Nationals, Day Five: Lopez Crowned Champ, Thomas to Final

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net

Marisol Lopez was among the Youth gold medalists. (Lydia Razo)

 
Marisol Lopez (King's Gym, Avenal) will bring a gold medal back to Stratford after winning Friday's Youth Women's light flyweight final at the 2013 U.S. National Championships at the Northern Quest Casino in Spokane, Wash.

Brent Venegas III (Golden State Bloodhounds, Sacramento) was hoping to add one more gold to Region 11's tally, but lost by unanimous decision in the Youth Men's flyweight final.

In Elite Men's semifinal action, middleweight Daniel Thomas (Concord CYC) continued his surprising run with a unanimous decision victory, while 2011 Olympic Trials light flyweight winner Eros Correa (San Jose PAL) and bantamweight Edwin Sandoval (Bakersfield PAL) lost on points.

Correa dropped a split decision, but he felt he was robbed.

"I felt like I beat him pretty clearly," Correa told Norcalboxing.net.  "I was cracking him.  The whole crowd was reacting every time I landed.  I didn't feel like I got hit with no clean punches at all.  I'm not fighting without headgear for free with the increased chances to get a cut anymore.  I'm going pro."

To watch a live stream, go to usaboxing.org. The whole tournament can be watched for $29.95, while a daily pass costs $9.95.

YOUTH MEN FINALS

114 lbs: Antonio Vargas, Kissimmee, Fla., dec. Brent Venegas, III, Elk Grove, Calif., 3-0

YOUTH WOMEN FINALS

106 lbs: Marisol Lopez, Stratford, Calif., dec. Monica Suazo, Tucson, Ariz., 3-0 

ELITE MEN SEMIFINALS

114 lbs: Malik Jackson, Washington, D.C., dec. Eros Correa, San Jose, Calif., 2-1
123 lbs: Eduardo Martinez, Aurora, Ill., dec. Edwin Sandoval, Bakersfield, Calif., 3-0
165 lbs: Daniel Thomas, Concord, Calif., dec. Jonathan Esquivel, Anaheim, Calif., 3-0

SOURCE: USA Boxing

Nationals, Day Four: Miller Marches into Elite Finals

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net

S.F.'s Miller won on all three judges' scorecards to reach Friday's final. (Raquel Ruiz)

 
Region 11 boxers competed in Thursday's action at the 2013 U.S. National Championships, with Raquel Miller (Champ Nation, Oakland) leading the charge at the HUB Center in Spokane, Wash.

Other fighters earning a spot in the finals include Brent Venegas (Golden State Bloodhounds, Sacramento), Marisol Lopez (King's Gym, Avenal), and Marlen Esparza (Undisputed Gym, San Carlos).  In quarterfinal action, Eros Correa (San Jose PAL), Daniel Thomas (Concord CYC), and Edwin Sandoval (Bakersfield PAL) advanced.

To watch a live stream, go to usaboxing.org. The whole tournament can be watched for $29.95, while a daily pass costs $9.95.

YOUTH MEN SEMIFINALS

114 lbs: Brent Venegas, III, Elk Grove, Calif., dec. Arnold Alejandro, Grand Prairie, Texas, 3-0
123 lbs: Francisco Martinez, Dallas, Texas, dec. Matthew Guerrero, Manteca, Calif., 3-0
165 lbs: Alex Rincon, Carrollton, Texas, dec. Aaron Katzman, Menlo Park, Calif., 3-0.
178 lbs: Michael Barreto, Minneapolis, Minn., dec. David Gaitan, North Highlands, Calif., 3-0

YOUTH WOMEN SEMIFINALS

106 lbs: Marisol Lopez, Stratford, Calif., dec. Monica Van Pelt, Toledo, Ohio, 2-1

