Future Black Glove Champion

The fireworks started early on Saturday as a genuine slugfest broke out in the Intermediate 119 lb war between Edward Lozano and Francisco Gonzalez.  3 bouts later, Chris Cruz and Jonah Michelsen had an equally exciting encounter, at 138 lbs.  Michael Lane was robbed of an early knockdown in his Novice 152 lb affair, but he was still awarded an 8-count and a victory after punishing his foe with a barrage of right hands.  James Miller, representing the Oak Cliff Boxing Club, put on the evening's most impressive performance with a stoppage.  Though just a Novice 165 pounder, Miller showed promise.

As hard as the task may have seemed, Sunday's action actually outdid what took place the day prior.  Though weighing only 90 lbs., John Rodriguez made the Reyes Boxing Club proud and raised more eyebrows than just my own, winning impressively.  Jesus Montelongo and Estevan Espinosa added to the growing list of fan-friendly action and Jose Romo forced three 8-counts and a stoppage in the very 1st round.  Garland P.A.L. Novice 165 pounder, Torrance Hunter, displayed his explosive hands, registering two 8-counts and an inevitable stoppage.  I haven't seen power quite like this on the local amatuer level since Samuel Clarkson burst onto the scene at last year's National Black Gloves.

The most anticipated and compelling bout of the tournament (in my personal opinion) featured Oak Cliff's Maurice Hooker and KO-N-1's Jesus Aguirre.  These young men stood in the pocket throughout and became quite familiar with each other.  Aguirre eeked out a decision, in his very first Open bout, and I look forward to seeing these two 141 pounders meeting again and again.  The final bout of the evening was perhaps the most savage as Robert Reavis brutally knocked out his game opponent.  Holding it down for Texas Gladiators, Reavis appeared to be a tad more advanced throughout and violently punctuated this in the 3rd round, leaving his foe dazed and in need of medical supervision for several minutes.

Among those in attendance were 2004 and 2008 United States Olympic alternate (and the #1 rated pound for pound fighter by North Texas Boxing), Charles "The Future" Hatley (5-0, 5 KO's), 2008 United States Olympian and newly crowed Texas Super Flyweight Champion, "The Latin Legend" Luis Yanez (3-0), West Dallas's own, Larry "Slomoshun" Smith (2-1, 2 KO's), Jabar Hurd (3-4-1), Texas Middleweight and Junior Middleweight champion, Taronze "T-Reezy" Washington (13-10, 7 KO's), Quinice Wesby (1-0), amatuer stud Ray Ximinez and 2004 United States Olympic alternate, Mark "Too Sharp" Davis (12-0, 4 KO's).

Saturday, August 22nd was a special day for North Texas Boxing on more than just the amatuer boxing front.  Our very own internet celebrity and acclaimed ring announcer, Roland Gamez, celebrated his birthday and Roland couldn't have been happier spending that day indulging himself in his passion and first love, boxing!

The 1st place team trophy was awarded to Azteca, who shined throughout and had some nice in-house chants that they displayed.  Outstanding J/O fighter was Mauricio Castillo, himself from Azteca.  The J/O Sportsmanship award went to Jonathan Martinez of GTO.  The James and Annie Hatley Sportsmanship Award went to Carlos Castillo, an Open-division fighter also from Azteca.  John Vera went home with the Dominic Littleton Outstanding Boxer Award.  Vera trains out of former world champion Paulie Ayala's gym.

Saturday Winners  (*Indicates Championship Bouts)

Cestus Management’s 140 lb. destroyer Robert "NIGHTHAWK" Luna Jr. thrilled the live crowed at the Don Haskins Convention Center in El Paso, Texas, by brutally stopping the game and vastly experience Tomondre King in the forth round. Luna Jr's fight was part of the undercard that featured world ranked Antonio Escalante fight Cornilius Locke in the ten round main event.

In the opening round, Luna Jr. came out displaying impressive skills; shooting double and triple jabs which snapped King’s head back.  The “NIGHTHAWK” followed his jabs with hard shots to both the head and body leading King to wince in pain.  Luna Jr. continued his vicious assaults throughout the second and third rounds systematically breaking King down. In the last minute of round three Luna Jr sensing that he could put King away really stepped up the attack, trapping King on the ropes and nailing him with a booming straight right hand to the chin, just as the bell sounded to end the round. King looked like he was glad to hear the bell as he walked back to his corner on very shaky legs.

