Same Ole, same ole, Bound Boxing hosts packed house, 12 exceptional bouts
After their performance at the latest Friday Night Fights on Broadway boxing show, coach Juan Medina Jr. was beaming with delight. All three of the host gym’s entrants, (l to r) Diego Luna, Julian Rojas and Gael Meza won their matches.
On Friday evening, the Bound Boxing Academy in Chula Vista delivered another great show with more than a few celebrity guests on hand and as you might expect another sell out crowd. Juan Medina Jr., the gym’s owner, wanted to pass along his congratulations to all participants and in-house kudos to the trio of Diego “Zorro” Luna, Julian “The Mexican” Rojas and Gael “El Desastre” Meza for their victories.
A total of 12 Boxing Clubs participated, from as far north as Vista, Calif., as far south as Ensenada, B. C., Mexico and as far East as El Centro, Calif.
Without further ado, here are the results:
In Bout #1, it was 18 year-old Kyle Erwin (138.8 pounds) of the Nevarez Boxing Team, Vista coming away with an unanimous decision victory over 18-year-old Isaac Alvarez (140.6 pounds) unattached. Even though the shorter, Tyson-like Erwin went nonstop looking for the knockout, the durable Alvarez, who was on the receiving end of three 8-counts, hung in there until referee Alberto Ramos finally called for an early stoppage.
On Friday evening at the Bound Boxing Academy it was Kyle Erwin (left) of the Nevarez Boxing Team, Vista and Isaac Alvarez (right), unattached, facing off in the opener of the “Friday Night Fights on Broadway” USA Amateur Show.
(bottom) The victorious Kyle Erwin has his arm raised in victory by referee Alberto “Cookie” Ramos after he defeat the challenger Isaac Alvarez (r). Photos: Jim Wyatt
Bout #2 featured 15 year-old Marco Trinidad (107.8 pounds) of Baja Boxing, Calexico, Calif. going up against 15 year-old Jose Chollet (110.2 pounds) from the National City CYAC. After both boxers came out firing in round one and had the crowd whooped up into a frenzy from the heated exchanges, rounds two and three seemed to fizzle as Trinidad dominated the remaining six minutes.
(bottom, right) In Bout #2, it was Marco Trinidad (l) of Baja Boxing coming away with the hard earned victory over Jose Chollet (r) of the National City CYAC.
Bout #3 featured 9-year-old Isaiah Bernal (83.6 pounds) from Romo’s Boxing of El Centro, Calif. taking on 9-year-old Antonio Padilla (79.2 pounds) of the Legacy Training Center, Vista, Calif. With Bernal able to maintain his balance and get inside to deliver the straighter punches, he eventually got the best of Padilla who was having trouble holding on to his mouthpiece.
(bottom) At the conclusion of Bout #3, it was Isaiah Bernal (l) of the Romo’s Boxing Team, El Centro, Calif. having his arm raised in victory by referee Will White after he defeated Antonio Padilla of the Legacy Training Center of Vista, Calif.
In Bout #4, it was 8 year-old Sergio Lopez (82.4 pounds) from Romo’s Boxing going up against 9-year-old Gael Meza (79 pounds) from the host gym, the Bound Boxing Academy. Lopez, another straight ahead, hard-nose brawler, found himself up against a stick and move boxer with quicker hands, plus an exploitable height and reach advantage. It was in round two, that referee Will White issued Lopez an 8-count after he got caught by one of Meza’s dandy uppercuts. It’s likely that development assured that Meza would come away with the victory.
In Bout #4, it was the boxer Gael Meza of Bound Boxing coming away with the victory over the straight ahead brawler Sergio Lopez of Romo’s Boxing.
Not to raise one bout to a higher level, but this Bout #5 was considered special in that it featured the much anticipated meeting of 14 year-old Viviana Nevarez (108 pounds) of the National City CYAC and 13 year-old Sara Segura (108 pounds) from Baja Boxing, two young ladies who had shown a lot of promise.
Round one went to the two-fisted Segura who landed her punches in bunches and likely confused Nevarez by often switching her dominate hand. In round two, their rivalry continued and the pace quickened as if their punches were bullets and the prize went to the first person who emptied their magazine clip. At the end of that fierce second round, the ladies touched gloves to show their mutual respect. With Segura landing the harder, head snapping blows, you had to figure she took the second stanza as well.
In round three there was still no letup. By this time, Nevarez seemed more relaxed as her confidence level had grown. Though she finished strong, the judges had Segura winning by a split decision.