ELITE MEN QUARTERFINALS

114 lbs: Eros Correa, San Jose, Calif., dec. Ernesto Delgadillo, Dallas, Texas, 3-0
123 lbs: Edwin Sandoval, Bakersfield, Calif., dec. Fidel Cervantes, Kansas City, Kan., 3-0
165 lbs: Daniel Thomas, Concord, Calif., won on TKO over Frederick Wilson, Cleveland, Ohio, TKO-3(2:15)
178 lbs: Reece Bennett, San Clemente, Calif., dec. Jasper McCargo, Oakland, Calif., 3-0
201+lbs: Elvis Garcia, Umatilla, Ore., dec. Ojayland Brown, Sacramento, Calif., 3-0

Esparza scored a stoppage with her new corner behind her. (Julie Goldsticker)

 
ELITE WOMEN SEMIFINALS

112 lbs: Marlen Esparza, Houston, Texas*, won on TKO over Maureeca Lambert, Glen Ellyn, Ill., TKO-2(1:59)
119 lbs: Ayanna Vasquez, Las Cruces, N.M., dec. Casey Morton, San Francisco, Calif., 3-0
165 lbs: Raquel Miller, San Francisco, Calif., dec. Alicia Napoleon, New York, 3-0

*trains in San Carlos, Calif. 

SOURCE: USA Boxing

VIDEO: Jabari Bird McDonald's All-American Game Highlights

Cal-bound Bird in action at Salesian. (MaxPreps.com)

Before Jabari Bird graduates from Salesian H.S. and matriculates at Cal this fall, he showed off his skills at the McDonald's All-American Game on Wednesday night.  Here are the highlights from his 9-point, 3-assist performance.

Nationals, Day Three: Morton, Trio of Youth Men Advance

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net

B Street Boxing's Casey Morton advanced to the next round.

In the third day of competition at the 2013 U.S. National Championships at the HUB Center in Spokane, Wash., Region 11 boxers went 4-2.

A total of five Youth Men's bouts took place, with Brent Venegas (Golden State Bloodhounds, Sacramento), Matthew Guerrero (Felipe's B.C., Lathrop), and Aaron Katzman (East Palo Alto B.C.) advancing to the next round.  Eder Carrillo (Woodland B.C.) saw his two-fight winning streak come to an end.  All the verdicts were by 3-0 unanimous decision.

Casey Morton (B Street Boxing, San Mateo) won her opening Elite Women's bout, also by unanimous nod.

To watch a live stream, go to usaboxing.org. The whole tournament can be watched for $29.95, while a daily pass costs $9.95.

YOUTH MEN

108 lbs: Gilbert Renteria, Houston, Texas, dec. Conrad Rendon, Fresno, Calif., 3-0
114 lbs: Brent Venegas, III, Elk Grove, Calif., dec. Jose Borges, Philadelphia, Pa., 3-0
123 lbs: Matthew Guerrero, Manteca, Calif., dec. Raul Estrada, Aloha, Ore., 3-0
132 lbs: Lamont Roach, Upper Marlboro, Md., dec. Eder Carrillo, Woodland, Calif., 3-0

165 lbs: Aaron Katzman, Menlo Park, Calif., dec. Jordan Panthen, Kapolei, Hawaii, 3-0 

ELITE WOMEN

119 lbs: Casey Morton, San Francisco, Calif., dec. Rory Santos, Anchorage, Alaska, 3-0 


SOURCE: USA Boxing

Nationals, Day Two: Concord's Thomas Stops Foe

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net

Eder Carrillo, shown here after his win on Monday, emerged victorious again. (Frank Aleman)

The second day of competition at the 2013 U.S. National Championships concluded at the HUB Center in Spokane, Wash., with Region 11 fighters going 2-1.

In a Youth bout against Texas's Jessie Garcia, Woodland's Eder Carrillo (Woodland B.C.) won a unanimous decision with the three judges, while Gilroy's Rosino Legan (San Jose PAL) lost a unanimous nod to Whittier's George Acosta.

 Daniel Thomas took advantage of the new rules to win by first-round stoppage.

The only Elite bout of the day involving a local boxer saw Daniel Thomas of Concord CYC impressively stop El Cajon's Berlin Kerney at 1:13 of the first round.