The “NIGHTHAWK”  came out for the forth and final round with thunder in his fists and rattled off a hellacious six punch combination the head and body which seriously hurt king.  The thousands of fans in attendance went wild as they sensed the end was near. Luna responded back to the fans and gave them what they wanted and went after King putting together a brutal display of punching power connecting with a right uppercut followed by a left hook to the side of the head which left King defenseless After the last two shots landed the referee had seen King take enough punishment and called a halt to the contest at 1:28 of the round awarding Robert Luna Jr. a knockout victory.  The “Nighthawk’s record improves to 5-0 with 3 knockouts.

After the fight, Robert Luna Jr. said, “I feel great and am glad that I was able to give the El Paso fight fans a great and exciting show.  I told everybody I would give them a red hot performance and that's exactly what I did. I hit King with some vicious body shots and overhand rights that really hurt him and really slowed him down.  The referee did the right thing and stopped the fight, as King could have got seriously hurt.  I still have a very long way to go and I know that this is only the beginning, but I will keep giving my best every time I fight. 
   
Mike Michael, Cestus Management’s advisor, said, “The boxing fans in El Paso (Texas) were going crazy with the energy and brute force that they witnessed as Robert really put a brutal beating on his opponent.  Luna’s natural strength is extraordinary and his nonstop, vicious approach is exhilarating.  The way he ended the fight is a testament to the Nighthawk’s vast potential.” 
 
Michael added, “Cestus Management would like to personally thank Golden Boy Promotions for this great opportunity. Also, we would like to thank the great fight fans of El Paso, Texas for their support.  And lastly, I would like to personally thank Anthony Velasquez (Gente Entertainment) for his continued support. 

Saturday, July 18, Los Gallos head coach Adolfo Ortiz presented an exciting day of amateur boxing at the Senter Recreation Center in Irving, Texas. Ortiz should be applauded for putting on a well-organized and quick-paced show. He also deserves a standing “O” for bringing in gyms from Mission, Texas, Texas and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Guerrero Boxing Club).

Afternoon Bouts

1. Angelica DeLeon

   (BFN 50) Angelica De Leon / De Leon vs. Makayla Carton / Premier (De Leon by decision.)

   Before the referee started the fight, these young fighters circled each other giving each other a mean look. As mean a look as two eight-year-old girls can give each other. I got quite a kick watching the two young princesses battle it out; it really was an exciting fight. In fact, I was sitting next to official Roland Gamez who was judging the fight and he remarked how tough these two “young boys” were. I corrected him and said, “They’re girls Roland, not boys.” Gamez, the great official that he is was just aware of the color of the corners and not the names of the fighters.

   After the fight Angelica kept her fighter’s mug on her face, even after she was announced the winner. Still Angelica is as cute as a button. I interviewed her after the fight and she told me it was her decision to box. She asked her dad to allow her to fight. I asked her if her mom worried about her boxing, as she was saying no, mom was shaking her head yes. She gave me a big laugh when I asked her who she sparred with and she replied matter of factly, “Boys.” Little Angelica stole my heart, before I left for the day I asked her mom could I get a hug. That’s what parents do. [One more side note about this fight, as the girls were awaiting the decision, Makayla looked directly at me with all the confidence of a true warrior, and winked at me.]

2. (BN 70) Aaron Morales / Morales vs. Christian Puga / Mission, Texas (Morales by decision.)
3. (BN 75) Marcario Moreno / Guerrero vs. Andres Cervantes / Freedom (Moreno by RSC 2nd.)
4. (JN 95) Luis Angel Garcia / IPAL vs. Favian Morales / Morales (Garcia by decision.)
5. (IO 101) Hector Valdez / IPAL vs. Rey Torres / Knuckle Up (Valdez by RSC 1st.)
6. (SO 106) Ernesto Delgadillo / Los Gallos vs. Alex Vialobos / Hip Pro (Delgadillo by RSC 3rd.)
   Pookie started the fight like a whirlwind, then stopped as quickly as he started knowing he could start up the whirlwind again whenever he wanted. Between rounds, Pookie seemed to be playing to the crowd. In the beginning of the third, he started working the body, which was the beginning of the end for Vialobos.


7. (SO 110) Regelio Valdez / Vivero vs. Carlos Adame / Los Gallos (Valdez by decision.)
8. (FJIN 110) Cynthia Garcia / Los Gallos vs. Alexandra Arzabala / Young Guns (Garcia by decision.)
   These two young ladies went at it toe-to-toe for the entire three rounds, each giving as good as she got. I have friends that always say to me, “I want to see girls fight” I know now to tell them they need to come to an amateur show.

