Results from the 2nd Annual National City Amateur Boxing Championships
After winning bout #6, Antonio Moreno is joined in the ring by professional boxer Antonio Orozco who's from the very same gym.
Another very entertaining USA Amateur Boxing Show is in the books. This time around, the National City Community Youth Athletic Center, CYAC, was the host. As always, the 30 boxers who participated gave their all, the food was delicious, the music top notch and the host gym did everything they could to make the capacity crowd happy.
Before the proceedings began the robust crowd was asked to observe a moment of silence to honor Felix Castro, who died suddenly last week. The revered professional boxer, a two time Mexican National Jr. Olympics Heavyweight Champion, was only 18 years old and a senior at Southwest High School in San Ysidro, Ca.
Ms. Lindsay, the president of the local USA Amateur Boxing chapter, herself a victim of a similar heartbreak, sounded the 10 count to honor the young boxer. Her son, Byron Lindsay, died in a plane crash on his way to a USA Boxing Team event to represent the U.S. in amateur boxing.
First seven bouts:
The winner of Bout#1, Moises Ponce (left), poses for a photo with his opponent, Jaciel Ordaz (right) and the trophy presenter, Officer Adria Gonzalez (rear), herself a boxer, who competes in the yearly Battle of the Badges competition.
Bout #1 featured Jaciel Ordaz of the Pacific Coast Boxing Club in Vista, Ca. going up against Moises Ponce of the host gym. At the outset Ordaz moved well and used his height advantage to land the stiff jab. In the end, it was Ponce’s game plan that prevailed. Eventually Ponce got himself inside that longer reach and was able to gain the upper hand with his short right and left combinations.
Bout #2 featured junior flyweights, Abdullah Nematjanov of Old School Boxing in San Diego going up against David Gonzalez of the Temecula Boxing Club. Gonzalez took but a few seconds to gain his bearing and then he was all over Nematjanov. It didn’t take long before one standing eight count was issued, followed by a second. After Nematjanov survived the first round, Gonzalez was right back dishing out the same punishment in Round 2. After two additional standing eight counts, referee Will White called for an early stoppage.
David Gonzalez (right) of the Temecula Boxing Club has his arm raised in victory by referee Will White after defeating Abdullah Nematjanov (left) of Old School Boxing. Photo credit: Jim Wyatt
Middleweights, Giovanni Rivera from Long Island, New York, a member of the Marine Corps boxing team on Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, Ca., faced Manuel Vasquez of the Chula Vista Boxing Club in Bout #3. The difference in this match-up was technique. Vasquez had it and Rivera didn’t.
Combatants in Bout #3, the winner, Manuel Vasquez of the Chula Vista Boxing Club (right) and Giovanni Rivera (left) of the U. S. Marine Corps Boxing team await the judges verdict with referee Lein Shoemake. Photo credit: Jim Wyatt
Even though Rivera was the aggressor throughout much of the bout, his punches lacked the necessary follow-through. Vasquez on the other hand had more pop in his punches. The bout was stopped momentarily in the second round after Rivera’s nose began to bleed. As the bout continued Vasquez became even busier and landed two devastating uppercuts resulting in another stoppage and an eight count.
Every so often Carlos Barragan Jr., the CYAC director and show’s announcer, amused the crowd with a funny line or in this case he issued a warning prior to Bout #4. His message, “Please everyone find a seat, because this next match promises to be a dandy. Make sure all the women and children are safe.”
It was one of those hold on to your hats speeches and the boxers didn’t disappoint. Anthony Quinones of the Chula Vista Boxing Club and Echo Ibraheimj of the Undisputed Fitness & Training Center of El Cajon went nonstop.
One of the featured bouts of the day involved Echo Ibrahimj (right) and Anthony Quinones (left).
Ibraheimj, the more experienced of the two, began to dominate the contest with the sheer power behind each punch. While trading blows at the same pace, Quinones was caught several times flush as he was backing up. The big difference in the bout was the fact that Ibraheimj’s feet were always grounded while his Quinones bounced up and down more.
Bout #5 featured 13 year old Elias Garcia of the Chula Vista Boxing Club facing 12 year old Corey Snyder of City Boxing, Downtown. Like a little bull, Garcia showed his big heart and kept the pressure on, staying inside Snyder’s reach advantage. Neither boxer slowed down until the final bell sounded. Garcia was awarded the decision for being the busier and more accurate of the two.
Corey Snyder (right) of City Boxing had his hands full with the tenacious Elias Garcia (left) of Chula Vista Boxing.
Bout #6 featured two polished featherweights, Ryan Soliven of Archie Moore’s Mongoose Boxing Club on Market Street in San Diego versus Antonio Moreno of CYAC. Both put on quite a clinic.
Referee Will White raises Antonio Moreno's arm after he defeated the very tough Ryan Soliven (left) of the Mongoose Gym. Photo credit: Jim Wyatt
Moreno won the close contest by being more accurate, better centered. He kept surprising Soliven with the looping left and several big overhand rights. Seconds before the bell sounded to end round two, a combination of blows caused the referee to call for an eight count.
Bout #7 featured featherweights Ronald Locsin of City Boxing versus Marty Kelley of the USIAA Boxing Team.
Back on May 8th of this year, when Kelley had but four months of instruction, he got in the Pacific Coast Boxing ring for the first taste of USA Amateur Boxing. His improvement since that time- remarkable.
Awaiting the judges' decision, ref Rick Ley holds the wrists of Marty Kelley (right) and the eventual winner, Ronald Locsin.
Although they still have him listed as a novice, Kelley looked anything but. Each time he unloaded, the punches were in precise combinations and he easily took the first round. In the second and third rounds, Kelley was tested more and Locsin became the slicker of the two. He most likely won rounds two and three by being busier and more accurate.
Intermission: Results from the second half bouts to follow
