Junior Olympics District Boxing Champions crowned
This year’s Junior Olympics District Champions are: Front row, (left to right) Juan Garcia of Heber Boxing, Alan Ramirez of Penacho Boxing Club, Angel Garcia of Heber, Carlos Sanchez of Alliance Training Center, David Gutierrez of Golden Hands, Rodolfo Ortigoza of Penacho. Second row, (l to r) Tyler Herberger and Hussein Fakhreddine of Old School Boxing, Luis Enriquez of National City CYAC, Eric Puente of Legacy Boxing Club (in red pull over), Lazaro Lorenzana of Gladiators, and Corey Snyder of Cital Boxing & Nutrition. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Another USA Amateur Boxing Show is in the books. This one hosted by the San Diego Combat Academy on Mission Gorge featured the Junior Olympics District finals and as you can imagine the place was packed. 
Well respected boxing trainer, Tom DiFrancesco (L), passes along some last minute instructions to his boxer, Scott Torres (R). Photo: Jim Wyatt
As you might imagine, there was a packed house for the USA Amateur Boxing Show held Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the San Diego Combat Academy and the Alan "El Pero" Ramirez backers were there to show their support. Photo: Jim Wyatt
In Bout #1, 19 year-old Scott Torres of Poway took on 21 year-old Kukoa “Kj” Haslop, Unaffiliated, who hails from the Vista area.
At the conclusion of Bout #1, Scott Torres (L), the eventual winner, and his opponent, Kj Haslop (R) wait with referee Rick Ley (C) for the judges' decision. Photo: Jim Wyatt
The way Torres followed coach Tom DiFrancesco’s instructions, it was like watching the famed music conductor Toscanini lead an orchestra. Calm and cool they worked together, corner to boxer, to insure the victory, “Jab, overhand left, jab, left hook, now let’s mix it up!”
After a while, Haslop had no answer for the onslaught of punches. One eight count followed another until the referee called for the final stoppage.
Never really sure of victory, the two boxers, Luis Lorenzo (L), the eventual winner, and Joseph O'Donnell (R) await the judges' decision for Bout #2 with referee Rick Ley (C). Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #2 had 11 year-old Luis Lorenzo of Ocean’s Boxing in South San Diego going up against 12 year-old Joseph O’Donnell of City Boxing Downtown.
Only last week, Lorenzo prevailed over 12-year-old, Jesus Rios of Rhino’s Boxing at the Legacy Boxing Club Show in Vista, CA.
Lorenzo won this one as well by being the more productive boxer and the guy getting the best of the exchanges. What was different, was the strategy employed in Round #1. While both boxers were landing as many blows as possible, they were of the softer, pitter patter variety. The ones usually relegated to a sparring session.
Then things heated up in round two. That’s when Lorenzo’s accuracy came into play. For the majority of the time, O’donnell’s punches were off the mark and Lorenzo’s somehow kept finding their target.
After an exciting Round #2, both boxers put it back in cruise control for round three. The points total in that final round must have hit an all time low.
Awaiting the decision for Bout #3, we have Jesus Zaragoza (R), the eventual winner, referee Hondo Fontan (C) and Jorge Agiss (L). Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #3 had 11 year-old Jorge Agiss of the National City CYAC going up against 10 year-old Jesus Zaragoza of the Legacy Boxing Club in Vista, Ca.
Like Lorenzo, Mr. Zaragoza fought last week at the Legacy Boxing Show and in that match the southpaw defeated Alfred Vargas of Barrio Logan.
To hear Zaragoza tell it, if possible he’d like to box weekly or as often as there’s a show within the confines of Southern California.
This bout was your classic righty versus lefty. Zaragoza found his success by landing the left hooks and straight lefts while Agiss hit home with the straight rights.
Since the punch stats were almost dead even, the difference maker had to be the power behind each punch. In this grading, Agiss landed the majority of the power shots.