To watch a live stream, go to usaboxing.org. The whole tournament can be watched for $29.95, while a daily pass costs $9.95.

YOUTH MEN
132 lbs: Eder Carrillo, Woodland, Calif., dec. Jessie Garcia, Kingwood, Texas, 3-0

132 lbs: George Acosta, Whittier, Calif., dec. Rosino Legan, Gilroy, Calif., 3-0


ELITE MEN
165 lbs: Daniel Thomas, Concord, Calif., won on knockout over Berlin Kerney, El Cajon, Calif., KO-1 (1:13)


SOURCE: USA Boxing

Nationals, Day One: Guerrero, Lopez, Carrillo Advance

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net

Matthew Guerrero won his opening-round bout.

YOUTH MEN
123 lbs.: Matthew Guerrero, Manteca, Calif., dec. Hector Valdez, Dallas, Texas, 2-1

123 lbs.: Efren Lopez, Fresno, Calif., dec. Victor Vela, Norwalk, Calif., 3-0

132 lbs.: Eder Carrillo, Woodland, Calif., dec. Jaime Guerrero, Irving, Texas, 3-0
 
ELITE MEN

201 lbs.: Earl Newman, Jr., Brooklyn, N.Y., dec. Anthony Hall, Santa Rosa, Calif., 2-1

SOURCE: USA Boxing

Region 11 Amateurs at USA Boxing National Championships

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net

The USA Boxing National Championships take place Mar. 30-Apr. 6 in Spokane, Wash.  Here's a look at the Region 11 hopefuls in each age division.

YOUTH MEN
108 lbs.: Conrad Rendon, Fresno
114 lbs.: Brent Venegas, Sacramento
123 lbs.: Matthew Guerrero, Manteca; Efren Lopez, Fresno
132 lbs.: Eder Carrillo, Woodland; Rosino Legan, Gilroy
165 lbs.: Gilberto Alvarez, Oakland; Aaron Katzman, Menlo Park
178 lbs.: David Gaitan, North Highlands; Joey Gonzalez, Watsonville

YOUTH WOMEN
106 lbs.: Marisol Lopez, Stratford
119 lbs.: Neesha Khan, San Francisco

SENIOR MEN (HEADGEAR)
123 lbs.: Andrew Moy, San Francisco
165 lbs.: Mike Fernandez, San Francisco; Bryant Sharifi, San Francisco
201+ lbs.: Andrew Phimister, El Cerrito

ELITE MEN (NO HEADGEAR)
114 lbs.: Eros Correa, San Jose
123 lbs.: Steven Rapadas, Sacramento
152 lbs.: Jake Operskalski, Oakland
165 lbs.: Yuri Rybin, West Sacramento; Daniel Thomas, Concord
178 lbs.: Joaquin Lopez, Ukiah; Jasper McCargo, Oakland
201 lbs.: Anthony Hall, Santa Rosa; Erick Hernandez, Oakland
201+ lbs.: Ojayland Brown, Sacramento

ELITE WOMEN
112 lbs.: Marlen Esparza, San Carlos
119 lbs.: Casey Morton, San Francisco
141 lbs.: Nargis Shaghasi, San Lorenzo
165 lbs.: Raquel Miller, San Francisco

Vasquez Discusses Majority Decision Defeat to Muriqi

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net


Hercules light heavyweight Paul Vasquez, whose inspiring story was featured on CSNBayArea.com earlier this week, fought heavily favored Elvir Muriqi tooth-and-nail over eight rounds in Whippany, N.J.

However, Muriqi (40-5, 24 KOs) would emerge with his hand raised by a small margin, capturing a narrow majority decision (76-76, 77-75 twice) over the East Bay upstart.

After the fight, Vasquez (9-3-1, 3 KOs), who will donate his entire paycheck to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, spoke to Norcalboxing.net.

ON THE DECISION:
"It was a close fight, but I knew I'd be fighting the promoter, the crowd, and the refs.  My coach was saying I won six out of eight rounds.  Someone from the [New Jersey] State Athletic Commission apologized and even the promoter came up to me and said I won the fight. But I know how it goes."

