championships.

The 19-year old from Harvest and former student at Sparkman High was selected to fight in the 156-pound light middleweight division. The boxing organization reintroduced some weight classes in August and Bartee was asked to drop in weight class to help overall Team USA. He obliged the request and soon began to lose weight from his usual 165-pound division competition.

Bartee cut out most sugar from his diet, ate few carbs and had a usual main course of chicken and vegetables. He attacked the weight loss while at home with his parents Obed and Syria Bartee. Returning to his training home-base of the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., he went through an extensive month-long training camp. He also competed in the National Golden Gloves in the 165-pound division. He had five bouts in all and lost in the finals of the event held in Tulsa, Ok.

The six-foot tall boxer finished third at the 2020 USA Boxing Elite National Championships and earlier in the year served as a training partner for Team USA leading into the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

“I’m more than thankful for everyone that helped me and gave me a push throughout this whole process and I love all of my supporters,” said Bartee. “This was an amazing training camp and I was able to bond and spend time with some of the greatest people in the world. It has been a long journey and many times I felt like quitting and folding under pressure. It’s my time to show the world why I was selected and why I am a world championship contender.”

The Elite Men’s World Boxing Championships will be held through Nov. 6 and is the first major international competition since the Olympic Games. Over 110 countries and 600 athletes are involved.