USA Boxing Show results Legacy Boxing Club in Vista
After 16 hard fought bouts, Bout #9 between Gilbert Lopez (R) of the Golden Hands Boxing Club and Oscar Huvio (L) of Rhino's Boxing was chosen "Bout of the Day" by members of the organizing committee led by Bill Dean (C). Photo: Jim Wyatt
March 24, 2012
Once again, young boxers came from near and far to showcase their talents and compete in the latest USA Amateur Boxing show. This one was held at the Legacy Boxing Club in Vista, CA.
The breakdown of the 16 matches follows:
At the conclusion of Bout #1, Nick Carrico (R) of Old School Boxing had his arm raised in victory by referee Will White (C) after he defeated Alexander Robinson (L) of the Gladiator School of Martial Arts & Boxing, Spring Valley. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #1 featured two clever welterweights, 22 year-old Alexander Robinson of the Gladiator School of Martial Arts & Boxing, Spring Valley going up against 18 year-old, Nick Carrico of Old School Boxing in San Diego’s College area.
Just as Carlos Molina did against James Kirkland, Robinson’s plan involved pressing the fight, staying in close and smothering the offense from the much taller Carrico.
Carrico tried to counter this strategy by coming out of each exchange on a different angle. Once Robinson dropped his hands, Carrico, the better boxer, made him pay. This cat and mouse game went on for two hard fought rounds.
By Round #3, Robinson appeared to have run out of gas and Carrico, the sharpshooter was right there to take full advantage. It was discovered later that Robinson had played some basketball the day before. You’re supposed to get complete rest on the day before a boxing match.
At the conclusion of Bout #2, David Gutierrez (R) of the Golden Hands Boxing Club had his arm raised in victory by referee Will White (C) after he defeated Xavion Douglas (L) of Rhino’s Boxing. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #2 featured nine year-old Xavion Douglas of Rhino’s Boxing in Vista going up against nine year-old David Gutierrez of the Golden Hands Boxing Club.
As in the past, the much shorter Douglas got the worst of it from the taller opponent. Gutierrez picked him apart from afar. Every time Douglas tried to get in close, Gutierrez simply sidestepped him, then peppered him with punches from the side.
To quote Angel Enriquez a young gentleman from the National City CYAC, “He’s too long for him.”
With Douglas getting hit so often, one 8-count followed another.
At the conclusion of Bout #3, Jesus Zaragoza (R) of the host gym, the Legacy Boxing Club, had his arm raised in victory by referee Will White (C) after defeating Alfred Vargas (L) of Barrio Logan. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #3 featured 10 year-olds Alfred Vargas of Barrio Logan and the southpaw Jesus Zaragoza of the host gym, the Legacy Boxing Club.
It must have been Vargas’ first experience against a lefty because Zaragoza had little problem landing his shots, shots that were right on the button.
At the conclusion of Bout #4, Jose Chollet (L) of Barrio Station, San Diego had his arm raised in victory by referee Dana Kaplan (C) after defeating Jesus Laguna (R) of the National City CYAC. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #4 featured two veterans, 11-year-old, Jose Chollet of Barrio Station, San Diego and 12 year-old Jesus Laguna of the National City CYAC.
At the outset, this appeared to be another mismatch where the much taller Laguna would have a field day raining down his punches on the shorter Chollet. One problem though, Chollet was unafraid to take a punch or duck under one or two in order to get in close to land his straight rights.
Before long Chollet’s overhand rights were impressing the crowd. After one snapped Laguna’s head back, an eight count was issued. Chollet won this match with both defense and offense.
At the conclusion of Bout #5, Laparo Lorenza (L) of the Gladiator School of Martial Arts & Boxing had his arm raised in victory by referee Dana Kaplan (C) after defeating Diego Molano (R) of Rhino’s Boxing in Vista. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #5 featured two 103 pound, 12 year-olds, Diego Molano of Rhino’s Boxing of Vista and Laparo Lorenza of the Gladiator School of Martial Arts & Boxing, Spring Valley.
In both Rounds one and two, Molano seemed a bit hesitant to match the punch stats of Lorenza who went going nonstop. He kept laying back to counter and land the knockout blow. Lorenza, the polar opposite, kept busy and after a while started landing combinations.