ON THE FIGHT:
"I staggered Muriqi multiple times.  His legs just wobbled in the seventh and eighth [rounds].  I hardly have any marks on my face. I didnt feel his power whatsoever.  Everytime I'd get him in the corner, the referee would stop the action and push him out of the corner, and that's when I was going to do my damage."

ON WHAT'S NEXT:
"I'm not done at all.  I'm glad I got to do some good with my cause and that a few more people know about it.  I'll head home to the Bay tomorrow, see my wife and kids, and get back in the gym soon."

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.

*This is a legal waiver. By copying and using the material from this article, you agree to give full credit to Norcalboxing.net or provide a link to the original article.

NorCal Boxing Weekend: Escalante dominates Casillas

By Ryan Maquiñana
CSNBayArea.com

THIS WEEK IN NORCAL BOXING:

-San Carlos' Bruno Escalante dominates Casillas in Redwood City
-S.F.'s Jonathan Chicas, Ricardo Pinell, San Bruno's Joe Gumina notch wins on undercard
-Salinas prospect Preston Freeman slain in St. Louis at only 20 years old
-VIDEO: Gilroy's Robert Guerrero reacts to his Showtime confrontation with Floyd Mayweather
-VIDEO: Oakland's Andre Ward trains in the ring for the first time since shoulder surgery
-Olympic Trials runner-up LaRon Mitchell of S.F. wins his pro debut
-NorCal amateurs advance to Nationals after winning box-offs (all the champions)

LINK: http://www.csnbayarea.com/fight-sports/norcal-boxing-weekend-escalante-dominates-casillas

VIDEO: 1-on-1 with Floyd Mayweather

By Ryan Maquiñana
CSNBayArea.com



Floyd Mayweather joined me on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area for a 1-on-1 interview earlier this morning to talk about his upcoming May 4 fight with Gilroy's Robert Guerrero, his move from HBO to Showtime, and whether or not he's still got it!

PHOTO GALLERY: Peterson Stops Holt in Eight

By Juan Marshall
ProAm Fight Talk

Juan Marshall of Pro Am Fight Talk was on hand for Lamont Peterson's successful defense of his junior welterweight title Friday night at the Washington, D.C. Armory.  (San Ardo's Roman Morales scored a fifth-round stoppage of Jesus Hernandez in the co-feature.)

Here's a gallery from the main event, which ended in Peterson's eighth-round technical knockout victory.  Catch the rest of Marshall's work here.

NorCal Roundup: Morales Stops Hernandez, Perez Upsets Hovhannisyan

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net


San Ardo junior featherweight Roman Morales (15-0, 8 KOs) won a Friday night battle of unbeatens as he stopped Jesus Antonio Hernandez (10-1-3, 2 KOs) with a crippling left hand downstairs in in the fifth round at the Washington, D.C. Armory.

Hernandez, who had been outlanded in each of the first four frames, stooped to one knee after the final blow from Morales and could not beat the count.  Official time was 2:59.

ESPN2 televised the encounter on their "Friday Night Fights" series.

PEREZ OUTWORKS HOVHANNISYAN

Hours later from the Morongo Casino in Cabazon, North Salinas junior lightweight Alejandro Perez (17-3-1, 11 KOs) pulled off the upset of previously undefeated Art Hovhannisyan (15-1-2, 8 KOs) behind a diverse attack highlighted by effective body work.  Perez held off a mid-round surge by the bigger Hovhannisyan and closed the show by winning most of their toe-to-toe exchanges.

Scores were 96-94, 96-93, and 95-93 for the NorCal slugger.  Perez-Hovhannisyan aired on Showtime's "ShoBox" series.

Ryan Maquiñana was the boxing producer for NBCOlympics.com during London 2012 and writes a weekly column for CSNBayArea.com.  He is a full member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the Ratings Panel for Ring Magazine. E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com, check out his blog at Norcalboxing.net, or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.