Socorro hosts Silver Gloves

Ringside report by Trevor Trujillo

Over 200 people came to the National Guard Armory on Saturday for the second night of this years Silver Gloves boxing tournament. 

The night began with a 119-lb bout, where Isidro Castillo of School of Hardknocks defeating Alfonso Rodriguez of Warrior Boxing.

The second bout of the evening was in the 60-pound division, as Francisco Tewaheftewa out-hustled TNT fighter Luis Maldonado.  Both competitors threw nonstop punches for the length of the fight, but it was the cleaner punches Tewaheftewa landed that got him the victory.

The ladies came to battle for the third bout of the evening.  Nancy Reyes of Warrior Boxing and Senida Maldonado of Atrisco-T.U.F.F. came to the squared circle to do battle.  Round one was all Reyes; Maldonado receiving back-to-back 8-counts in the round before taking a big shot that knocked her mouth piece out.  Maldonado worked hard, but she was no match for the slugging Reyes.

The fourth fight of the evening was the first championship bout; Leobado Ariano of Eddie’s Boxing came to the ring to face Miguel Munoz of School of Hard Knocks.  The 105 pound fighters both came to the ring with bad intentions. 

Round one was a slugfest, with both fighters landing big shots, Ariano landing the majority.  Round two was more of the same with Ariano closing the round battering Munoz against the ropes and sending him to his corner bloodied. 

A different fighter came out of the blue corner in round three.  The two fighters met in the middle of the ring, where Munoz landed a monstrous one-two sending Ariano to the mat merely seconds into the round.  After his 8-count Ariano stepped into a barrage of monstrous blows causing the referee to inquire with the doctor mid-way through the round.  The doctor saw Ariano fit to compete and sent him back into a brutal beating.  After another 30-seconds of slaughter the doctor pulled the plug on the fight, and Munoz pulls of a third round victory.  

The fifth fight of the tournament was in the 106-pound division as Javier Villanueva of Los Tigres Boxing scored a third round standing 8-count and defeated K.O. Boxing’s  Efrian Ferrer.

Bout number six was another female fight as Christine “Bubba” Mirabal of Mirabal boxing faced Angelica Sanchez of Los Tigres.  Sanchez and Mirabal wasted no time going to work on each other in round one, Sanchez scoring a mid-round standing 8-count on “Bubba.”  The fight came to a strange conclusion in round two, when, after stiff punches from Sanchez, the referee pulled Mirabal into a neutral corner.  The referee asked her a question, to which Mirabal nodded, again he asked her a question, again the young fighter nodded and the fight was called, awarding Sanchez the second round TKO.

The seventh bout came in the form of a too close to call match up between Richard Johnson of ABQ Pal and Isaiah Abeyta of Sigala’s.  Johnson showed up to exhibit his boxing skills, but fell just short of the Sigala fighter.

Bout number eight was in the 78-lb female division, where Shayla Mcentire of Sigala’s out-boxed Graciala Martinez of Warrior Boxing. 

After a short intermission, southpaw Emmanuel Mena of Perez Boxing showcased his stiff right jab in his win over Sigala boxer Isaac Gurule

The 80-pound 12-13 year division went to Christian Garcia of Warrior Boxing as he out-muscled Joseph Gonzalez from bell to bell.

Marcus Duran of One More Round Boxing came to battle Christian Cabral of Warrior Boxing for the 147lb. 14-15 year division title.  The taller Duran began the bout by using his long arms to keep Cabral at bay, but the quicker Cabral rapidly found holes in the stretching jabs and worked his way inside.  Cabral snapped Duran’s neck back multiple times before the ref called for a standing 8-count in round two.  Duran attempted to mount a comeback in round three, but it was too little too late as Cabral scored the win. 

For the 112-pound 14-15 year-old class Andrew Suazo of Los Tigres squared off with Brandon Salazar of Sigala’s.  Salazar left no room for doubt in this fight, as he outclassed Salazar through all three rounds.

Alex Garcia of Sigala’s and Eric Reyes of Martinez Boxing met in the ring to battle for the 10-11 year-old 80-pound division.  Reyes out punched Garcia from bell to bell and showed his tremendous heart as he won the title. 

The fourteenth and final bout of the evening pitted local fighter William Griego of Eddies Boxing and Atrisco-TUFF fighter Fidel Maldonado against one another.

The Socorro native, adorning the Mexican flag around his shoulders, entered the ring to a thundering roar from the crowd. 

Round one was a complete brawl, with both fighters trading shots looking for the first round knock out.  Griego, who was throwing wild hooks, connected squarely in the end of round one causing Maldonado to stumble momentarily. 

In the second round, Maldonado did what any experienced boxer would do against a brawler.  He slowed down the fight and waited for a hole in his opponents game; when he got that opportunity Maldonado hit Griego with a combination Griego will not soon forget, or he may not even remember.  The young fighter walked right into a straight left-left hook combination that thundered off of his head, sending him crashing to the canvas.  Griego somehow got to his feet and managed to stumble to his corner without falling, but the fight was clearly over as Maldonado destroyed the Socorro native William Griego.