Then in the late stages of Round #2, Lorenzo caught Molano with a solid left, a punch warranting a stoppage for an eight count.
By Round #3, both boxers were slinging the leather and each took turns in the momentum swings. Despite Molano’s rebound from the slow start, Lorenzo had done more than enough to win the favor of the judges.
At the conclusion of Bout #6, Angel Hinojosa (L) of Rhino’s Boxing had his arm raised in victory by referee Rick Ley (C) after he defeated Marcos Rios (R) of the National City CYAC. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #6 featured 16 year-old Angel Hinojosa of Rhino’s Boxing, Vista, going up against 17 year-old Marcos Rios of the National City CYAC.
After the heated first and second rounds, Round #3 turned into a clinching affair as both boxers ended the match gasping for air. After deliberations, the judges felt Hinojosa had been the most productive.
At the conclusion of Bout #7, Eric Puente (L) of the Legacy Boxing Club had his arm raised in victory by referee Rick Ley after defeating Jovany Contreras (R) of Barrio Station. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #7 featured 13 year-old Eric Puente of the Legacy Boxing Club who is trained by his dad, Ivan Puente, the gentleman who provided the music for Saturday’s show. Puente’s opponent was 12 year-old Jovany Contreras of Barrio Station in San Diego.
At the end of Saturday’s show, this all action bout was a runner-up for “Bout of the Day.” Puente and Contreras never let up and most likely threw so many punches the judges had to reset their clickers. In the end, they concluded that Puente should get the nod.
At the conclusion of Bout #8, Luis “El Tiburon” Lorenzo (L) of Ocean’s Boxing Club had his arm raised in victory by referee Rick Ley (C) after defeating Jesus Rios (R) of Rhino’s Boxing. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #8, featured 12 year-old Jesus Rios of Rhino’s Boxing Vista going up against 11 year-old Luis “El Tiburon” Lorenzo Jr. of the Ocean’s Boxing Club in South San Diego who was making his amateur debut.
Lorenzo, who had a large following, was making his Amateur debut. Amongst that group was a much younger brother who kept shouting, “That’s my Boy!” As you can imagine, the comment coming from the little guy put a smile on everyone’s face.
Back to the action and there was plenty of it. The first Round was hot and heavy and I doubt if anyone could pick a winner from the many heated exchanges. That all changed midway through the second frame, when Lorenzo landed two right hands that caught Rios square.
The final round was hotly contested with Lorenzo coming out slightly ahead on the punch count. When they announced that Lorenzo had won, back came his little brother with the declaration, “That’s my Boy!”
At the conclusion of Bout #8, Luis Lorenzo (C) of Ocean’s Boxing Club was surrounded by family and friends wanting to celebrate his victory. Unabashed the youngster at the bottom right led the cheers. Photo: Jim Wyatt
At the conclusion of Bout #9, Gilbert Lopez of Golden Hands Boxing and Oscar Huvio of Rhino's Boxing had their arms raised by referee Will White as the crowd acknowledged their remarkable performance. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #9 featured two super middleweights who really pack a wallop, 21 year-old Gilbert Lopez of the Golden Hands Boxing Club in Chula Vista going up against 20 year-old Oscar Huvio of Rhino’s Boxing in Vista.
Whenever the USA Boxing Officials see a contest like this they cringe; two guys that can really hurt you. This was Lopez’s first fight back after sustaining a serious hand injury in a May 10, 2011 bout against Joseph Flarvan in a show at The Compound in Oceanside, CA. Despite the early hand injury, Lopez continued on to get that victory.
After getting out of the blocks early in this one, Lopez hit Huvio with several short right hands, the head snapping variety, that prompted the referee to issue Huvio an eight count.
The devastating punches from both boxers continued through to the end of Round #2. At that point, you heard the spectators commenting, “What a match!!!”
After Lopez almost punched himself out, Huvio caught him with a straight right, a punch that would have put most anyone on their back, but not Lopez. The referee immediately stepped in and issued Lopez an eight count.
Down the stretch both men kept pounding each other. Neither considered giving up or covering up. With Lopez doing well early on, and matching Huvio’s output in Round #3, he received an unanimous decision.
At the end of the show, the Lopez/Huvio bout was declared “Bout of the Day.”
