By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net
Trainer Armando Mancinas and his fighter, Marisol Lopez, celebrate after advancing to the finals.
Region 11 sent 12 fighters to the semifinals at the Junior Olympic National Championships in Mobile, Alabama, with six of them advancing to Friday's championship bouts.
In the 106-pound girls' division, Marisol Lopez of Avenal's King's Gym had no problems with Marina Sierra of Tuscon, Ariz., stopping her at 1:24 of the second round. Lopez faces Miranda Burkett of Caldwell, Idaho.
"Her opponent was taller and gave her a little bit of a problem in the opening seconds," said Armando Mancinas, Lopez' trainer. "In the end, Marisol was more explosive, worked her angles, and got into defensive mode right when she had to."
Isidro Ochoa of Fresno PAL stopped fellow boys' 110-pound division stalwart Zachary Landru of Payallup, Wash., at 1:23 of the second round. He meets Newark, N.J.'s Shakur Stevenson in the final.
"Isidro has some pretty good speed, and knows when to pressure and when to box," Mancinas added. "He's similar to 'Dracula' in that he knows how to read his opponents."
Speaking of "Dracula," the 114-pounder also known as Ruben Villa IV marched to the boys' final with a 20-9 victory over Lawrence Newton of Delray, Fla. He faces Da'Reece Crawford of Kansas City.
"Ruben gave the kid a standing eight count right away, and that gave him the confidence to jump on his opponent after that," Mancinas said. "He boxed beautifully and at the right moments."
In a 119-pound boys' showdown, Antonio Williams of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was disqualified for excessive holding, allowing Fresno's Efren Lopez of Main Event B.C. to advance. Rogelio Cervantes of Kansas City waits for him.
In a 119-pound boys' showdown, Antonio Williams of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was disqualified for excessive holding, allowing Fresno's Efren Lopez of Main Event B.C. to advance. Rogelio Cervantes of Kansas City waits for him.
Isabella Nieves of Kenosha, Wis., was outpointed by Caballero B.C. of Sacramento's Nancy Gutierrez, 22-19, who moved on to the girls' 132-pound final.
Jackie Gomez of Gilroy's Left to Right B.C. finds herself in the girls' 138-pound final against an opponent to be determined.
Jackie Gomez of Gilroy's Left to Right B.C. finds herself in the girls' 138-pound final against an opponent to be determined.
The rest of the Region 11 fighters fought valiantly in defeat.
Neesha Khan of San Francisco's Golden Gate B.C. dropped an 18-7 decision to Jasmine Hampton of Ann Arbor, Mich., in a 114-pound girls' semifinal.
Mariah Leon of Lubbock, Tex., decisioned fellow 119-pounder Joselina Ortega of Fresno's Velarde T.C. in the girls' division.
Evelyn Borja of Fresno's Velarde T.C. fell to Melissa Archuleta of Lakewood, Colo., 33-22, in a 125-pound girls' semifinal.
In a 165-pound matchup, Jazavian Palmer of Lubbock, Tex., stopped Gilbert Alvarez of Oakland Boxing at 1:28 of the first round.
Elvis Figueroa of New Haven, Conn., outhustled fellow boys' 176-pounder David Gaitan of Sacramento's Round 12 B.C., 23-13.
Finally, Junior Younan made it to the 189-pound boys' final with a 16-9 win over Tiofilo Bueno III of Tulare A.C.
Norcalboxing.net's Ryan Maquiñana is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and Ring Magazine’s Ratings Panel. E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com, check out his weekly column for Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, his archive for BoxingScene.com, or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.
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