One of the featured bouts of the evening – Bout #5 between Viviana Nevarez (red gloves) from the National City CYAC and Sara Segura (blue gloves) of Baja Boxing.
In the end, it was Sara Segura (r) of Baja Boxing earning the split decision victory over the game Viviana Nevarez. (bottom) We see Segura having her arm raised in victory by referee Hondo Fontan.
Bout #6, another hotly contested match, had 11 year-old Diego “Zorro” Luna (79.4 pounds) from the Bound Boxing Academy battling 11 year-old Raul Lau (82.2 pounds) from Baja Boxing. Even though Lau got off to a fast start, things quickly changed after Luna employed this strategy of pinning Lau against the ropes and then wailing away. When it came time to announce the winner, there was Lau, the warrior, with his head tilted back hoping to stem the flow of blood from his nose.
In Bout #6, Diego “Zorro” Luna (red gloves) seemed overtly aggressive. The way he was loading up, it appeared he wanted to take someone’s head off. (bottom, left) We see the point where Raul Lau’s nose had begun to bleed. Photos: Jim Wyatt
Not wanting to hold up the proceedings, we see the tough as nails Raul Lau (r) tilting his head back to prevent the blood from streaming down his face.
Intermission
During the show’s 15 minute intermission, the show’s announcer Edgar Sandoval had some of the VIPs in the audience come up into the ring to be acknowledged.
On hand to view the show were 2016 Olympic Trials Qualifiers (l to r) Genaro Gamez, Steve Nelson, Stalacia Leggett, Raquel Miller, Danyelle Wolf, and Junior Olympic Champions Andrea Medina and Jessica Juarez. Photo: J. Wyatt
(below, right) USA Amateur LBC 44 President Hondo Fontan (l) is joined by Elias Diaz (r) who will be taking part in the final 2016 Olympic Qualifier.
On hand to promote his next show in Tijuana to be held at the Salon Mezzanine on November 7, 2015 was former boxer, now promoter Saul Rios and co-promoter Lou Messina (far left), plus you had two of the combatants on that show Amaris Quintana and George Escalante. Also present, undefeated fighter Adrian Vargas (12-0-1) who is scheduled to face Ivan Zavala on the October 23rd Bobby D Presents show at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in the Kearny Mesa neighborhood of San Diego.
Bout #7 featured 16 year-old tough guy David Prado (137.6 pounds) from The Arena, Point Loma, San Diego going up against Rene Martinez (138.2 pounds) from Romos Boxing, El Centro. According to his coach, Martinez was making his Amateur debut after only training for a total of six months and only one month with Coach Romo.
From the outset, both boxers shelved any thoughts of defense and went straight away to land that one big, wham, knockout blow. The bloody noses soon followed. Though difficult, the judges monitoring the heavy blows had Martinez winning the first two rounds and Prado taking the third round.
At the conclusion of bout #7, Rene Martinez (r) had his arm raised in victory after defeating the always tough David Prado (l).
Extremely proud of the performance of his young boxer, Coach Juan Romo just had to have a snapshot of his boxer winning in his debut. Photo: Jim Wyatt
In Bout #8, it was 15 year-old Diego DeMara (120.6 pounds) from Baja Boxing going up against 16 year-old Brandon Cruz (123.8 pounds) from The Pride of San Diego, Bonita, Calif.
In the early rounds, Cruz had the bout on cruise control. He was far too slick for DeMara who after throwing a wild punch would get hit by Cruz’s counters. All told, DeMara probably landed around eight solid blows, and these came each time Cruz got sloppy and had his hands down.
In Bout #8, Brandon Cruz (r) of The Pride of San Diego gym, Bonita, Calif. used his reach and height advantage to perfection against the shorter Diego DeMara of Baja Boxing. (below, left) Cruz gets some instructions from his coach Rafael Ramirez.
Between rounds Demara (r) received instructions from his coach, Raul Lau who mentioned to be ready and take full advantage when Cruz drops his hands.
In the end it was Brandon Cruz (bottom, right) having his arm raised in victory by veteran referee Alberto Ramos after he defeated the game Diego DeMara (left).
Bout #9 featured two slick boxers with a ton of experience, 16 year-old Ivan Guardado (122.6 pounds), who trains at his father’s gym in Ensenada, B. C., Mexico, going up against 16 year-old Jason Meza (128 pounds) who trains with his father and Joe Vargas at The Arena gym in Point Loma, San Diego, Calif.
