Bulldog boxers have mixed success in King City
KING CITY –– Hollister boxers took two out of three matches in three close bouts, one ending in controversy.
Out of five kids sent, only three saw action: Tony Corrales, 13, Brian Lopez, 14, and Freddy Martinez, 15.
Martinez, who had been out of the ring for two years, was the first of the fighters to compete. He went up against a boxer from Tulare and won by decision.
Martinez fought aggressively, despite the long stint out of the ring, coach Zeke Lopez said.
“He gave three good rounds,” Lopez said. “He was aggressive, which we had worked on. He had a little ring rust, but he did exactly what we worked on.”
Martinez had fought before for Lopez; however, he left the sport following what Lopez called a robbery during a Silver Gloves match that Martinez lost.
Lopez told Martinez to take as long as he needed and kept in touch with the young boxer during the two years that he was away from the ring.
Following Martinez was the young prospect Corrales, who had just seven bouts before his match Saturday.
In a very tight match, Corrales walked away with the victory.
“I told him after the match, that it could go either way,” Lopez said. “But I told him that he fought well and had a very, very good match.”
With the decision over the fighter with 26 bouts under his belt, Corrales improved his record to 7-1.
“This was a good experience for both of the fighters,” Lopez said. “I wanted to test (Corrales) to see where he was at, and now I know.”
The final Hollister boxer was Brian Lopez, who went up against a boxer from the King City area in his first ever boxing match.
Controversy erupted when Lopez was denied the decision despite the outcries of his coach.
“(Brian’s opponent) was the hometown kid, and they gave it to him,” Lopez said. “The crowd went crazy… and they let the judge know he blew it.”
Coach Lopez said the bout could have been different with a second referee but said his student fought well despite the disappointment.
“He did his best, and I thought he won,” Lopez said.
Lopez sent two others to King City – Jonathan Casaca, 9, and Jorge Hernandez, 11. But neither one got any time in.
Casaca’s age made it difficult to find challengers, and Hernandez holds a national title and few want to fight him.
The Hollister boxers will have two matches coming up in mid-July. The first will be Saturday, July 11 in Fresno followed by a match the next day in Gilroy.
Lopez is also trying to organize a Silver Glove Tournament for November, though he hasn’t set a definitive date.
Lopez says he is excited about his prospects. Martinez, Lopez hopes, will be a contender for the 2008 Olympics.
“By 2008, he will be 18,” Lopez said. “He is still growing into his body and has a lot to learn. This kid will be boxing for a long time.”
Despite the lack of experience, Lopez said his boxer has talent and potential to do well in the sport.
“Brian has come a long way,” Lopez said. “He has nice and hard punches and a beautiful jab. He needs more experience and needs a little work.”
Lopez works with all the kids to make sure they are in shape and ready to fight before they get to the gym. Each morning, the boys run and in the evening they train in the gym.
Lopez said the work pays off and prepares them for their fights.
“They have to have a good workout,” Lopez said. “If they are not in shape, I’m not taking them; I’m not taking kids to get hurt. But it paid off. Corrales was not out of breath after his fight, and Freddy was a little, though he was also nervous.”
