2014 Silver Gloves Championship winners from the National City CYAC Show
On Saturday, Emmanuel Lagunes (r) got more than a little excited after defeating Jesus Castro in this year’s Silver Gloves Championships. It’s a wonder referee Dana Kaplan didn’t suffer a dislocated shoulder. Photo: Jim Wyatt
November 8, 2014
On Saturday, the National City CYAC gym hosted the first stage of this year’s Southern California Silver Gloves Championships Boxing Tournament for the local LBC 44 District which includes all of San Diego County and the Imperial Valley, a district comprising almost 50 boxing gyms.
Congratulations go out to the 24 participants who competed at this high level. To quote Willie Kuhn, the President of the officials: “Not even one 8-count. That’s what you call fierce competition – each youngster was very competitive and the winners had to go all out to get the win.”
Here are the athletes who won medals in the first stage of the California State Silver Gloves Tournament:
The show got off to rousing start with an opening, heated bout between Eddie Chollet (r) of the host gym and Isaiah Torres (l) of Westmorland Pal.
Isaiah Torres (l) has his arm raised in victory by referee Rick Ley after he defeated the game Eddie Chollet (r). All photos: Jim Wyatt
In Bout #1, it was 11 year-old Isaiah Torres (61.4 pounds) representing the Westmorland Police Athletic League of Westmorland, CA, earning the win over 10 year-old Eddie Chollet of the National City CYAC Gym (64.6 pounds).
In round one, Chollet held the upper hand. His steady stream of straight lefts had Torres backing peddling. By round two, the momentum had started to swing over to Torres’ favor as he made the necessary adjustments against the southpaw. The crucial third round was almost too close to call.
(photo, left) At this point, Julius Ballo (l), the eventual winner, had Jonathan Rodriguez right where he wanted him, corralled in the corner. (bottom, right) Julius Ballo (l) has his arm raised in victory by referee Rick Ley. Photos: Jim Wyatt
In Bout #2, it was 11 year-old Julius Ballo of the Bomber’s Squad Academy, El Cajon (85.6 pounds) winning a close scrap with 12 year-old Jonathan Rodriguez (87 pounds) from the Gamez Boxing Team, Chula Vista. Last year, both boxers went on to the semifinals in El Monte where Rodriguez lost to Aspen Bandaphone and Ballo lost to Gilbert Mendoza.
In this year’s first match, despite being shorter and outweighed by four pounds, Ballo, the current CA State Champion and two-time National Champion, got himself in close to land more punches. At first his strategy was one of survival as Rodriguez, the more accurate and relaxed of the two, was winding up to deliver these full extension blows to Ballo’s head. Over the past year, Mr. Rodriguez has grown, both in his development as a boxer/puncher and close to two inches in height.
(bottom) At the conclusion of Bout #3, Hector Vasquez (r) has his arm raised in victory by referee Dana Kaplan after he defeated Francisco Rodriguez (r).
In Bout #3, it was 13 year-old Hector Vazquez of Real Deal Boxing, Hemet, CA (82.8 pounds) going up against 12 year-old Francisco Rodriguez of Boxing Life Academy, El Centro (84.2 pounds). This was another explosive match with both boxers matching each other’s output. However, it was Rodriguez coming away with the victory because his punches were cleaner while Vazquez’s punches were often wide and therefore the white (point value) section of his gloves only landed 50% of the time.
(bottom) At the conclusion of Bout #4, referee Rick Ley (c) raises the arm of the victorious Alfred Vargas (l) who defeated Jabin Chollet (r).
In Bout #4, it was 13 year-old Alfred Vargas from the Gamez Boxing Team (94 pounds) coming away with the victory over 13 year-old Jabin Chollet of the National City CYAC (93.8 pounds). With both boxers being well school, going toe to toe, and landing with similar force, this one would have been best decided with the old fashion clicker. That being said, it appeared Vargas with his straight ahead, bulldog style was more effective than Chollet who is more of an in and out, finesse boxer.
On Saturday, Eric Puente (l) poses for a photo with his stablemate Jessica Mesquida. Both boxers will be moving on in the Silver Gloves tournament. Mesquida for her win over Aidyl Cardenas and Puente by way of a walk-over.
In Bout #5, it was 15 year-old Eric Puente of Max Impact Fitness Center, Oceanside, CA (131 pounds) getting the walkover victory over 15 year-old Lazaro Lorenzana Unattached (131 pounds) who in the final hour had to pull out of the competition.
(photo, right) Jessica Mesqueda (r) and Aidyl Cardenas (l) went three hard rounds in Bout #6. The difference? Mesqueda’s punches had more power and were straighter.
(bottom) After being checked out by the doctor, Aidyl Cardenas (r) and the victorious Jessica Mesquida (l) graciously posed for a photo.
In Bout #6, it was 14 year-old Jessica Mesquida of Max Impact, Oceanside (131.8 pounds) getting the best of 14 year-old Aidyl Cardenas of Boxing Life Academy, El Centro (129.4 pounds). Mesquida kept on the attack with the stiff jabs and unrelenting straight lefts.
