2008
National Golden Gloves With three rings in use, the boxers just keep coming… and going. Another fifty-one bouts were held as day #2 concluded on Tuesday at the National Golden Gloves with a like number advancing and a like number falling.
Twenty-nine regions and 286 boxers are participating in the 81st annual tournament, being held for the first time ever in Grand Rapids. Hawaii sent no boxers to this year’s event. Day two of preliminary action saw five additional weightclasses contested: 119, 132, 152, 178 and 201+ (super-heavy). On Monday, four weightclasses were contested: 125, 141, 165 and 201-lbs. Boxers from Michigan clubs fared better than the day before with ¾ advancing and just two fighters falling out. Three boxers each from the Detroit Metro and Michigan regions are still in the running after competing while one boxer from each franchise is done. Saginaw’s Ernesto Garza III (125-lbs) stopped New York State’s Joshua Perez, Jose Bernal (152-lb) defeated Arturo Crespin of Colorado-New Mexico and Ryan O’Neal (201+) won over Earl Tonkins of Pennsylvania. Joel Flores (132-lbs) dropped a decision to Colorado-New Mexico’s Fidel Maldonado. Leandre White (152-lbs) won over Arnoldo Aponte of Florida, J’Leon Love (178-lbs) decisioned Washington, DC’s Thomas Williams and Walter Burns (201+) stopped Tri-State’s John Smith. Michael Portillo lost a 4-1 split decision to Tony Lee of the Upper Midwest region. The action continues through Saturday evening at the Devos Event Center in Grand Rapids. Links: |
