National City CYAC hosts latest USA Amateur Boxing Show
The unsung heroes of the USA Amateur Boxing World, (l to r) Melanie Ley, Willie Kuhn, Rick Ley, Jeff Dotseth, Chris Reidel, Will White, Valerie Hernandez, Hondo Fontan and Doctor Farrell. Photo: Jim Wyatt
July 27, 2013
On Saturday, there was another packed house from San Diego’s warm and fuzzy boxing community to watch 20 of the area’s fiercest competitors go at it in the boxing ring and here are our results.
In Bout #1, it was 15 year-old Noel Diaz of the Pinzon Boxing Club (129.4 pounds) taking on 14 year-old Joseph Odnell of Art of Eight, San Diego (133.2 pounds).
Diaz’s strategy was simple, from the first round on he just kept his punches straighter and his opponent directly in front of him. He also took full advantage of Odnell every time he managed to back him up against the ropes.
At the conclusion of Bout #1, it was Noel Diaz (r) having his arm raised in victory by referee Will White after he defeated Joseph Odnell. Photo: Jim Wyatt
In Bout #2, it was 14 year-old Juan Miranda of the host gym, the National City CYAC (108 pounds) getting the best of 13 year-old Jason Meza of the Undisputed Fitness & Training Center, Downtown (107 pounds).
Miranda’s confidence, one year age difference, his ability to fight on the inside and his stamina proved to be too much for Meza who will return on another day.
At the conclusion of Bout #2, it was Juan Miranda (l) having his arm raised in victory by referee Will White after he defeated Jason Meza. Photo: Jim Wyatt
In Bout #3, it was 31 year-old George Cunanan of Art of Eight (144.2 pounds) taking on 20 year-old Joseph Torres of the Undisputed Fitness & Training Center, Downtown (139.2 pounds).
For the first two rounds Cunanan and Torres resembled sparring buddies with each taking their turn to deliver the two and three punch combinations. All was not settled until the tie breaking, third round when the more accurate and better conditioned Torres came out on top.
At the conclusion of Bout #3, it was Joseph Torres having his arm raised in victory by referee Will White after he defeated George Cunanan. Photo: Jim Wyatt
In Bout #4, it was 11 year-old Jonathan Rodriguez of United Boxing & Fitness Center (74.2 pounds) taking on 11 year-old Jabin Chollet from Barrio Station in San Diego (78 pounds).
Even though Rodriguez had his moments, for the majority of the bout, he was getting clobbered by Chollet who took advantage of his reach to land the power shots to the head.
At the conclusion of Bout #4, it was Jabin Chollet having the winner’s belt placed around his waste by referee Hondo Fontan after he defeated Jonathan Rodriguez (r). Photo: J. Wyatt
In Bout #5, it was 12 year-old Edwin Lozano of United Boxing (87 pounds) taking on 13 year-old Antonio Vazquez from Aztec Pride in El Campo, CA (90 pounds).
Since Vazquez is further along in his development, had and exploits his reach advantage, he looked spectacular with all the right moves. There were only a few times when Lozano got in a few good licks and one came just as the bell sounded to end their bout.
At the conclusion of Bout #5, it was Antonio Vazquez (bottom with family) coming away with the winner’s belt after defeating Edwin Lozano (top, right). Photo: Jim Wyatt
In Bout #6, it was 15 year-old Roberto Ocampo from ABC Mongoose, San Diego (124.6 pounds) taking on 15 year-old Bryan Pinzon of Pinzon Boxing (127 pounds). Both boxers went 100% and the exchanges were pretty much even with Ocampo taking Round #1 and Vazquez, the lefty, taking Round #2.
Then in the telltale third round, it was Pinzon landing the cleaner shots – especially to the head.
At the conclusion of Bout #6, it was Bryan Pinzon (l) having his arm raised in victory by referee Hondo Fontan after he defeated Roberto Ocampo. Photo: Jim Wyatt
In Bout #7, it was 24 year-old Ronald Lossin of City Boxing, San Diego Downtown (125 pounds) taking on 17 year-old Fabian Zarco of Barrio Station, San Diego (130.8 pounds).
