Old School Boxing hosts the Junior Olympics District Tournament

Saturday, in the District Qualifying Tournament for the Junior Olympics, Ezequiel Aguayo (l) and Julian Garcia (r) went non-stop for three exciting rounds in their attempt to qualify for the upcoming tournament.

Saturday, April 13, 2013, San Diego, Calif.

Ernie “Silky” Johnson, former boxer, now owner, of the Old School Boxing gym on El Cajon Boulevard, must have called in a few favors because he had a host of celebrities present to help with his latest show. Paul “The Ultimate” Vaden was there to hand out medals. Vaden is the former IBF and USBA Light Middleweight World Champion and author of the book, Answer the Bell, which will soon be in print. Danny “Dynamite” Perez – the former NABA and NABF welterweight champion was there, as was light welterweight Ernie “Too Slick” Johnson (Johnson’s son) and top light middleweight prospect David Barragan.

And who of all people did Johnson have handling the Ring Announcer’s duties? Jeff Dotseth, the Sports Talk host who was once teamed with Dave Palet on the popular Dave & Jeff Show which aired on KFMB-AM89. They went on to host several local Sports Talk Shows on 109o Sports, ESPN, etc. The two men have become an institution in town.

Now to get to our exciting fight card:

Bout #1 featured Super Bantamweights, 15 year-old Roberto Ocampo (119 lbs.) of the ABC Mongoose Gym taking on 16 year-old Jorge Munoz (117.6 lbs.) of the Sparta Boxing Gym in El Centro, CA.

In Round #1, even though Munoz finished strong, he erred big time by allowing Ocampo to get inside. In Round #2, he was content to allow Ocampo to get off first and then he’d try in vain to counter.

After Ocampo landed a hard right in the third frame, referee issued Munoz an 8-count. The bull rush that followed with it’s flurry of punches convinced to stop the bout.

In Bout #1, it was Roberto Ocampo (l) getting the best of Jorge Munoz (r).

Bout #2 featured Super Bantamweights, 16 year-old Steven Mendoza (119.8 lbs.) of the Sons of God Boxing Club in Rialto, CA taking on 17 year-old Ernesto Verdin (120 lbs.) from the Sparta Boxing Gym in El Centro, CA. 

Instead of being characterized as wild and woolly, Round #1 was more like wide and woolly. Both boxers were throwing dynamite punches but they were wide off the mark. In Round #2, Mendoza led off with a flurry but back came Verdin to close out the round with the sharper punches. That left the critical final round, and that’s when Verdin came to life with the straighter more accurate punches.

Referees like Will White (c) often get surprised by the reaction of the various winners in these contests. Ernesto Verdin’s reaction was certainly unexpected.

Bout #3 featured 9 year-old Ezequiel Pelayo (56.6 lbs.) of the Sons of God Boxing Gym in Rialto, CA taking on 8 year-old Julian Garcia (59.4 lbs.) of the Golden Hands Boxing Gym in South San Diego.

This was a battle of mighty mites – youngsters when sitting on their stools between rounds had their feet off the floor. Their gloves were almost the same size as their heads. Despite the complications, the two boxers put on a great performance, one that was ultra close – a real give and take match. In the end, it was Pelayo getting the nod.

In Bout #3, Ezequiel Pelayo (black and white trunks) won a hard fought battle over Julian Garcia (black with gold stripe) who appears to be taking the loss in stride.

Bout #4 featured featherweights, 16 year-old Elisco Duren (122 lbs.) of the Steel Boxing Gym taking on 14 year-old Bryan Pinzon (124.6 lbs.) from Pinzon Boxing in El Centro, CA.

In Round #1, Pinzon was in full command and kept landing his straight left over and over again – so much so that Duren appeared bewildered. In between rounds, Duren was schooled to circle to the left and stay away from the earlier pounding. It worked and he did a lot better.

The only problem, by the third round, Duren was running out of gas and Pinzon was still fresh. So back came Pinzon with that same straight left to dominate the round and land that punch almost at will. When the announcement came that Duren was the winner, the people surrounding me had this startled look on their faces. They were dumbfounded.

Elisco Duren (red trunks, left) gets the controversial win over Bryan Pinzon (R). Referee in charge of the bout is Hondo Fontan. Paul “the Ultimate” Vaden (far right) helped out on Saturday by distributing the winning medals.

Bout #5 featured featherweights, 12 year-old Destiny Navarro (121.4 lbs.) of the Sparta Boxing Gym in El Centro, CA taking on 13 year-old Lillina Ruiz (126.2 lbs.) of the Porras Boxing Gym in Fallbrook, CA.

In Round #1, Navarro was the sharper of the two, benefitting from her reach advantage. Round #2 was dead even as the young ladies matched each other’s output. By the third round, Ruiz had gained her confidence to go inside Navarro’s defenses and she started landing the shorter, more affective blows to the head.

When the decision was announced favoring Navarro, there were also several detractors.

At the conclusion of Bout #5, Paul Vaden handed out the medals to Destiny Navarro (left) of Sparta Boxing in El Centro and Lillina Ruiz (right) of Porras Boxing, Fallbrook.

Bout #6 featured Super Lightweights, 16 year-old Ali Fakhreddine (137.4 lbs.) of Old School Boxing, the host gym taking on 16 year-old Hector Manjarrez (138.8 lbs.) from the House of Boxing in San Diego.