At the conclusion of Bout #10, Jorge Ruiz (L) of the Alliance Training Center in Chula Vista had his arm raised in victory by referee Will White (C) after he defeated Eric Cruz (R) of Rhino’s Boxing in Vista. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #10 featured super featherweights, 20 year-old Jorge “Tito” Ruiz of the Alliance Training Center in Chula Vista going up against 21 year-old Eric Cruz of Rhino’s Boxing in Vista.
Since Cruz, a highly touted prospect for years, had only recently returned to the gym, this was a test to see how his progress was coming along, how much rust remained. Since Ruiz is a guy who regularly spars with professionals and recently competed in a Mexican national tournament, you could say Cruz picked the wrong guy to gain back his confidence.
While delivering his head-snapping jab and three and four punch combinations, Cruz was issued two 8 counts. Ruiz appeared untouchable. In other words, Mr. Cruz received a boxing lesson.
At the conclusion of Bout #11, Jacob Sanchez (R) of Rhino’s Boxing had his arm raised in victory by referee Will White (C) after defeating Jesus Toro (L) of the U. S. Marine Corps Boxing Team. Photo: Jim Wyatt
In Bout #11, 26 year-old Jacob Sanchez from Rhino’s Boxing faced 2o year-old Jesus Toro of the U. S. Marine Corps Boxing Team on Camp Pendleton. Sanchez, the shorter of the two, put on a clinic regarding the best way to get inside a taller man’s defenses. As a result, Toro was issued three eight counts and Sanchez won the match easily.
At the conclusion of Bout #12, Tyler Herberger (R) of Old School Boxing (R) had his arm raised in victory by referee Dana Kaplan (C) after having the win presented to him on a silver platter. Abdullah Nematjanov (L) a member of the same gym takes the loss. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #12 had two boxers from the same gym (Old School Boxing) competing, 16 year-old Abdullah Nematjanov and 15 year-old Tyler Herberger. They are what you’d call the closest of friends. Since neither wanted to hurt the other, they merely went through the motions.
In round #1, a point was given to Herberger. In Round two, a second point. After receiving a warning to step it up, the scoring rose to 2-1 in Round #3, all but one point going to Herberger.
At the conclusion of Bout #13, Gilbert Roybal (R) of Oceans Boxing in South San Diego had his arm raised in victory by referee Dana Kaplan (C) after defeating Alex Celaya (L) of USIAA. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #13 featured 12 year-olds, Gilbert Roybal of Oceans’ Boxing in South San Diego going up against Alex Celaya of USIAA.
In this one not much can be said other than the more experienced Roybal showed better technique and in doing so impressed the judges to get an unanimous decision victory.
At the conclusion of Bout #14, Jabin Chollet (R) of Barrio Station had his arm raised in victory by referee after defeating Conrad Giles (L) of Rhino’s Boxing. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #14 featured 11 year-old Conrad Giles of Rhino’s Boxing going up against 10 year-old Jabin Chollet of Barrio Station. While Giles’ punches tended to be looping, Chollet had better control with the straight rights and lefts, enough control to beat Giles on all three scorecards.
At the conclusion of Bout #15, Stephen Edwards (R), a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, CA, had his arm raised in victory by referee Rick Ley (C) after defeating Jiael Brownell (L) Unattached. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #15 featured 32 year-old Jiael Brownell (weighing 185.6 lbs. and Unattached), going up against a 27 year-old Marine from Camp Pendleton, Stephen Edwards (175.9 lbs.).
In round #1, Edwards was the only one throwing punches and then Brownell caught Edwards with a left hook flush resulting in a flash knockdown. Keep in mind that a knockdown in the Amateur ranks is scored as just one point. Edwards then went on to score more points than Brownell through the remainder of the contest. Aside from that flash knockdown, Brownell rarely threw a punch.
At the conclusion of Bout #16, Ernesto Mercado (R) of La Habra had his arm raised in victory by referee Dana Kaplan (C) after defeating Jonathan Rodriguez (L) of Oceans Boxing in South San Diego. Photo: Jim Wyatt
In Bout #16, 10 year-olds Ernesto Mercado of La Habra and Jonathan Rodriguez of Oceans Boxing went at it. With similar game plans Mercado ended up landing the majority of the telling blows.