9. (IO 125) Leroy Perez / Mission, Texas vs. Martin Morales / Morales (Perez by decision.)
10. (Open 132) Francisco Maros / HOC vs. Vicente Hernandez / Guerrero (Maros by decision.)
11. (IN 141) Michelle Ramirez / Los Gallos vs. Miranda Martinez / Lone Star (Ramirez by decision.)
    Michelle Ramirez of Los Gallos was impressive. She seemed calm and in charge throughout the fight. She was content to counter and she made the best of it. Again, she was impressive.

12. (Open 152) Ivan Zubieta / IPAL vs. Lydell Rodes / Guerrero (Zubieta by decision.)
13. (Nov. 165) Daniel Pedreza / Eagles vs. Marquis Boston / Rock Solid (Pedreza by decision.)
14. (Open 165) Enrique Neira / Premier vs. Chris Adkins / GPAL (Neira by decision.)
15. (JN 75) Jonathan Rodriguez / Ignacio’s vs. Alex Davis / Guerrero (Rodriguez by decision.)

Evening Bouts

1. (BN 65) David Lubano / Eagles vs. Carlos Casterona / Young Guns (Lubano by decision.)
   This fight was the most exciting of the day. There was non-stop punching from both of these young boys. But, Lubano had the better ring generalship, something judges look for in amateur boxing. Lubano seemed to have a feel whenever he was in a corner or was getting close to having his back against the ropes, way beyond his years. Even as Casterona was continually moving forward.

2. (BN 65) Brandon Rivas / Sapartans vs. Jose Rodriguez / Ignacio (Rivas by decision.)
   What I remember most about this fight was the great sportsmanship both of these young men demonstrated. Hats off to both of these young men and their coaches.

3. (BN 70) Anthony Rodriguez / GTO vs. Xavier Aguilar / Los Gallos (Rodriguez by RSC 1st.)
4. (BO 75) Noah Jones / TX Select vs. Jose Davila / Young Guns (Jones by decision.)
5. (JO 70) Isaiah Hunt / Eagles vs. Miguel Nunez / Vivero (Hunt by decision.)
6. (N 85) George Vargas / De Leon  vs. Noe Araiza / IPAL (Vargas by decision.)
7. (Open 132) Victorian Cardoza / IPAL vs. Salina Rivera / D-Town (Cardoza by decision.)
   The first fight of the evening may have been the most exciting to this writer, but this fight drew the biggest reaction from the crowd and Cardoza seemed to have the biggest following of the day.

8. (Nov. 132) Cyron Robinson / Spartans vs. Jackoby Caldwell / Paulie Ayala (Robinson by decision.)
9. (IN 110) Steven Cortez / Los Gallos vs. Miguel Gonzalez / Fort Worth (Cortez by decision.)
10. (SO 125) Jesse Rocha / Freedom vs. Alex Lopez / Lone Star (Rocha by decision.)
11. (Nov. 125) Brian Reynolds / Knuckle Up vs. Marlon Loyd / GPOL (Reynolds by decision.)
12. (Nov. 141) Jacoby Powell / Young Guns vs. Gilbert Rodriguez / Westside (Powell by RSC 2nd.)
13. (ISO 106) Jonathon Padilla / Padilla vs. Baldito Ramirez / De Leon (Padilla by decision.)
    The loudest fan for this fight was Ramirez’ baby sister Nicole Suarez, shouting almost non-stop from the bleachers, “Go Baldi, go Baldi.”

14. (Open 132) Anthony Sales / Tarrant PAL vs. Brandon Steele / Fight Time (Sales by walkover.)
15. (MISN 114) Estevan Espinosa / D-Town vs. Christopher Garcia / Colossus (Espinosa by decision.)
16. (Nov. 201) Ray Orr / Eagles vs. Tomarrius Good / Greer (Orr by RSC 1st.)

Good show Los Gallos, we look forward to your next one.

History of the Black Gloves

Greg Hatley, trainer for the Oak Cliff Boxing Team, created the National Black Gloves in 1999.  After traveling to Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., St. Louis, Ohio and other major cities and states, Hatley noticed a lack of urban flair in the tournaments held in his hometown.  So he aimed to bring a bit of rhythm and soul to Dallas in the form of his very own amateur event.  Over the years, in addition to top-notch fighters, the Black Gloves has featured local rappers, DJ’s, dancers and musicians.  Ever conscious of the family element, Hatley added cookouts, raffles and even bounce houses, which has resulted in the most perpetually entertaining amateur show in Dallas.  Frankly, if you can’t enjoy yourself at the Black Gloves, your heartbeat has stopped and you’ve already flat-lined.  [Read More]