Marines dethrone Army to win Armed Forces Boxing Championship
The final match of the evening was this battle between Army Sergeant Marvin Carey (yellow trunks) and Sergeant Dejesus Gardner (red trunks) for three team points. The match proved to be the pivotal bout to decide which team would lay claim to being the 2012 All Armed Forces Boxing Team Champions. Photo: J. Wyatt
After a reign of 20 years, Friday evening, February 3, 2012, the U. S. Marine Corps Boxing Team knocked the U. S. Army Boxing Team off their mighty perch. “A day that will live in infamy,” said one disappointed soldier.
In Bout #1, Airman First Class Kenneth DeJesus Cruz defeated Army Sergeant Charles Williams. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Before the start of the final bout at tonight’s All Armed Forces Boxing Championships being held at the Paige Fieldhouse on Camp Pendleton’s Mainside in Oceanside, CA, the U. S. Marine Corps Boxing Team had 10 points. Their closest rival, the U. S. Army Boxing Team, had eight. This meant the final match between Army Sergeant Marvin Carey and Marine Sergeant Dejesus Gardner, with its valuable three points, would decide which team became this year’s All Armed Forces Boxing Team Champions.
The deciding bout almost ended before it got started. In round one, Carey caught Gardner with a beauty of an overhand right to give Gardner a shiner (a black eye or good size mouse) right above the left eye. This mouse swelled to the point where Gardner had restricted vision. The referee called for an immediate stoppage to have the fight doctor look at the swelling. After the fight doctor gave his okay, the audience, the majority being Marine Corps partisans, cheered.
The crowd’s fervor escalated as the contest became one of these back and forth struggles of will. In the third round Gardner and Carey traded their best punches of the bout. In the final 20 seconds of the fight, Gardner managed to edge out his opponent by the slimmest of margins, a 14-13 win.
After the bout Gardner spoke of his hotly contested bout, “I told my daughter that daddy would bring her a gold medal, and daddy doesn’t break promises.”
The other pivotal matches which turned the tide in the Marine Corps’ favor: In a rematch from 2011′s Championships, Marine Corporal Tommy Roque redeemed himself against Army Sergeant Toribio Ramirez, pummeling his way to a 35-19 win. Roque was masterful as he put on a boxing clinic.
Then came Marine Lance Corporal Johnathan Steel’s win over the Navy’s AD2 Carlos Moore. In that match Moore, who is an outstanding puncher, brawler, slipped on the apron and badly sprained his ankle. The injury, which limited his movement, forced him into early retirement.
The third crucial match had Marine Sergeant Jamel Herring defending his 2011 Armed Forces title against Senior Airman Adam Hassan of the Air Force. The defending National Champion banged his way to a one-sided 19-5 victory in the 141lb. weight class. His victory was more or less expected.
The Marines also received help from both the Navy’s IT2 Nicole Saunders who defeated Army SPC Dianeya Nodarse in Bout #5 and the victory by 2011 Pal Champion, SRA Kent Brinson of the U. S. Air Force who literally stood toe to toe to beat Army Sergeant Charles Blackwell.
Since there's no one on the planet that can beat Sergeant Jamel Herring (L), so says the humble pugilist, his victory by unanimous decision over Air Force Senior Airman Adan Hassan in Bout #3 was never in doubt. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Army Specialist Steven Nelson (R) easily defeated Lance Corporal James Morrow (L) 20-2 in Bout #7. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Navy IT2 Nicole Saunders (L) would not let up in her nonstop battle with Army SPC Dianeya Nodarse (R). As a result, she was awarded the much deserved victory. Photo: Jim Wyatt
In Bout #2, Marine Corporal Tommy Roque (R) won a hard fought battle against Army Sergeant Toribio Ramirez (L). Photo: Jim Wyatt
Air Force SRA Kent Brinson (L) came out on top after his opponent Sgt. Charles Blackwell (R) was penalized two points for a low blow. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Staying on your feet with Sergeant Charles Blackwell (R) throwing punches like this became quite a chore for SRA Kent Brinson (L) of the Air Force. Photo: Jim Wyatt
As mentioned, the bout between Navy AD2 Carlos Moore (L) and Marine Lance Corporal Johnathon Steel (R) was crucial. After a hard fought, even first round, Moore lost his footing when backing up against the ropes. The slip hurt his ankle and he couldn't continue. Photo: Jim Wyatt
At the end of the tournament, the winning Marine Corps Boxing team gathered inside the ropes for a photo session. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Lance Cpl Felix Magallanez (R) lost to the very tough PV2 Marquis Moore (L) in Bout #5. Magallanez's corner threw in the towel at the finish of round #2 after deciding their fighter was taking too much punishment. Photo: J.Wyatt
