USA Boxing Show results May 22nd Rancho Penasquitos
The bout of the day had to be the Kevin Salgado victory over Jesus Hernandez.
This week’s host of the USA Amateur Boxing show was LA Boxing in Rancho Penasquitos. Their event was christened A Celebration of Life to commemorate the great work of the popular boxing trainer Hector Gil who was slain back on April 17th of this year. A standing room only crowd, plus Hector Gil, Jr. were in attendance to honor Gil who worked tirelessly as a volunteer at the Pacific Coast Boxing gym in nearby Vista, Ca.
Bout #1 featured 15 year-old Carlos Geraldo of the National City CYAC going up against 14 year-old sensation Tristan Alvarado who is trained by Tony Contreras at the North County Boxing gym. Alvarado is one of those phenoms that comes along every couple of years, the guy that is so good, no one wants to face him. Almost every punch that Alvarado threw landed even though Geraldo is no slouch himself. The most damaging blows came from his work on the inside, short right and lefts.
Since Alvarado is so well developed and advanced in his boxing acumen, his coach had to secure documentation to prove his age. His documentation was presented to the USA Amateur Boxing officials on Saturday and Alvarado’s coach showed it to the press as well. Alvarado, who was born at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center on December 3, 1995 at 5:30 p.m., still has over seven months to go before turning 15. Hopefully, Alvarado’s coach has plans to send him to the Nationals in Colorado.
Bout #2 featured 12 year-old Oscar Gaz of the National City CYAC going up against 13 year-old Carlos Armenta. Gaz held his own in the opening round but by the second and third, Armenta’s experience shown through coming up under Gaz’s jab and landing many of his punches flush. Armenta’s edge came by way of his footwork, his ability to counter and use his leverage.
Bout #3 featured two hungry boxers desperate to right the ship after losing in their debut, 18 year-old Prince Tiger Smalls of Undisputed in North Park and 19 year-old Marty Kelly of the USIAA. As it turns out, Kelly was the perfect fall guy for Smalls, who kept him at a distance with his peppering jab and circling out of harms way. Kelly kept trying to work the body but was always a few steps behind and when he did catch up, bang came the overhand right or a nice combination. With a little more pop in his punches, Smalls could turn out to be a force in his weight class.
Bout #4 with 21 year-old Jesus Hernandez of Undisputed in North Park facing 18 year-old Kevin Salgado of Temecula was supposed to be a mismatch and there was already talk that Hernandez had plans to turn pro in June. The bout turned out to be a wake up call for Hernandez.
In the first round, Hernandez came out smokin’ and tried his best to break his younger opponent’s will. Despite all the quick combinations that landed, Salgado hung in there. After weathering the early onslaught, Salgado started delivering the heavier blows in the second round. The most telling blow came in the second round when Salgado caught Hernandez flush to make his legs buckle. Even though Hernandez continued to trade blows, Salgado was in command, especially after delivering all these amazing uppercuts that snapped his opponent’s head back. Salgado’s corner began yelling, “Finish him off!!” From the opposite corner Hernandez’s people yelled, “Don’t lay down, he’s landing that uppercut every time!”
In the final round, Salgado continued his onslaught, with jab, jab, uppercut, jab, jab, overhand right. The judges had no problem selecting the winner of the match-up.
Bout #5 turned out to be another slugfest. This one had 23 year-old Eddie Saddler of Undisputed in North Park firing away at 17 year-old Jose Martinez of San Ysidro Boxing. The first round went to Saddler who landed two to three times more punches behind his great jab.
When Saddler started to slow down in the second round, Martinez gained back his confidence and scored mostly with left hooks. The winner of the final round would decide the bout. In that final round Saddler caught his opponent flush twice and the referee thought it deserved a standing eight count. Many believe that fleeting moment may have been the catalyst for giving Saddler the nod.
Bout #6 featured 15 year-old Adrian Gutierrez of the Gutierrez Gym facing 14 year old Victor Hernandez of Escondido Boxing. From the outset, Gutierrez was masterful as he waited to counter and then did. He had no trouble snapping back his opponent’s head.
Then near the end of the second round, Hernandez landed a blow on Gutierrez’s tender nose. Gutierrez, known for being a bleeder, had blood all over his face. Normally, the referee just asks for a corner person to wipe it off but at the start of the third round, he called for the bout doctor to look at it. The doctor decided that Gutierrez could not continue which cost Gutierrez the sure victory.
Bout #7 featured 18 year-olds, Jorge Ruiz of the Alliance Training Center in Chula Vista and Eduardo Herrera of Old School Boxing. Even though Herrera had some success early when using his jab to set up the right, it was only a matter of time before Ruiz landed his punches from every conceivable angle. After Herrera received two eight counts, the referee saw no reason to continue the bout.
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See USA Boxing Show, Rancho Penasquitos Part II bouts 8-13.
