USA Amateur Boxing Show results from Escondido Sports and Fitness Center

Antonio Gillen (l) of the Alliance Training Center and Jose Vigil (r) of North County Boxing, combatants in Bout #1, await the decision of the judges with referee Rick Ley.

Bout #1 featured lightweights, 20 year-old Jose Vigil of North County Boxing and 27 year-old southpaw Antonio Gillen of the Alliance Training Center in Chula Vista. With his current skill level being so high, you could see Vigil was experimenting at times with different strategies, feints, head fakes and deliveries. His technique involved using short right crosses and right hooks with an occasional big over hand right; he’d then quickly moved away from Gillen’s power punch. Although Gillen was right there till the bitter end, there was no doubt Vigil got the best of their heated exchanges.

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Edgar Garcia (l) of La Gente Boxing has his arm raised in victory by referee Rick Ley after he defeated Jonathan Espino (r) of North County Boxing. Photo: Jim Wyatt

Bout #2 featured super welterweights 21 year-old Edgar Garcia of La Gente and 20 year-old Jonathan Espino of North County Boxing. From the outset the two brawlers were throwing the types of punches that put holes in your wall. In round one, Espino dominated by landing the majority of the blows. After catching Garcia flush with a left hook, down he went. It wasn’t long before he caught him again and he went down for a second time. Spectators were expecting a stoppage at any time.

The two knockdowns and overwhelming lead in punches landed had Espino way ahead on the scorecards. Then, as if out of some Hollywood underdog movie, Garcia caught Espino flush on the chin and down he went. Referee Rick Ley was quick to react when he saw the glassy eyed expression on Espino’s face. Onlookers were amazed by the turnaround.

 

 

Idris "Prince Tiger" Smalls (r) and Anthony Quinones (l) along with referee Rick Ley await the announcement of the judges scores after the finish of Bout #3. Photo: Jim Wyatt

Bout #3 featured lightweights 19 year-old Idris “Prince Tiger” Smalls of the San Diego Combat Academy and 18 year-old Anthony Quinones of the Chula Vista Boxing Club. From the start, this bout was all Smalls with his head snapping jab, jab, jab, then jab, jab, surprise overhand right and constant movement. Quinones could not overcome his speed and reach advantage and like Smokin’ Joe Frazier, he became noticeably frustrated as he chased after the taller Mohammad Ali like sharpshooter.

 

 

 

 

 

Ivan Pineda (l) and Mohammad Fakhreddine (r) along with referee Rick Ley await the announcement of the judges decision for Bout #4.

Bout #4 featured heavyweights 26 year-old Mohammad “Mo” Fakhreddine of Old School Boxing and 28 year-old Ivan Pineda of the San Diego Combat Academy. From the start this was one of those bouts with little defense and a lot of head pounding. Standing toe to toe, Fakhreddine was the more accurate of the two and started to pull away on the punch stats.

Then came a low blow that the referee didn’t see. When it occurred, Fakhreddine, pinned in the neutral corner, immediately dropped his hands and grimaced with pain. Pineda moved in and started using Fakhreddine’s head as a punching bag. How Fakhreddine was able to withstand such puunishment is a testament to his toughness.

With a pained expression, Fakhreddine started to slide down to take a knee. After the referee checked with the judges, it was determined Pineda did indeed hit Fakhreddine in the groin area and he was given the proper time to recover. After recovering, Fakhreddine went right back to out pointing Pineda in their slugfest.