Even though Jesus Laguna (L) towered over the shorter Jorge Oceguera (R), his opponent gave him all he could handle. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #4 had 12 year-old Jesus Laguna of the National City CYAC going up against 11 year-old Jorge Oceguera of the Heber Boxing Club in El Centro, Ca.
At the Vista show last Saturday, Laguna faced Jose Chollet of Barrio Station and lost. Chollet kept landing the straight right on Laguna’s exposed chin. Within the first three minutes of this match, the same problem reared its ugly head.
In Round #1, the much smaller Oceguera got himself inside Laguna’s defenses to land some solid blows on the taller but stationary Laguna.
Laguna did a lot better in rounds two and three and used his firepower to rack up the necessary numbers. Despite winning the match, Laguna’s coaches were upset at their prodigy for dropping his hands and not doing more sticking and moving.
After a 15 minute intermission medals were presented to all the Junior Olympic champions in the various weight classes and divisions. The list included: Adrian Hernandez, Eric Puente, Corey Snyder, Angel and Juan Garcia, Hussein Fakhreddine, Tyler Herberger, Jessica Juarez, David Gutierrez, Luis Enriquez, Rodolfo Ortigoza, Alan Ramirez and Lazaro Lorenza.
After battling Jorge Oceguera nonstop in Bout #4, Jesus Laguna (C) appears to be deep in thought about what had just transpired. Photo: Jim Wyatt
After his defeat of Alexander Celaya (R) in Bout #5, Gilbert Roybal (L) has his arm raised in victory by referee Hondo Fontan. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #5 featured a rematch between Gilbert Roybal of the Oceans’ Boxing Club in South San Diego and Alexander Celaya of the USIAA, the United States Institute of Amateur Athletics in Center City. Like they fought last week at the Legacy Boxing show.
Once again, Roybal proved to be the more experienced boxer and landed the majority of blows. Celaya’s difficulties escalated after being forced to backpedal.
Brandon Mooring (R) is shown after unloading one of his quick and powerful overhand rights on the chin of Joseph Berger in Bout #6. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Never one to give up, back came Joseph Berger (L) to pin Brandon Mooring (R) in the corner and work over his midsection. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #6 featured Cruiserweights, the big guys, 24 year-old Joseph Berger going up against 21 year-old Brandon Mooring who’s just shy of 6’5” tall. The two have spent time training together at the LA Boxing Club in Rancho Peñasquitos.
Since they are buddies, Mooring, who has the better boxing skills, was clearly coasting at times while the crowd kept egging him on to throw the big bombs, the ones he threw early in rounds one and two. With Mooring’s lack of activity in Round #3 and the fact Berger spent the majority of his time wailing away at Mooring’s midsection, the judges’ decision was difficult.
Brandon Mooring (R) has his arm raised in victory by referee Rick Ley (C) as Joseph Berger (L) looks mildly disappointed in the decision. Photo: Jim Wyatt
At the conclusion of Bout #7, referee Hondo Fontan (C) acknowledges the performance of both boxers, Carlos Sanchez (L) and Alan Ramirez (R), the eventual winner. Surely it was a strong candidate for "Bout of the Day". Photo: Jim Wyatt
In the final bout, Bout #7, 10 year-olds Carlos Sanchez of the Alliance Training Center in Chula Vista, CA went up against Alan Ramirez of Peñacheo Boxing.
This one featured boxers with contrasting styles. While Sanchez preferred to be more of a boxing tactician, Ramirez operated like a nonstop brawler where his quantity of blows would eventually win out over Sanchez’s quality of blows. Since the judges’ scoring is based on the point system, it soon became clear who would win the match.
The next show for the San Diego County USA Amateur Boxing fans will be at the House of Boxing Training Center, Saturday, April 14, 2012
Location: 2304 Reo Drive, San Diego, CA 92139
Weigh-ins are at 9 a.m. with the first bout scheduled for 1 p.m.
Your contact person is David Barragan (619) 399-5898
Go to the USA Amateur Boxing pulldown to see the full schedule of upcoming shows.
