Quintet of Region 11 Boxers Win National Silver Gloves Titles

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net

Mahmutovic just keeps collecting hardware. (Rob Fernandez)

Region 11 amateurs continued their impressive run at the Junior Olympic level Saturday afternoon, as five boxers captured championships at the National Silver Gloves in Independence, Mo.

In the 14-15 age division, Suray Mahmutovic (415 B.C., San Francisco) defeated Sergio Diego Flores in the 178-pound final to add the Silver Gloves to his recent victories at the World Junior Team Open and National Junior Golden Gloves.

"Flores was just rushing Suray all fight long from the beginning," said Rob Fernandez, Mahmutovic's trainer.  "But Suray was just boxing well, landing clear jabs that were snapping his head back.  It took awhile to count all the scores, but in the end, the judges got it right.  I'm really proud of Suray."

Mahmutovic was joined in the 14-15 age division winners' circle by Gilroy's Peter Tavares, who won by decision in the 80-pound final.

Three more Region 11 boxers competed in their respective weight classes in the 12-13 age division.  Richard Torrez (Tulare A.C., pictured) outpointed three-time National Silver Gloves champion Elijah Green of Maryville, Mo., in the 176-pound final.  Marc Castro (Fresno PAL) concluded his run with a decision triumph in the 85-pound final, while Gabriel Flores (Los Gallos, Stockton) lost a close verdict on points.

In the 10-11 age division final, 55-pounder Jesus Haro of Merced emerged victorious to cap another successful tourney for Region 11.  With the Junior Olympics coming in June, our boxers have established the region as a force on the national scene.

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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