Detroit
Golden Gloves Conclude Open Class The finals of the 2009 Metro Detroit Golden Gloves concluded Sunday with fifteen fights that included six open class bouts and the promise of a shot at national gold at next months nationals in Salt Lake City, Utah.
With fighters J’Leon Love, LeAndre White, Erick DeLeon and Craig Lewis there was little surprise that Detroit’s Kronk Gym will be aptly represented in Utah this year. But no one told their opponents they were mere stepping stones to national gold and as a result none of them played the part. Half of the Kronk hopefuls was forced to go the distance, with two cut short.
Erick DeLeon and Tobias Wiggins were the first of six open class fighters to enter the ring. A low blow, or four, in the first round did little to slow DeLeon but did earn a one-point deduction for Butzel’s Wiggins. Both young men advanced to Sundays action as a result of a walkover on Saturday. While Wiggins worked hard through the first round and took what DeLeon dished out, it was clear that he was outclassed by the multi-title holding Kronk fighter. Early in round two, a towel thrown in from the blue corner ended the fight in favor of DeLeon. LeAndre White faced Tony Harrison El of Henry Hank at 152-lbs. Both fighters had significant cheering sections on their feet behind their respective corners for the rematch bout. White defeated Harrison in the first round of last years Detroit tournament and went on after a second fight to win the title. On Sunday, both gave as good as they took – and that was a lot – through all three rounds with a minor gloving issue with White causing a momentary delay toward the end of round three. When the smoke had cleared, White left the ring as tournament champion for the fourth straight year.
J'Leon Love claimed his fourth straight Metro Detroit Golden Gloves title on Sunday with a stoppage of Dynamic’s Robert Hollis early in the second round. The 21-year old Dearborn Heights fighter appeared carefree during the weekend, a constant presence keeping the mood light as other boxers waited for their medical exams. But Love knew when serious was called for and he delivered for fans on Sunday. For Love, this was likely his last entry in the tournament as he weighs the option of turning pro within the next 12 months. That is unless he decides to further his education while making a bid for the 2012 Olympics. Dynamic’s Dan Smith and Kronk’s Craig Lewis battled in the final open class fight of the tournament. Lewis, who won the Detroit Golden Gloves last year at the lower 201-lb weightclass and is the reigning national Golden Gloves champion, walked away with the title again despite a hard fought battle. The defending 201+ Detroit champ Smith was not intimidated and did give up an inch, making Lewis earn the title. Andriy Stankevych of the Hamtramck Boxing Club will be making his first appearance on the national level after a points win over Dynamic’s Eddie Gates. It was fight #2 of the tournament for both boxers, Stankevych recording a win on Saturday and Gates taking the decision in Friday prelims to advance.
In what was to have been the sixth open class bout of the night, Demetrius Bankswon on walkover from Sean Sedgeman, who himself had advanced on a walkover from Tony Booker the day before. Young
Angel Carrion put in good work but was outclassed by the superior
skills of the 23-8 James Taylor of Ann Arbor’s A-Square Boxing
Gym. In
a 152 pound Novice bout, Justin Robinson of Motown brought a 6-1
record against teammate Louis Goodall’s 4-1 record in the
only fight of the day to feature boxers from the same gym. Robinson
would win the nod from the judges.
Sunday
results
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