Hollister’s Jorge Hernandez was curious as to what happened with
his first-round score at the Junior Olympic National
Championships
Hollister
Hollister boxer Jorge Hernandez didn’t necessarily start slow when he faced Juan Betancourt of Phoenix, Ariz., at last week’s Junior Olympic National Championships in Marquette, Mich.
Hernandez, 15, felt full well that he was actually winning the preliminary bout in the first round. That is, until he looked at his corner monitor before the second-round bell.
Hernandez noticed he didn’t score a single point in the first two-minute round.
After three rounds were complete, he lost by decision, 16-15.
“Everyone said that in the first round I beat him, but they gave him more points than me,” Hernandez said. “In the second round, I caught up and we were tied.”
Despite eventually tying the point-total of Betancourt in the second round, Hernandez was curious and confused as to what, exactly, happened with his first-round score, especially considering that he lost by just a single point in the end.
“My coach said I was hitting him good, but they were giving him the punches, giving him the fight,” Hernandez said.
Betancourt, meanwhile, eventually finished runner-up in the welterweight division of 145 pounds.
The event used Olympic-style scoring, which credits fighters with each clean punch landed. Five judges use hand-held devices, with buttons specifically designated for the red corner and for the blue corner. A point is awarded to a boxer when three of the judges push one of the respective buttons at the same time, and the results can be viewed on a monitor near each boxer’s corner.
Hernandez’ trainer, Zeke Lopez of the Bull Dog Boxing Gym in Hollister, was not present for the fight in Michigan, but heard what happened from Hernandez’ Junior Olympics coach.
“I feel like a recording sometimes,” Lopez said. “They didn’t give Jorge a score for the first round and he lost 16-15, so go figure.
“It seems like it’s the same thing over and over again. We just can’t catch a break.”
The decision was not appealed.
Hernandez, who was apprehensive of facing Betancourt after noticing his hulky frame and excessive amount of tattoos, was pleased to simply experience the national championships. For his age category, he has another year of eligibility as well.
“But it was pretty good. It was a good fight,” Hernandez said. “I think I fought good, thought I won.
“I was beating him up.”
Hernandez is hoping to be the fourth boxer from Hollister’s Bull Dog Boxing Gym to fight this Saturday at the Elk’s Lodge in Gilroy for The North/Central Amateur Championships, where fighters from Fresno, Salinas, Dos Palos, Hayward, Ukiah, San Jose, Galt, King City and possibly Tulare are scheduled for a 10-fight card.
Hollister’s Matt Bribiescas, 13, is slated to be up against Terry White, 12, of Galt in the 95-pound division.
Bribiescas already has 13 fights under his belt, and has even sparred against White before.
“He’s kind of okay, kind of good,” Bribiescas said. “I’m gonna try to win, basically.”
Tony Corrales, 17, is scheduled to fight Alonzo Carrillo, 26, of San Jose Kickboxing in the 140-pound division, and Jeff Polston, 17, is also scheduled for a bout.
Polston will box Romero Martinez, 17, of Dos Palos, in what will be the Hollister fighter’s first bout.
“I’ve been trying to get fights forever,” Polston said. “I’ve been training for almost two years now and I’m pretty confident at this point.
“I’ve been training with the best people … I haven’t had a fight yet, so right now I’m all about getting through the first fight.”
The North/Central Amateur Championships
Show starts at 7 p.m. at the Elk’s Lodge, located at 2765 Hecker Pass Road in Gilroy. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
General admission tickets cost $40 and will include food and drinks. Seats are limited.
Notable Bouts:
Matt Bribiescas v. Terry White
Tony Corrales v. Alonzo Carrillo
Jeff Polston v. Romero Martinez
Main Event – Randy Guerrero v. Andy Denesce
