Bernal Last Hope at Under-19 Championships
Posted: August 7, 2008
AMENDED: August 13

Four Michigan boxers were among the seventy-eight amateurs fighting for gold at the Under-19 National Championships being held this week in Kansas City, but after the quarterfinals today only one still has a chance.

Saginaw's Jose Bernal is still in the running for his first Under-19 gold medal, but the hopes of three other Michigan boxers were cut short in the first half of the tournament. Bernal has not yet competed at the event.

Muskegon Area Boxing Club's Raesse Aleem. 18, and Joel Flores, 17, both lost after one fight. Flores lost in Wednesday's prelims at 132-lbs to Toledo's Robert Easter, Jr. Aleem fought and lost by a similarly wide margin in Thursday quarterfinals action to 2008 U.S. Champion and 2007 National Golden Gloves Champ Sonny Rios at 125-lbs.

Saginaw's Morris Young lost a very close decision on Wednesday to White Bear Lake Boxing Club in Minnesota's Jonathan Escoto in a 141-lb match.

The national tournament is being held in conjunction with the annual Ringside World Championships - the largest amateur boxing event in the world - in Kansas City, Missouri.

Winners of the tournament are eligible to compete at the AIBA Youth World Championships, which are being held in Mexico in late October.

Editor's Note: At the time this story posted, it was believed that Jose Bernal - who, according to USA Boxing, was registered as a participant - was actually in attendance and would have been Michigan's last hope for an Under-19 title. That information was in error as Bernal apparently did not compete. We regret the error. Computer problems were responsible for the delay in posting this clarification.

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