Over the years, Lossin has perfected that Muhammad Ali strategy of circling around your opponent, staying out of range and shooting in and out to score points. Zarco, who had never been up against such a strategy, became frustrated. Still he kept pressing forward to cut off the ring and attack when ever possible, like the bull attacking the Matador.
Before long, Lossin began to slow down and Zarco went on the attack. When Zarco attacked, Lossin either held or pushed Zarco’s head down. Lossin’s continual fouling led to point deductions and ultimately disqualification.
At the conclusion of Bout #7, it was Fabian Zarco (l) having his arm raised in victory by ref Rick Ley after he defeated Ronald Lossin. (below, left) Lossin is joined by his coach Manny Melchor, a former minimum-weight world champion. Photo: Jim Wyatt
The much anticipated Bout #8 featured 29 year-old Simon Dalton (166.2 pounds) a well built, strapping youth from Dublin, Ireland. During his short two week stay in the U. S., he asked his coach, Joe Vargas from Undisputed Downtown, if he could find him a match.
Since 20 year-old Jose Ponce Gonsalez of United Boxing & Fitness in Chula Vista (161.4 pounds) is always up for a challenge, he accepted.
At the start of things, Gonsalez gave the taller, well built Mick all the space he needed and even went so far to let him throw some big power shots. Once he had Dalton figured out, Gonsalez advanced to smother his opponent and go to work banging away at his midsection.
At this point, the renown boxing trainer Peter Moreno took an interest and began to call out advice to the visitor from across the pond.
How does that saying go? “He is bad that will not take advice, but he is a thousand times worse that takes every advice.”
The formerly aggressive puncher started taking Moreno’s advice and hanging on every word. “Get away from the ropes and jab!” yelled Moreno.
When Dalton failed to respond, Moreno repeated, “I said Jab! Double Jab! Jab! Jab! Jab! Jab! And still, Dalton failed to respond. After a while, Moreno’s entreating shouts of “Jab! Jab! Please Jab! had become so melodious, the crowd started laughing.
When Dalton finally threw a jab, Moreno used irony to mock his delivery, “That a boy!” At this point, one of Moreno’s buddies called out to Dalton and Moreno told him to shut up. I guess you had to be there.
The southpaw, Ponce, finished the bout strong to score the emphatic victory.
Favorite Irish joke: “O’Hara was arrested and sent for trial for armed bank robbery. After due deliberation, the jury foreman stood up and announced, ‘Not guilty.’
‘That’s grand,’ shouted O’Hara, ‘Does that mean I get to keep the money?’”
At the conclusion of Bout #8, it was Jose Ponce Gonsalez (l) having his arm raised by referee Rick Ley after he defeated our visitor from Dublin, Ireland, Simon Dalton. Outside later, Dalton posed for a photo with well known trainer/promoter Joe Vargas of the Undisputed Fitness & Training Center Downtown. Vargas helped Dalton train for all of 2 weeks.
In Bout #9, it was 13 year-old Luis Lorenzo of Intensity MMA (133.6 pounds) taking on 14 year-old Christian Leon of Undisputed Fitness & Training Center, Downtown San Diego (131.6 pounds).
This was a case of one boxer being in the gym and the other being absent without leave. It showed in the power and timing of punches. It showed in which boxer had the necessary stamina. Leon had that edge. All he had to do was take that one step back and then unload with the cleaner punches, more quality than quantity.
At the conclusion of Bout #9, it was Christian Leon (l) having his arm raised in victory by referee Rick Ley after he defeated Luis Lorenzo. Photo: Jim Wyatt
In Bout #10, it was 29 year-old DavidReal of the Ocean Beach Athletic Club (158.8 pounds) taking on 19 year-old Ricardo Valdovinos from the National City CYAC (154.4 pounds).
After some nice early exchanges, it was Valdovinos landing the shots right down the pike. All that we can say about Real is – he showed a lot of courage just hanging in there. Eventually, referee Rick Ley stopped the action to issue Real an 8-count. The more seasoned Valdovinos won this one going away.
At the conclusion of Bout #10, it was Ricardo Valdovinos (l) having his arm raised in victory by referee Rick Ley after he defeated David Real. Photo: Jim Wyatt
