Local USBA Team Wins JO Senior Division Team Trophy

The 2008 State Junior Olympic Championships were held in Lubbock, Texas, May 23-25, 2008. The West Texas Association put on a great show, stating the Southwestern Association (SWA) had set the standard the previous year at the State JO’s held in Irving, Texas.

The Southwestern Association (SWA) had a total of 28 boxers entered. The boxers represented the following clubs: Diamond Hill Boxing Club, Dallas P.A.L., Deleon Boxing Club, Freedom Boxing Club, Garland Police Youth Boxing, Guzman’s Boxing Club, Home of Champions, Irving P.A.L., Jimenez Boxing Club, Northside Boxing Club, Premier Boxing Club, and Vivero’s Boxing Gym.

Sixteen champions were from the SWA, of which 11 were from the Senior Division.  The SWA won the Senior Division Team Trophy, awarded to the team scoring points on the most wins. The Senior Division winners, which are the only qualifying division, advance to the 2008 National Junior Olympics in Marquette, Michigan, June 17-20, 2008.

The following Southwestern Association boxers were champions:
Junior Division
80 lbs Franscisco Martinez – Vivero Boxing Club
85 lbs Jonathan Padilla – De Leon Boxing Club

Intermediate Division
90 lbs Hector Valdez – Irving P.A.L.
101 lbs Lynard Estrada – Diamond Hill Boxing Club

Senior Division
101 lbs Oscar Mojica – Home of Champions
110 lbs Ray Ximenez – Dallas P.A.L.
119 lbs Chuy Alegria – Premier Boxing Club
132 lbs Manuel Rojas – Vivero’s Boxing Club
138 lbs George Rincon – Irving P.A.L.
154 lbs Ivan Zubita – Irving P.A.L.

The following were unopposed champions:
Junior Division
90 lbs Perla Neiri – Diamond Hill Boxing Club

Senior Division
106 lbs Vanessa Espinoza – Guzman’s Boxing Club
110 lbs Samantha Martinez – Diamond Hill Boxing Club
119 lbs Michelle Rodriguez – Diamond Hill Boxing Club
106 lbs Rogelio Delagarza – Irving P.A.L.
176 lbs Alfred Guzman – Guzman’s Boxing Club

Two of the competing SWA boxers are age 16 and this is their final year of eligibility in the State JO’s, George Rincon and Ivan Zubita, both from Irving P.A.L.  Their dominating performances throughout the tournament were a testament to their experience and their coaches. It is a definite possibility we may someday see these two young boxers participating in the 2012 Olympics, a feat that would not surprise coaches and fans alike that have watched Rincon and Zubita throughout their amateur years.