It’s fair to say, if you have an ounce of Fakhreddine blood in you, you’re going to do well in the boxing arena. As a whole, the Fakhreddine family of boxers (there were five Fakhreddine siblings at last counting), must have a record of 50 plus wins with maybe one loss. Since they often spar together, they keep each other sharp.

On Saturday, it was Ali Fakhreddine’s turn to shine. At first the boxers engaged in some pretty healthy scraps. Then as the rust came off, Ali did his fighting in quick bursts and ended the round with four unanswered blows.

By Round #2, it was showtime. That’s when Fakhreddine registered one of those “Wow” knockdowns. He ended the round with a powerful, straight left to the chin.

Everyone was on the edge of their seats awaiting the third round. Fakhreddine got off to a quick start and soon had the referee issuing Manjarrez a standing 8-count. Seconds later, Fakhreddine was chasing after his prey to land three straight lefts. Referee Hondo Fontan wasted no time and called for an end to the bout. 

In Bout #6, it was Ali Fakhreddine (L) getting the TKO win over Hector Monjarrez.

Bout #7 featured lightweights, 17 year-old Fabian Zarco (131.4 lbs.) of Barrio Station in San Diego taking on 20 year-old Christopher Anselmo (131.6 lbs.) of Rhino’s Boxing in Vista, CA. 

Since both boxers are power punchers, you knew this one wasn’t going to go the distance and it didn’t. After three 8-counts were issued to Anselmo, referee Will White called for a RSB (referee stops the bout).

In Bout #7, it was Fabian Zarco (l) getting the win over Christopher Anselmo (r).

Bout #8 featured super flyweight, 13 year-old Eric Puente (108.8 lbs.) of the Legacy Training Center in Vista, Ca taking on 14 year-old Jovany Contreras (105.8 lbs.) from Barrio Station, San Diego, CA.

The height and weight advantage proved too much for Contreras. Every time he delivered a punch, the much busier Puente would respond with his three and four punch combinations.

Eric Puente (l) gets the win over Jovany Contreras in Bout #8. All photos: Jim Wyatt

Bout #9 featured welterweights, 20 year-old Nick Cortez (143.2 lbs.) of Rhino’s Boxing in Vista, CA. taking on 30 year-old Jorge Ounanan (144.2 lbs.) from the Art of Eight Training and Fitness Center of San Diego.

In Round #1, Cortez was the sharper puncher and seemed to have no problem landing the straight right. Even though Ounanan did better in the second round, Cortez led. Cortez put the finishing touches on his victory by landing these brutal hard rights to the midsection to close out the third round.

Nico Cortez (bottom right photo) has his arm raised in victory by referee Will White after defeating Jorge Ounanan. (top left photo) Jorge Ounanan poses for a photo with his support staff which includes Danny “Dynamite” Lopez (rear left).

Bout #10 featured 10 year-old Victor Ortega (74.8 lbs.) of the House of Boxing Gym in San Diego, CA taking on 11 year-old Peter Lopez (75.2 lbs.) from the Porras Boxing Gym in Fallbrook, CA.

The entire bout was back and forth action with no discernible winner. Only the quickest clicker could keep track of the blows. The final round featured punches coming at you like a windmill. Ortega ended up getting the decision. As if it were a consolation prize, Lopez could boast, ‘At least I landed the last solid punch of the fight.’

(top left photo) shows boxer Peter Lopez with his Porras Boxing Team support staff, which includes his coach Jorge Porras. (bottom, left photo) shows the excitable Victor Ortega who ended up getting the win over Peter Lopez. All photos: Jim Wyatt

With his range of emotion, Victor Ortega belongs in Hollywood.

Bout #11 featured two 15 year-old super lightweights, Jesus Valderaz (137.2 lbs.) of Penacho Boxing in San Jacinto, CA taking on Luis “Angel” Enriquez (138 lbs.) from the National City CYAC.

In Round #1, the more experienced and taller Enriquez maintained his outside position by clipping Valderaz repeatedly with a strong jab and an occasional left, right combination. Frustrated, Valderaz rushed forward, right into a straight left that sent him reeling backwards into the ropes. As a result referee Hondo Fontan issue Valderaz an 8-count.

By the end of round #2, Valderaz had gained some confidence, especially since Enriquez wasn’t moving as much. Perhaps he was overconfident because he began to move less and stand there face to face with Valderaz.

The hard fought third round ended up being a toss-up. In the end, Enriquez had done more than enough to secure the victory.

After defeating Jesus Valderaz, Luis “Angel” Enriquez was presented two tickets to the next Bobby D Presents Pro Boxing Show at the Four Points By Sheraton Hotel on April 19, 2013.

The final bout of the day, Bout #12, featured welterweights, 20 year-old Juan Cano of Old School Boxing (144.4 lbs.) taking on 23 year-old Armando Tovar (141 lbs.) from City Boxing in San Diego.

In Round #1, Cano came at Tovar like he had just remembered a previous engagement. He was in such a hurry to end the bout, it was like watching a defensive end rush the quarterback. The strategy of smothering Tovar went on for three solid rounds. After the first round, Tovar had an answer for this bull rush. What he did was sidestep each advance and clip his opponent with either a short right cross or a short left hook. In the end, Tovar found himself way ahead on points.

Armando Tovar (R) has his arm raised in victory by referee Hondo Fontan after getting the unanimous decision victory over Juan Cano. In the same bottom photo, we see Manny Melchor, Tovar’s coach from City Boxing. In 1992, Melchor was the IBF Minimum weight world champion. All Photos: Jim Wyatt