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The Rockford Boxing Classic seems right here to remain.
Last yr’s inaugural RBC drew a giant crowd to the Rockford City Market pavillion. It featured a return to the ring after a four-year absence by Angel Martinez, who received six nationwide titles and appeared to have a very good shot at turning into Rockford’s first Olympic boxer since Kenny Gould received a bronze medal 35 years in the past.
Saturday’s essential occasion featured a policeman having his first-ever boxing match. And the free occasion in downtown Rockford that includes 13 novice boxing matches drew an excellent larger crowd.
“Last year I could walk all the way through here,” Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara stated. “This year, it’s packed.
“Rockford comes out for free family events. And when you also get to see some amazing talent from Rockford Patriots Boxing Club, it makes it all the better.”
More:Angel Martinez meets Gould standard; 1st Rockford Golden Gloves champ in 30 years
Hundreds of followers of all ages and races surrounded the ring.
“It’s exciting,” Clarence Foote, 72, of Rockford stated. “Something different. I decided to see what it’s all about. You can’t beat it for the price.”
“For a free set-up,” stated Mike Solimine, 42, of Elgin, “this area is fantastic.”
For Rockford boxers, it was a uncommon alternative to take middle stage of their hometown.
“It felt really good to showcase my boxing skills in front of all of these people,” stated Yahel Flores, 15, of Belvidere, who improved to 85-30 in his novice profession with a unanimous choice at 114 kilos.
Flores, Hulian Lugo, 19, and Gavin Bernal had been the three most completed Rockford boxers on the occasion.
Lugo is considering turning professional in a yr or so. Flores and Bernal received nationwide Silver Gloves titles (for boxers ages 10 to fifteen) in 2020. Bernal, a 16-year-old junior at Jefferson, additionally received once more in 2021.
“I compete at the national level in the ring,” Bernal stated, “but what I like about this is I am able to show Rockford what I am all about and my family gets to go to the event and a lot of my teammates get to see me.”
Flores, Lugo and Bernal all won Saturday, but none of the three is a name yet in Rockford. That’s how policeman James “Champ” Nachampassack wound up as the principle occasion towards Rockford fireman Ryan Taylor.
“It had to be Jimmy,” Nachampassack said of organizer Jimmy Goodman, Jr. “It has Jimmy written all over it,”
Goodman said he has more than 100 kids working out at his downtown boxing gym every week but few see them or know that. So he capitalized on the big brother/littler brother type rivalry between policemen and firemen to drum up interest.
“Who is the big brother?,” Nachampassack said before losing to Ryan Taylor. “Obviously, it is the police department.”
My’Aire King, 17, graduated from East this spring and won a unanimous decision in his bout Saturday night. It was highlighted by rocking his foe in the novice 140-pound division with a straight right in the final minute of the three-round bout.
“It felt good to land a flush right hand,” King, now 4-1 in his career, said. “I noticed he was dropping his hands. I saw an opening and took it. I wanted to put on a show for all the people who came out to watch. I love it when different crowds come out, try something new and watch some boxing.”
Contact: mtrowbridge@rrstar.com, @matttrowbridge or 815-987-1383. Matt Trowbridge has coated sports activities for the Rockford Register Star for over 30 years, after earlier stints in North Dakota, Delaware, Vermont and Iowa City.
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