Jessica Juarez was winding up on her punches and somehow, someway, the tough Julie Munoz was able to deal with these heavy shots. Photos: Jim Wyatt
(top left photo) Julie Munoz knew a thing or two about stretching the rules. Here we see her holding the back of Juarez’s head to lineup a hard right cross to the head.
In the end the judges had Julie Munoz ahead on the points.
In Bout #7, it was 16 year-old Julie Munoz from Boxing Life Academy (120.8 pounds) getting the victory over 15 year-old Jessica Juarez of Juarez Boxing (114.2 pounds). This was that one match where you felt the judges had gotten it wrong. Surely, they must have been preoccupied with something else or mixed up the scorecards. Juarez’s power punches had Munoz’s head snapping back, while Munoz’s punches, the majority to the midsection, were more like pitter patter. The same punches that the USA Amateur Boxing Officials had recently ruled would no longer be counted. The quote we attribute to the officials, “They’ll be no more shoe shining!”
That being said, it was a very entertaining bout with several momentum swings. Munoz even added some flair by switching stances from righty to lefty.
(photo, left) It was a tightly contested match between Jovany Contreras (red trunks) and Daniel Andujo (black trunks) that couldn’t get any better.
On Saturday, it was Jovany Contreras’ turn to shine.
Bout #8 featured 15 year-old Jovany Contreras (115.4 lbs.) of the National City CYAC taking on 16 year-old Daniel Andujo (113.6 pounds) of Team Meza in Temecula.
In Saturday’s opening round, Andujo did the chasing. Once he cornered his opponent, it was Contreras that countered well and landed the cleaner punches, especially the overhand rights. In rounds two and three, it was more of the same with Andujo pressing the fight and then as soon as he had Contreras corralled, the two began to bang away.
With it’s momentum swings, Bout #9 became a case of who wanted it more and the younger Fernando Gayton (l) would not be denied. Photos: Jim Wyatt
In Bout #9, it was 23 year-old Fernando Gayton (130.2 pounds) defeating 31 year-old Tin Bui (133.6 pounds) Unattached. In the opening round, Gayton landed more of the cleaner, more meaningful blows. In round two, both took turns teeing it up on each other. The final round went to Gayton who never wavered and appeared to be stronger and in better condition.
Bout #10: Both Robert “Superman” Meza (red trunks) and Tyler Herberger (black trunks) were reaching down for that one, big, knockout blow – what a battle!
In the end, it was Meza (r) having his arm raised in victory by referee Dana Kaplan.
In Bout #10 it was 18 year-old Robert “Superman” Meza (133.8 lbs) of the Gamez Boxing Team getting the best of 18 year-old Tyler Herberger of Old School Boxing, San Diego (130 pounds). Even though Herberger was considered the better boxer, on this day Meza was stronger and did enjoy that four pound weight advantage. As far as living up to his nickname, Meza did that as well, appearing indestructible and throwing punches with greater impact.
There wasn’t much defense in Bout #11 but there sure was a lot of offense. Here we see Emmanuel Lagunes (red trunks) taking his turn to blast away at Jesus Castro (white trunks). Photo: Jim Wyatt
(photo, left) Big bro joins his little bro Jesus Castro after the slugfest. (bottom, right) Emmanuel Lagunes (r) was so excited about the win, he surprised referee Dana Kaplan and almost jumped right out of his shoes. Photos: J. Wyatt
In Bout #11, it was 11 year-old Emmanuel Lagunes (156.2 lbs) of the National City CYAC earning the decision win over 12 year-old Jesus Castro (151.2 lbs) of the Legacy Training Center, Vista, CA. From the opening bell, both came out firing as if all they needed to do was land that one, monstrous “lights out” punch. To their credit, both demonstrated they could take the big punch plus they were in good enough condition to go the distance in this heated contest.
The closing match of the tournament was also a classic featuring the eventual winner Alexis Villareal (r) from the host gym, the National City CYAC, defeating the game Marco Sastaita from Tanos Boxing in Oceanside, CA.
At the conclusion of the Silver Gloves tournament we had the Villareal family pose for a photo with their champion Alexis Villareal. Photo: Jim Wyatt
In Bout #12, it was 17 year-old Alexis Villareal (120.6 lbs.) of the host gym, National City CYAC in his Amateur debut out-pointing 18 year-old Marco Sastaita (115.2 lbs) of Tanos Boxing, Oceanside, CA. Simply put, Villareal won the match by doling out more punishment. Whenever, Sastaita threw one punch, Villareal made certain to throw two. He’d follow Sastaita’s two punch combinations with his own three punch combinations. Villareal was every manager’s dream, a boxer who could stay ahead on the count.
According to the posted schedule, the next USA Amateur Boxing event “Rivals in the Ring” will be on Friday, November 14, 2014
at the Los Angeles Athletic Club, 431 West 7th St., Los Angeles, CA. Contact: Don Rivera, Email address: j.gonzalez2@me.com
