High Spirits and High Drama in Fort Worth JO/SR Box Offs

Written by Sean Malone | 18 April 2010

usa_boxing_ring_feature_full Few things reaffirm ones love for the sport of boxing quite like an amateur tournament. From the visible aspirations of the young men and women who participate, to the high drama each bout presents, amateur boxing is often a roller coaster of emotional peaks and valleys. This is part of the charm of the sport, and one of the major reasons why fans of the sport, hold amateur boxing in such high regard.

This weekend, Premier Boxing Club hosted the Southwestern Association LBC Championships. The two day tournament hosted some of the best of the best in amateur boxers from here in North Texas. In many respects, it was like an all-star tournament, one that featured names like Ray Ximenez, Abraham Torres, Jordon Jones, Tony Mack, and Alex Clarkson. It was a proverbial “who’s who” of amateur talent, on everyone involved, from the officials, to the spectators, was in complete euphoria following a weekend of high intensity bouts. At stake, winners today advanced to the regional championships in El Paso this May. So, needless to say, each bout held significance in the highest order.

FIGHT OF THE DAY (UNOFFICAL)

Fight of the Afternoon – Initially, I had penciled in the complete war between Brandon Fowler (Young Guns) and Israel Hernandez (Home of Champions), as these two young boxers went at each other for every minute of each round. But, then the fight of all fights, the Open 178 division bout between Plano’s Tony Mack (Champion Enterprise) and Cedar Hill’s Alex Clarkson (Devil Dogz).

You would be hard pressed to find a fight that held more ebbs and flows, more climatic peaks, and more blood and guts than the battle waged between Mack and Clarkson. As if the fight wasn’t significant to begin with, pitting two of North Texas’ best amateurs against each other, but there was history between the two. The two boxers squared off in a slugfest at this year’s Dallas Golden Gloves, and while many felt that Clarkson had done enough to warrant a victory in that fight, the judges ruled in Mack’s favor. Today’s rematch held much gravitas, and there was a very real presence of energy as the two boxers entered the ring. In fact, this fight had the feeling of a professional bout, from the anticipation in the room, to intense action in the bout.

And boy, what a bout it was. Both fighters refused to give an inch of real estate as both winged concussive shots at each other. There was blood, a knockdown, and a number of instances where both fighters seemed to be seizing control. It was the type of fight that left spectators breathless and though Mack was awarded the decision, you had the felling that there were no real losers in the bout. In fact, everyone who witnessed the bout went home winners.

COMPLETE RESULTS

Jonathan Padilla (Young Guns) def. Mario Alvarado (Barney & Me) – SO 119

Lynyrd Estrada (Diamond Hill) def. Daniel Castaneda (Home of Champions) – SO 114

Kameron Jones (Texas Select) def. Ivan Rocha (Diamond Hill) – SO 119

Charles Clark (Devil Dogz) def. Eric Anton (Vivero) – SO 125

Michael Simmons (Texas Select) def. Alex DelBosque (De Leon) – SO 132

Armando Torres (Jaycee Zaragoza) def. Rafael Garza (Devil Dogz) – SO 138

Christian Ventura (Dallas PAL) def. Austin Lingo (Ringside) – SO 145

Alex Rincon (Irving PAL) def. Jose Torres (Jaycee Zaragoza) – SO 154

Brandon Fowler (Young Guns) def. Israel Hernandez (Home of Champions) – NOV 132

Kevin Hilld (Ringside) def. Melvin Harris (Ten Count) – NOV 141

Ryan MacElvaine (KO 101) def. Robert Carlise (Gatesville) – NOV 152