It was a night of about 20 fights to start out the tournament. It could have easily been 30 fights if there where no fighters pulling out due to injury or a simple gut check at the last minute. That is a draw back is any sport, non-participation for whatever reason. Every year, some of the defending champions don't return to defend their titles. It's a shame, because it weakens our chances at the National Golden Gloves tournament in Las Vegas, NV. It breaks my heart to see teams from all over the country walk away with those huge championship belts and we have to settle for a few wins to advance in the tournament. I travel with the New York State team to the Nationals, so I see what the rest of the country has to offer. The National Golden Gloves has to be one of the greatest amateur boxing exhibition I've ever seen. In a week I see the highest skill level of boxing I will see all year. Upon our arrival to the site of the Nationals you see other teams wearing their "colors" proudly. Each team sizing each other up ready to go to war with anyone that is put in front of them. It's a very intense feeling, when 300 highly trained fighters are snarling at each other and no one wants to back down. Sometimes, I feel like fighters in this region don't actually understand what they're fighting for. Once you make the trip for the first time, only then, will you know what it's all about. It's representing your team, your gym, your family, and anyone that cheered you on in Buffalo that didn't even know your name. 'Nuff said.
Featured Fight of the Day
Jeffrey Nygayot (Westside Boxing Club) vs Mike Vega (Casal's Boxing Club): 132lbs Open Division
There was an interesting storyline going into this fight. Word around the campfire is that Nygayot is in college and holds down a job, leaving him with little time to train (If anyone ask, you didn't here that from me). In amateur boxing this is very common. Everything you do for the sport, is on a volunteer basis. As much as you want to devote everything to an amateur boxing career, life must go on. Also, this might have been Mike Vega's last time in the Golden Gloves before turning pro, so he had to make this fight count. What I saw, from the ring apron, were two boxers fighting hard to advance. Jeffrey Nygayot is an elite fighter in our region that comes from a gym with a lot of tough competition and a coach, Adalberto “Jerry” Diaz, that demands his fighter are mentally and physically tough. In the other corner, Mike Vega is an tough fighter that works hard and had the stamina to fight all three rounds. Vega's coach, Ray Casal, comes in with a strategy to win and great instructions between rounds. In the first two rounds, Nygayot jumped in and out with at least 2 to 3 punch combinations, using his speed to keep Vega defensive. In those early rounds Vega was hesitant to engage, waiting to counterpunch, and trying figure out Nygayot's timing. In my opinion, Nygayot is more of an all around athlete and his movement is better than Vega's. Vega does a lot better against fighters that come straight ahead and applies pressure (circa 2014 BGG match-up; Mike Vega vs Daniel DeJusus). The early exchanges were dominated by Nygayot, but Vega was in no way hurt or in trouble of being stopped. In the third and final round, words from the campfire began to apply. Nygayot was winded and was not the same fighter from rounds 1 and 2. It showed that Vega worked hard in the gym, because after a few words from Ray, he came out swinging. He used his jab to get inside while Nygayot retreated and he threw big shots to try to get the knockout. Mike Vega had a better third round but it was too late to impress the judges. In amateur boxing there're some fighters you may not match up well against and I think this was the case for Mike Vega. Although, this wasn't his night, I wish Vega the best of luck in the future. As for Jeffrey Nygayot, good luck in the rest of the tournament.Winner: Jeffrey Nygayot by Unanimous Decision
I would like to give you my "blow by blow" analysis of all the fights at once but as a new blogger, I have to pace myself. I will review 2 fights a day until I get to the end of the bout sheet. Tomorrow - Mike Christopher (UB Boxing) vs Mike Stevens (Buffalo PAL) and Drew Grazadei (NWBCC) vs Brandon Lynch (Albany Boxing)
The Results
- 141lbs. Sub-novice - Anthony Baxter (Friends of Boxing) vs Conner Jones (Freedom Boxing) - Winner: Anthony Baxter by TKO 3rd
- 141lbs. Novice - Mitch Geles (Victory Gym) vs Dustin Waleck (Casal's Boxing) - Winner: Mitch Geles by Split Decision
- 178lbs. Sub-novice - Alex Tyglowski (Freedom Boxing) vs Kenric Duncan (Iron Will Boxing) - Winner: Kenric Duncan by TKO 1st
- 152lbs. Open - Tracy McGruder (Rochester) vs Wilfredo Gomez Vega (Darkside Boxing) - Winner: Tracy McGruder by Unanimous Decision
- 178lbs. Open - Corey Hepburn (St. Martin's) vs Nelson Madhi (Westside Boxing) - Winner: Nelson Madhi (Westside Boxing) by TKO 3rd
- 152lbs. Sub-nivice - Jared Callahan (KC's Fitness) vs Davail Steel (Buffalo PAL) - Winner: Davail Steel (Buffalo PAL) by Split Decision
- 178lbs. Sub-novice - Frank White (Lackawanna Boxing) vs Mike Milletello (KC's Fitness) - Winner: Frank White (Lackawanna Boxing) by TKO 1st
- 165lbs Sub-nivice - Andrew Irrizary (NWBCC) vs Dillion Rossi (Freedom Boxing) - Winner: Andrew Irrizary (NWBCC) by TKO 2nd
- 152lbs. Open - Mark Renza (Sweet Science) vs Christopher Donahue (Elmira Boxing) - Winner: Mark Renza (Sweet Science) by Split Decision
- 178lbs. Sub-novice - Nick Martone (Terri's Fitness) vs Douglas Chavers (FLARE Center) - Winner: Douglas Chavers (FLARE Center) by Unanimous Decision
- 132lbs. Open - Jeffrey Nygayot (Westside Boxing) vs Mike Vega (Casal's Boxing) - Winner: Jeffrey Nygayot (Westside Boxing) by Unanimous Decision
- 201+ Open - Alex Dedovets (Goombas Boxing) vs Michael Reeves (St. Martin's Boxing) - Winner: Alex Dedovets by split decision
- 152lbs. Open - Anthony Woodruff (Westside Boxing) vs Cody Zappone (Albany Boxing) - Winner: Anthony Woodruff (Westside Boxing) by TKO 2nd
- 178lbs. Open - Ahmad McEntire (Westside Boxing) vs Curtis Chaplin (Ultimate Fitness) - Winner: Curtis Chaplin (Ultimate Fitness) by Unanimous Decision
- 165lbs Sub-novice - Adam Becky (Freedom Boxing) vs Leroy Thorton lll (Inspired Boxing) - Winner: Leroy Thorton lll (Inspired Boxing) by Split Decision
- 141lbs. Open - Akhmed Aliyev (NWBCC) vs Vinnie Denierio (Elmira Boxing) - Winner: Akhmed Aliyev (NWBCC) by TKO 3rd
- 132lbs Open - Sequan Felton (St. Martin's) vs Hector Bayanilla (NWBCC) - Winner: Saquan Felton (St. Martin's) by Decision
- 152lbs Open - Mike Christopher (UB Boxing) vs Mike Stevens (Buffalo PAL) - Winner: Mike Christopher (UB Boxing) Unanimous Decision
- 201+ Open - Drew Grazadei (NWBCC) vs Brandon Lynch (Albany Boxing) - Winner: Brandon Lynch (Albany Boxing) by TKO 2nd
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