After defeating Mario Cuin (l) in Bout #5, Alfredo Rodriguez (r) has his arm raised in victory by referee Rick Ley. Photo: Jim Wyatt

Bout #5 featured featherweights 18 year-old Alfredo Rodriguez of the Alliance Training Center in Chula Vista and 17 year-old Mario Cuin of Temecula Boxing, two advanced boxers. Neither flinched as they stood eyeball to eyeball. In the end it was Rodriguez who landed the most blows while doing a better job of slipping Cuin’s punches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 2, 2011, four year-old Jose Arreola entertains the crowd at the USA Amateur Boxing Show at the Escondido Sports and Fitness Center. Photo: J. Wyatt

At intermission, the people of Escondido Sports and Fitness Center added a new wrinkle to their boxing show, half-time entertainment. After three young ladies performed a breakdancing routine, four year-old Jose Arreola and then his seven year-old brother, Miguel, gave us their rendition of four of Mexico’s most popular songs. Jose’s delivery of the Ritchie Valens’ hit La Bamba was the show stopper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elias Diaz has his arm raised in victory by referee Rick Ley after he defeated Joseph Rios (r) in Bout #6. Photo: Jim Wyatt

Bout #6 featured featherweights 17 year-old Elias Diaz of Barrio Station and 16 year-old southpaw Joseph Rios of Real Deal in Hemet. From the outset, it appeared Rios’ style frustrated Diaz and he landed more blows to take round one. After Diaz received some pointers from his corner, the proper adjustments were made. Diaz then won rounds two and three by landing the overhand right in greater numbers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bruce Ntwari (r), referee Rick Ley (c) and Sergio Valencia (l) await the judges decision for Bout #7. Photo: Jim Wyatt

Bout #7 featured featherweights 24 year-old Bruce Ntwari of Chula Vista Boxing by way of the Republic of Burundi and 17 year-old Sergio Valencia of Escondido Sports and Fitness. Ntwari, with his height and reach advantage clearly took round one by doing a better job of countering and landing more of the clean shots in this fierce exchange. But since Mr. Valencia was relentless, that advantage soon flip-flopped in rounds two and three. With Ntwari on the run and trying to duck under each encounter, Valencia started gaining his points by working over the midsection.

Round three was the most exciting round and as expected the short brawler, Valencia, finally caught up to the fleeing race horse. The problem for Valencia was each time he’d corner Ntwari, he’d quickly grab and hold him. Eventually, the grabbing became so repetitive that a point was awarded to Valencia.

When they announced Ntwari had won the bout, I looked around the room and saw the surprised expressions on most everyone’s face.

Giovanni Ortiz (r) has his arm raised in victory by referee Rick Ley after he defeated Rafael Salazar (l) in Bout #8. Photo: Jim Wyatt

Bout #8 featured lightweights 21 year-old Giovanni Ortiz of the Compound in Oceanside and 29 year-old Rafael Salazar of Tanos Boxing in Oceanside. Ortiz was masterful as he kept tagging his opponent with combinations. Soon the punishment received warranted an eight count, followed shortly after by a second eight count. Referee Rick Ley finally felt Salazar was taking too much punishment and made the decision for a RSD, referee stoppage.

 

 

 

 

 

Abraham Estrada (l) has his arm raised in victory by referee Rick Ley after he defeated Elijah Gutierrez (r) in Bout #9. Photo: Jim Wyatt

 

 

Bout #9 featured middleweight 23 year-old Abraham Estrada of Escondido Sports and Fitness and super middleweight 17 year-old Elijah Gutierrez of Escondido Sports and Fitness. Estrada is one of those tough guys that walks right through your punch as if you’re hitting him with a pillow. That’s just what he did with Gutierrez who obviously took round #1 but then ran out of gas for rounds two and three. Come the end of the bout, Estrada, the busier boxer, was still fresh and Gutierrez was completely spent.

 

 

Jesus Lopez (l) has his arm raised in victory by referee Rick Ley after he defeated Manuel Vazquez (r) in Bout #10. Photo: Jim Wyatt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bout #10 featured super middleweight 23 year-old Jesus Lopez of Pacific Coast Boxing and undefeated middleweight 18 year-old Manuel Vazquez of Chula Vista Boxing. If you were ever hoping to see two accurate brawlers go at it, this was your type of bout. Their old fashion in your face style delighted the crowd. In the end, it was determined that Lopez had dished out more punishment than Vazquez to gain the close decision.