In the hotly contested first and second rounds, each boxer pulled out all the stops – doubling up on the jabs, moving right then left, hitting and then quickly tying up their opponent. It’s likely the judges had Meza ahead since he was masterful, throwing and landing the heavier blows.
In the final round, Guardado, with his indomitable pride, finished strong and likely won the final round despite the fact he was issued a standing 8-count.
In Bout #9, referee Will White had his hands full dealing with all the chicanery, all of the holding, all of the trickery employed by the veteran pugilists Ivan Guardado and Jason Meza. (bottom, right) White issues Guardado a standing 8-count.
(bottom, right) After three grueling rounds we see pro boxer Amaris Quintana draping the championship belt over the shoulder of the winner Jason Meza.
Bout #10 featured 28 year-old, Hector Gomez (165 pounds) from The Pride of San Diego, Bonita, Calif. going up against 29 year-old Brandon Garcia (157 pounds) from The Arena, Point Loma.
After several heated exchanges in round one, Garcia was issued a standing 8-count. Gomez then pinned Garcia against the ropes and clubbed him using this, what some might call a one of a kind punching style.
In round two, Garcia came back strong and started using the perfect strategy of tagging Gomez and then moving quickly to either side to get out of his line of fire. “Boom, boom, move,” yelled one of his coaches. Gomez, the big guy was suddenly falling behind and even lost his mouthpiece twice. Garcia had evened things up.
In the final round, back came the sleeping giant, and once again Gomez began to pound Garcia until the ref called for a standing 8-count. In the closing seconds of this seesaw battle, the boxers were so tired they just stood there, with their hands down at their side, staring across at each other. Gomez, the declared winner, and his exhausted opponent had given everything they had.
Bout #10 featured 28 year-old Hector Gomez (red trunks) from The Pride of San Diego going up against Brandon Garcia (blue trunks) from The Arena.
At the conclusion of his battle royale with Brandon Garcia (r) in Bout #10, the victorious Hector Gomez had his arm raised in victory by referee Will White.
Bout #11 had 13 year-old Julian “The Mexican” Rojas of Bound Boxing (85.2 pounds) going up against 12 year-old Xavion Douglas (88 pounds) from the Nevarez Boxing Gym, Vista, Calif.
Taking advantage of his reach advantage, Rojas slowly but surely proved to be more effective and started building a sizable lead in the punch stats. To his credit Douglas never backed up and fought to the bitter end.
Bout #11 featured the return to the ring of Xavion Douglas (l) of the Nevarez Boxing Team who had his hands full facing the quick hands, fast feet of Julian Rojas (r).
At the conclusion of Bout #11, it was Julian “The Mexican” Rojas having his arm raised in victory by referee Hondo Fontan.
Bout #12 was another crowd pleaser. The 14 year-old Adam Palma (105 pounds) from Golden Hands Boxing, Chula Vista, a known TKO-artist, was facing 13 year-old Jose Briseno from Baja Boxing (106.4 pounds). Even though Palma was destroying his opponent with these left-hands to the face and midsection, the gutty Briseno somehow pressed on and never failed to answer the bell.
Bout #12 featured the Adam Palma (red gloves) beat down of Jose Briseno (blue).
(bottom) At the conclusion of Bout #12, we see referee Hondo Fontan raising the arm of the victorious Adam Palma.
At the conclusion of the final bout, some of the youngsters in the crowd came up into the ring and put on their on boxing exhibition. Look closely at the sequence of photos. It says a lot about their future aspirations. The youngster wearing the boxing gloves dropped down on the canvas to show us how many push-ups he could do. In the following photo we see the tallest youngster raise his arms in victory while the others begin to circle the ring.
(photo, bottom) The little girl asked the smallest boy: “Why is that boy sticking his tongue out at you?” In response the little boy imitated the boy on the stool and stuck his tongue out even further. Surprised by the copy-cat, the boy on the stool became spellbound. The taller boy, in a world of his own, kept demonstrating the various ways boxers celebrate their victory.
In our final photo, our Princess poses for the camera, the littlest still has his tongue out and the other boys are just happy to be a part of the festivities. The various reactions are priceless.
Like the presentation at the Bound Boxing Academy, the next USA Amateur show should also be a doozy. It’s scheduled to take place on the following Saturday, October 24, 2015 at the House of Boxing on Reo Drive in Paradise Hills. Like the Bound Boxing Academy, the House of Boxing has a reputation for being meticulous in their match-ups so the fans get to see competitive bouts and as a consequence the fun to watch bouts.
