Reggie (and Yvette) Woods’ latest offering of the Dallas Golden Gloves was a smashing success. Approximately 160 fights were held over a four-night period and we were there for every one of them. Results From all four nights can be found on the Dallas Golden Gloves website www.dallasgoldengloves.org, so as to not be redundant, we will hit the highlights and in an instance or two, the unfortunate lowlights.

Beginning with the first night, and every night thereafter the bell tolled a ten count for recently deceased Dallas Police Athletic League (DPAL) boxer Jerson Archaga. A very touching and very classy gesture to a young man that was taken from his family and his boxing family way too soon.

Monday, January 25th
Forty-five bouts scheduled. Highlight of the night was the bout #30 in the 152 lb open division. Jeramon Rose of the Texas Select Boxing team pushed Errol Spence, winner of almost every national title in his weight class and then some to the limit for two rounds. In the third, Spence seemingly switched into high gear and was a run away winner. Lowlight of the night was in the novice 141 lb division. Two fighters from Guy Mezger’s gym were inexplicably matched against each other while two fighters in the same weight class from other gyms drew a bye. That was a head-scratcher.

Tuesday, January 26th
Forty-six bouts scheduled. Highlight of the night? Nine walkovers meant the boxing officials were going to get home before midnight.

Wednesday, January 27th
Forty-four bouts scheduled. Highlight of the night was the action packed bout #26. In an open division 114 lb bout, underdog David Ramirez from the Garland Police 9th Street Gym (GPOL) gave Ringside National Champ Ray Ximenz Jr. a run for his money. Ximenz finished the third round strong to steal the round and the fight. The lowlight of the night was without a doubt, bout #31, in the open, 152 lb division. Maurice Hooker from the Devil Dogs boxing team and Robin Jackson representing Home of Champions (HOC) were both disqualified for continuing to fight after the bell ended the first round. When the referee stopped the contest, Hooker in an ultimate lack of class and sportsmanship, threw his mouthpiece on the canvas, took his gloves off, slammed them on the canvas, then did his best imitation of the recent American Idol song, “Pants on the Ground” and climbed out of the ring. Both received 30-day suspensions from the DOCTOR.

Thursday, January 28th
The final night, there were forty-two bouts scheduled. The highlights included the toughest, littlest, female boxer I’ve ever seen, in the first bout of the evening, Angelica DeLeon of DeLeon Boxing defeating Janette Castorena from Young Guns in the female bantam novice, 55 lb division. Since the first time I saw little Angelica fight, she has been a favorite of the North Texas Boxing staff, especially this writer. She’s wise beyond her years and experience, throwing and landing straight, crisp punches, ducking and slipping punches at the right times and just handling herself with maturity, sportsmanship and class both in and out of the ring for such a young lady. Wednesday night she stopped by the Officials’ table to chat. Angelica is a precious little girl. She wears glasses that make her look unassuming and non-threatening as a fighter. [How threatening could a 55 lb female look? I guess her opponents are the only ones that can answer that.] I asked Angelica how she was able to see her opponents considering she was near-sighted? She smiled and said, “I just follow them…and they’re close enough so I can see them.” I presume she means that she can then hit them. Spoken like a true champion; a true Dallas Golden Gloves Champion, which she was Thursday night when she left the arena. Highlight #2, fight #12, in the open 123 lb division, DPAL’s Ricardo Barron won a hard fight over Refugio Montellano of GPOL. After the fight, while Barron was on stage having his hand raised and accepting his trophy, he came up to me at the officials table and said, “They can’t say I didn’t win this one. Can they?” Fight #17, the 176 lb open division championship presented us with both a highlight and the lowlight of the night. This was without a doubt, the fight of the tournament. It literally could have gone to either fighter. But when Mack was awarded the decision, I presume the adrenalin was still flowing when he took center stage, flexed his biceps, and announced to the crowd, “That’s what I’m talking about.” or something to that effect. That reaction only put a damper on his victory, as the crowd then began booing him. Mack immediately recognized the error of his way and tuned off the bravado. Unfortunately the damage was done. Highlight #4, fight #35, in the novice 123 lb class, Mengmou Ly representing Champion Enterprise 16th Street gym won the Novice 123 lb division over Hilarion Olvera of HOC. Ly isn't the flashiest of boxers, but he is a steady presence in the ring, not shying away from action, and being both defensive and offensive at the correct times. Again, he was not spectacular, but he did enough to be a Dallas Golden Gloves Champion. Highlight #5 and North Texas Boxing’s choice for fighter of the Tournament was Apollo Sample from the gym of MMA legend Guy Mezger. Sample fought every night of the tournament to win his title in the novice 165 lb division, and none was a cakewalk. I do not know how many fights Sample had before this tournament, but I do know he now has four more wins on his record and a DGG Championship. Congrats Apollo.

Overall highlight of the show? The Photos On Hand booth, which provided amazing pictures in both quality and quantity for all to participants, their family, friends, and fans. If you or your child was a participant, then you owe it to yourself contact Anna from Photos On Hand and procure one or more of these outstanding pictures. [Their contact info is below.] Lowlights of the tourney? Wednesday night when the officials table was moved to the back of the room, behind a standing room only crown. We enjoy giving back to the kids as officials but we also enjoy watching the action. A big thank you to Debbie Holmes for restoring sanity to the process. One lowlight that we hate to relive but begs attention was the pronouncement, more than once, of wrong the winner. I’m sure it was difficult to tell the winner turned loser and their coaches a reversal had to take place. Thank God, that task did not fall on me.

Overall it was a great show. After four days/night of getting to bed at 1:00 AM, I cannot believe I am saying this, but I am definitely looking forward to next year. The new LBC #26 boxing regime of Barney Flores, President and Debbie Holmes, Chief of Officials, despite some minor bumps, orchestrated a class show.

Team trophies went to GPOL in the Junior Division, Texas Gladiators in the Novice Division, and Home of Champions in the Open Division.

Photo’s On Hand Contact Info:
photosonhand@yahoo.com