Commerce City – New Mexico captured four of the first seven bouts Saturday night before Colorado boxers rallied to maintain their dominance in the two- state Golden Gloves regional.
Colorado Army teammates Christopher Downs (178 pounds) and Joe Guzman (201) delivered convincing victories, and heavyweight Richard Washington followed with a win as six of Colorado’s 10 state champions qualified for the national Golden Gloves tournament April 22-29 in Omaha.
Guzman was the evening’s most dominant fighter at the Mile High Event Center. He stopped Jason Ash in the second round after sending Ash to the canvas with a powerful right.
“I was coming in nervous already, and just concerned about me and my (Army) teammates,” Guzman said. “I executed today. Usually I wait and wait for my opponent. Tonight I was on the guy. My coaches are proud of me, and I’m proud of myself.”
New Mexico got its first victory in the second bout. That’s when 119-pounder Enrique Vasquez upset Shawn Nichol, who last weekend downed 2005 Colorado champion Rick Lopez in the state tournament.
Vasquez’s victory by decision was perhaps the closest of the evening. Nichol was the aggressor late and threw more punches overall, but Vasquez made his shots count for the judges, who do not release their scores.
“I was ready. I knew I was there to fight the best in this tournament,” Vasquez said. “Shawn is the best in this state and a good friend of mine. I’m just so happy to be going back (to nationals).”
Vasquez said he lost in the quarterfinals of last year’s nationals to the eventual 119-pound champion.
Nichol, who trains at D-Town, watched teammate Jairo Delgado win the ensuing 125-pound bout. Delgado won by close decision over Edgar Zubia.
“My goal is to take the whole thing next week,” Delgado said. “My real goal is to be in the 2008 Olympics.”
D-Town also got a regional win from 152-pounder William Thalley, who knocked down Joaquin Perez in the first round but could not produce a knockout.
New Mexico’s Siju Shabazz (165), who stopped Mike Montoya Jr., was named the regional’s outstanding boxer, and Nichol was recognized as the best sportsman.
At intermission organizers announced that boxer Priscilla Bonnell of Colorado Springs was named recipient of the inaugural Joe R. Garcia Scholarship Award. She will receive $1,000 toward her education at Colorado College.
Garcia, considered the godfather of amateur Colorado boxing, died last year.
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-820-5453 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
