20 amateur boxers squared off in what they believe will be a stepping stone to the national stage in the world of amateur boxing. In a gala event (complete with ring card models) hosted by Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs, 10 first-quarter final matches took place at the Plainfield High School Gym.
The 10 bouts covered seven weight classes in the sub-novice division.
Results
- Gabriel Vargas (New Brunswick Boxing Club) decision Marcele Sprango (Int'l School of Boxing - Irvington) 125 pounds
- Deroy Beaton (Team Gladiator - Forked River) decision Mu-Min Massey (Dungeon Boxing Club - Newark) 141 pounds
- Shaheed Jones (Gatlin Center - Irvington) decision John Gilbert (Joe Grier Boxing Academy - Paterson) 152 pounds
- Lance Goodall (Bergen PAL) decision Bryant Romero (Bayonne PAL) 152 pounds
- Jeff Moyd (Jersey City Rec - Dupree's Gym) decision Joe Donovan (Middletown PAL) 165 pounds
- Terrence Jenkins (Gladiators Gym - Newark) decision Edwin Arriga (South River Knights of Columbus Boxing Club) 178 pounds
- John Bowden (El Coqui Boxing Club - Newark) decision Anthony Pantella (Elite Boxing Club - Newark) 201 pounds
- Dwight Springer (Gatlin Center - Irvington) ref stoppage Jorge Rubio (Elite Boxing Club - Newark) 201 pounds
- Corey James (1st Class Boxing Club - Newark) decision Marcus Epps (Jersey City Rec - Dupree's Gym) 201 plus
- Omar Fowler (Combatt Boxing Club - Newark) decision Omar Baker (Elizabeth Rec) 201 plus
Lance Goodall was named fighter of the night as his precise combinations, usually ending with a sweeping right hook kept the crowd on edge of their seats throughout his match.
There were many boxing dignitaries in attendance showing support for the future of the sport, including two-time New York Golden Glove Champion and heavyweight contender Gerry Cooney, 1986 New York Golden Gloves Champion, former IBO Middleweight Champion and Plainfield resident Glenwood "The Real Beast" Brown, and 2007 New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee, Plainfield resident Albert "Steel" Mills who won the 1977 New Jersey Golden Gloves and compiled a 14-2 (10 KO's) record while fighting professionally.
The evening also served as a reuniting of some of the boxers from Plainfield's South Second Street Youth Center Boxing Teams. The past and present boxing history standing in the ring was good to see, as some of these guys got recognized by their hometown fans.
The New Jersey Golden Gloves is an open-class competition that has attracted and produced talented athletes. Winners in the open-class division will go on to compete in the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions, which will be held in May in Grand Rapids, Mich.
