The Villa Boxing Club of Wichita, Kansas hosted the amateur boxing Junior Olympics tournament yesterday at the Farha sports center in Wichita, Kansas.
The tournament is for the winners from the boys and girls 9-16 years old of the Missouri Valley LBC that advances them to the Heartland regional tournament to take place in Winfield, Kansas. The Heartland regional team will then advance to the National Junior Olympic tournament at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina on June 14th-19th.
Starting off in the boy's open 9-10 years old division with two bouts for the finals, Saul Ramirez of Team Punisher from Winfield, Kansas won by decision over Matthew Barker of our local Villa Boxing club in the 65-pound weight class. The two boxers were no strangers to each other as this was a rematch of last month's event at Doc Howard's.
Matt fought hard to redeem his last loss but Saul was able to box his way with a win. Saul has great potential with his developed boxing skills for his age. Matt is a tough boxer who has improved a lot and we can expect him to continue to be a strong contender as he gains more experience. Saul Ramirez is the 2010 Boy's (9-10) 65 lbs Missouri Valley JO Champion. (Click links for videos Round 1, Round 2, Round 3)
1st Round of Nico Hernandez vs Brandon Kapner (Wichita Boxing YouTube)
Carlos Ibarra was able to give Team Punisher a two out of two in their scheduled matches as he won by decision over the tough Lonnie Lucero, Jr. of the Garden City boxing club from Garden City, Kansas in the 70-pound weight class.
Team Punisher has a stable of young contenders and Carlos is one for them. Carlos boxing skills are very well developed with his composure and ring generalship. Lonnie has improved from his last bouts and he'll continue to excel as he gains more experience fighting the likes of Carlos and Saul. Lonnie has the most important quality for a young boxer and that is heart. Lonnie didn't make this an easy bout for Carlos. Carlos doesn't fail to impress the local boxing fans. Carlos Ibarra is the 2010 Boy's (9-10) 70 lbs Missouri Valley JO Champion. (Click links for videos Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, and Decision)
Moving on to the boy's 11-12 years old division, Cesareo Morales of Under Dogs boxing from Salina, Kansas won by decision over Jesse Zamora of Whatsoever Boxing club from Kansas City, Missouri in the final bout for the 85-pound weight class. This was a great match as both boxers took on each other with great tenacity. Cesareo was able to land some of the cleaner shots to edge out a close decision over Jesse. This was an exciting bout to watch. Cesareo Morales is the 2010 Boy's (11-12) 85 lbs Missouri Valley JO Champion. (Click links for videos Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, and Decision)
The next two bouts were for the semi-finals in the 95-pound weight class. Kevin Reist of Northside Boxing club team 316 won by decision over Gerado Flores of the Kansas City Missouri Police Athletic League (PAL). Kevin has improved impressively over the last few months. He showed improvements in his boxing skills as he is able to keep his range and move in and out on his attacks. Gerado showed great fortitude but he wasn't able to land enough punches on Kevin. Kevin will advance to today's final bout. (Click links for videos Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, and Decision)
Daniel Castillo of Villa Boxing club will challenge Kevin as he won by decision over Xavier Richardson of Turner Golden Gloves from Kansas City, Kansas. Daniel has also improved his boxing skills and it really showed against Xavier. Xavier was effective with his straight punches as he initiated the attacks aggressively. Daniel's hooks and uppercuts enabled him to land the effective shots that won him the decision. Daniel beat Kevin in their past couple of matches however, this may be closer than their two previous bouts. (Click links for videos Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, and Decision)
3rd Round of JR Rodriguez vs Tomas Partida (Wichita Boxing YouTube)
In the next division in the boy's 13-14 years old, our local 4-time national Silver Gloves champion Nico Hernandez of Northside boxing team 316 won by decision over Brandon Kapner of Seneca boxing from Seneca, Missouri in the 80-pound weight class.
Brandon did a great job of pressuring Nico and hung in there well to make this a good bout. Nico displayed his excellent boxing skills as he utilized his left hooks and great angles to give him the win. Nico Hernandez is the 2010 Boy's (13-14) 80 lbs Missouri Valley JO Champion. (Click links for videos Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, and Decision)
Cornelius Powell of Calloway boxing from St. Joseph, Missouri won by decision over Adrian Aragon of Los Lobos boxing from Ulysses, Kansas. Cornelius displayed tremendous boxing skills with great movements, counter punches, and angles against the taller opponent, Adrian. Adrian wasn't able to set the tempo of the bout with his reach advantage as Cornelius was able to weave his way in and out of range. Adrian showed a lot of heart as he continued with the pressure. Cornelius will advance to today's finals. (Click links for videos Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, and Decision)
Adan aka JR Rodriguez of Northside Boxing team 316 won by decision over Tomas Partida of Los Lobos boxing. What JR lacks in height he makes up in speed, quickness, and strength. Tomas started off well until JR was able to find his range. JR does a great job of slipping and weaving his way in for his hard hitting combination punches. JR works his combination punches up finishing up strong upstairs against his mostly taller opponents. Tomas hung in there well toward the end and showed that he could scrap himself. JR is developing into a very exciting boxer to watch! Adan JR Rodriguez is the 2010 Boy's (13-14) 119 lbs Missouri Valley JO Champion. (Click links for videos Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, and Decision)
3rd Round of Raina Esparza vs Maria Morales (Wichita Boxing YouTube)
The last bout for the boy's open division was in the 15-16 years old 114-pound weight class between two teammates of the same gym. Jorge Alacron won by decision over Victor Torres both of Northside Boxing team 316.
Jorge was the busier boxer punching his way from the outside and he was able to landed the clean shots counted by the referee. Victor presents himself more of a puncher as he loads his punches and lands them effectively behind some combination punches. However, Victor didn't keep himself as busy as Jorge to earn the decision.
Both boxers have tremendous potential. Jorge will advance to the regional JOs in Oklahoma. Jorge Alacron is the 2010 Boy's (15-16) 114 lbs Missouri Valley JO Champion. (Click links for videos Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, and Decision)
The JOs finished off with the girl's open division in the 13-14 years old 119-pound weight class. Raina Esparza of Turner Golden Gloves from Kansas City, Kansas won by a 3rd round referee stoppage of Maria Morales of Under Dogs boxing from Salina, Kansas.
Raina displays great composure and discipline to her combination attacks. Maria was the aggressor throwing a lot of punches at Raina. Raina was able to land some counter punches but took her time setting up her punches.
By the third round, Raina was the aggressor and a hard body shot to Maria kept her keeled over gasping for air. Many boxers can sympathize with being the victim of an air gasping body punch. The referee called off the bout after the 8-count and the ringside doctor tended to Maria. Maria was fine after the bout and the boxing fans can relate to the pain that comes from such a body shot. Raina is an upcoming female boxer and she is someone to keep an eye out for as women boxing is gaining greater recognition in the sport. Raina Esparza is the 2010 Girl's (13-14) 119 lbs Missouri Valley JO Champion. (Click links for videos Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, and Winner Declared)
Today's bouts will conclude the Missouri Valley JO championship. The event will take place at the Farha sports center behind the YMCA at 3405 S. Meridian starting at 11am. A complete list of this years JO champions will be listed after the event. (Links to videos will be updated into the article once they are all uploaded.)
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