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Battlelines are drawn for Armed Forces Boxing Championship finals
02/08/01 - FORT HUACHUCA, Arizona - The second night of the Armed Forces Boxing Championship provided more intra-service excitement as eight boxers continued their march to the finals. In the featherweight class, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Johnny Edwards of Camp Lejeune, N.C., won his bout with Army Sgt. Alexander Ramos of Baumholder, Germany, 18-9. Light welterweight boxers Army Sgt. Khevin Smith of Fort Bragg, N.C., and Air Force Airman 1st Class Antonio Tamayo of Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, faced off for the right to move to the finals. Smith advanced after the referee stopped the fight one minute and 11 seconds into the third round. Two light middleweight bouts were contested last night. Navy ENFN Joaquin Zamara of NAVSTA Roosevelt Roads, fought Air Force Senior Airman Jorge Hernandez of Buckley Air Force Base, Colo., winning after the referee stopped the match one minute and two seconds into the third round. Army Staff Sgt. Yamar Resto of Fort Carson, Colo., competed against Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Steven Stokes of Camp Lejeune, N.C., in a very close bout. Resto moves to the finals, beating Stokes 17-14.
The action continued after intermission with two light heavyweight bouts. Army Staff Sgt. DeAndrey Abron of Fort Carson, Colo., left no doubt about his right to move to the finals in his fight with Navy YN2 Godfrey Cunningham of Allied Forces North Europe. Abron was the clear winner after the referee stopped the fight 59 seconds into the first round. Air Force Capt. Joe Pastorello of Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., defeated Marine Corps Cpl. Christopher Tillman of Camp Lejeune, N.C., 13-1 in the second light heavyweight bout. Abron and Pastorello are matched up for Friday's fight for the light heavyweight title. Last night's competition was rounded out with two super heavyweight fights. Army Spc. Eric Prindle of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, was declared the winner in his fight with Air Force Airman 1st Class Rick Ceek of Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., after the fight was stopped one minute and 55 seconds into the second round.
Army currently leads the competition with eight wins, followed by the Marine Corps with four points, Navy at two and Air Force one. There is no competition today. Boxers from the four services will spend today honing their skills in preparation for Friday night's finals. The Armed Forces Boxing Championship finish Friday night at Barnes Field House. Doors open at 6 p.m., opening ceremonies begin at 6:30 p.m. and boxing begins at 7 p.m. |
by Tanja M. Linton
Zamara
and Resto will fight for the light middleweight title Friday night.
In
the last fight of the night, Navy SW2 Keith Spencer of NMCB-40, advanced
to the finals after he knocked out Marine Corps Capt. Miquel Eaton of
Camp Lejeune, N.C., one minute and 59 seconds into the first round.
Super heavyweights Prindle and Spencer will meet Friday night in the
title bout.