By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
It was a new venue and a host of new boxers, but the intense action was familiar to area boxing fans as the opening night of the West Michigan Golden Gloves started with a flurry.
A total of 13 bouts took place at the 4 Mile Showplace (1025 4 Mile Rd. NW) in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd.
Three of the bouts featured elite open division boxers, including five-time state champion Aneudy “Junior” Rios. On a mission to win a national Golden Gloves title this season, Rios began his trek to nationals by winning a decision against Armand Bridgeforth of Anahuac Boxing Club in a crowded 132-pound weight class. In a bout full of action, Rios piled up the body punches and kept busy the entire three rounds while Bridgeforth countered with a steady barrage of punches of his own.
“He was a lot more active than I thought he would be,” Rios said. “I was kind of surprised. He put up a good fight and he made things difficult for me at times, but I felt like I boxed well tonight.”
Rios is putting in plenty of time training for his mission to win a national title and that was evident in his performance against Bridgeforth.
“So far so good,” Rios said. “I’m in good condition and my coach is making sure I stay on track. Now I have more time to train. I have a month off from work and I’m going to take advantage of it and get ready for nationals.”
Rios will be back in the ring Wednesday when he faces Michael Guzman in the semifinals.
“I will be facing a friend of mine in the semifinals in Michael Guzman,” Rios said. “It should be a real good fight and will be a good challenge for me.”
Michael Guzman’s twin brother Mike Guzman followed Rios on Saturday’s card and he provided the crowd with an explosive display of boxing skills. Mike Guzman defeated Jesus Lara of the Westside Boxing Club when the referee stopped the bout in the second round.
“I felt things went good,” Guzman said. “I listened to my coaches and stayed behind my jab and kept the pressure up.”
A West Michigan champion last year in the novice division in his first action in the Golden Gloves, Guzman is making a smooth transition into the elite open division.
“I feel like I belong in the open division,” Guzman said. “I feel like this is going to be my year. With my brother, I feel like this year is going to be a Guzman takeover.”
Marcos Saucedo Jr. of Holland Westside Boxing Club
In the third elite open division bout, Marcos Saucedo Jr. of the Holland Westside Boxing Club held off Siderio Mitchell of Michigan Golden Gloves Association (MGGA) to win a decision at 139 pounds. Both Saucedo Jr. and Guzman will be boxing in the Wednesday’s semifinals in a loaded 139-pound weight class that totaled six boxers.
Union’s Hedaytullah Amarkhail of Blues Gym gets a win in first bout of career
Saturday’s action also included six bouts in the elite novice Division. The first of those bouts saw Hedaytullah Amarkhail of Blues Gym in Grand Rapids defeat Brandon Luis of MGGA at 132 pounds in an action-filled bout.
A student at Grand Rapids Union High School, Amarkhail is from Afghanistan and his parents and entire family are still in Afghanistan. Amarkhail made his boxing debut a successful one as he displayed plenty of skill despite only training as a boxer since last year.
“It felt amazing,” Amarkhail said. “It was really special. It was my first fight ever. It’s my father’s wish for me to be a boxer and I’m really excited to be here.”
In another bout in the 132-pound elite novice division, Stephen Ramirez from Sturgis won a decision against Anthony Holguin of the Holland Eli J Boxing Club.
The elite novice division also had a pair of bouts at 139 pounds. In the first 139-pound bout DreAun Ellis of the Kalamazoo Boxing Club defeated Dzenan Kovacevic of Blues Gym when the referee stopped the contest in the second round. In the next match at 139 pounds, Tiburcio Hernandez IV of the Eli J Boxing Club won a decision against Dylan Goodwin of the Lansing Crown Boxing Club.
In the elite novice 156-pound division, Gohan Estevez Marte of PK Boxing won a decision against Jordan Sanders.
In the final elite novice bout of the evening at 165 pounds, Isaiah Clay of Crown Boxing won a decision against Marco Walker of Mac Gym. Walker, however, was a big winner outside the ring as he became engaged to be married earlier in the day.
The boxing action kicked off for the evening with four junior novice bouts. At 150 pounds in the junior novice division, Dekent Murray of Kalamazoo Boxing won a decision against Jerymiah Signs of Team Glass Boxing. Also at 150 pounds, John Lopez of Crown Boxing won a decision against Jesus Diaz of Boxing House International of St. Joseph. At 145 pounds, Elijah Faidley of Crown Boxing defeated Keagen Wernette-Beals of Lansing Spartans Youth Organization when the referee stopped the bout in the first round. In the final junior novice bout Teodocio Magana of Crown Boxing won by decision against Noah Bates of Blues Gym.
Boxing resumes with the West Michigan Golden Gloves semifinals on Wednesday. Doors open at 6 p.m with boxing to begin at 7 p.m. at the 4 Mile Showplace.
As usual, WKTV will televise all five nights of this year’s tournament. Check this WKTV Journal Story to get dates and times.
