By: Austin Killeen – Ringside – November 18, 2018 Photos by Octavio Vera
Promoter Alejandro Castillo played host to the second day of Silver Gloves competition on Sunday at the Empire Event Center in the South Valley. Sunday’s card featured 17 bouts, including show bouts with boxers from Texas participating. When people talk about boxing promoters, Castillo seems to fly under the radar. That’s a shame because he had done an excellent job every time I’ve attended one of his shows. I’m amazed at the skill level of the competitors as they are so young. There is no question that some of these boxers will become successful at the professional level in the next few years. Castillo knows who to contact when it comes to gyms around the southwest. When it comes to matchmaking he matches the best against the best, and does not allow the practice of cheery picking opponents. That’s why his cards are entertaining, because bouts are selected based on evenly matched opponents.Due to the number of bouts over the two day event; I’ll covered those contests that caught my eye first, with no disrespect to other contestants.
Bout #5, 130 lbs., Rolyn Nez, age 16, 505 Fight Factory, Farmington, NM won by TKO over Jimmy Aguilar-Rios in a show bout. Nez is the complete package dominating a tough kid in Aguilar-Rios to capture the opening round. Aguilar-Rios made it a close second round working behind some heavy hands, giving Nez a bloody nose. Nez upped his output in the third round with a punishing body attack causing the referee to halt the fight in the final round. Nez landed crippling blow to the solar plexus, leaving his game rival doubled over in extreme pain. The lanky Nez looked impressive both days and appears like he could fight pro right now. Aguilar-Rios is one tough kid who would have won against most opponents, but had the misfortune of facing the best boxer in the tournament.
Bout #17, 106 lbs., Filomeno Pulido, age 14, Moreu Boxing, Albuquerque, NM won by UD over Ezekiel Martinez, age 14, 505 Fight Factory, Farmington, NM in a Silver Gloves Championship bout. Pulido was one of the best boxers in the tournament, possessing both great moves and power. To fully appreciate Pulido skills, you had to see him face a determined opponent. Martinez filled that description, pressing his rival the entire fight. Martinez was good, but Pulido was better. Pulido has one move where he dips to his left, while throwing a overhand right to the head at the same time. Keep your eye on this young man, because he is going places.
Bout #2, 65 lbs., Edgar Herrera, age 12, The Lubbock Boxing Team, Lubbock, TX won by SD over Alex Rodriguez, age 12, Castillo’s Boxing Team, Albuquerque, NM in a show bout. The opening round was very close, as neither boxer could establish a clear advantage. In round two the switch hitting Herrera took control the result of ducking, countering and moving laterally. Round three was a replay of the previous round. Rodriguez was no slouch either, as the split decision would indicate. Switching back and forth between southpaw and orthodox is becoming more popular among young fighters and we will continue seeing this more and more in the coming years.
Bout #12, 100 lbs., Angel Sandoval, age 14, ID’S Gym, Portales, NM won by MD over Angel Enriquez, age 14, Torito’s Boxing, Albuquerque, NM in a Silver Gloves Championship bout. The opening round belonged to the taller Enriquez due to his jab on the outside and his ability to fight on the inside. In rounds two and three Sandoval came to life scoring with right hands to the head and nasty left hooks to the body. Sandoval showed the ability to make adjustments during the fight, while facing a quality opponent.
Bout #9, 90 lbs., Yoruba Moreu, age 13, Moreu Boxing, Albuquerque, NM won by UD over Adrian Cisneros, age 13, Team Mirabal, Albuquerque, NM in a Silver Gloves Championship bout. This was an entertaining bout due to the skills displayed by both boxers. The first round showcased nice jabs and footwork by both fighters. In the second round Moreu used timing and distance to repeatedly catch Cisneros as he rushed in. In the final round Moreu was dropped by a sneak right hand, but otherwise controlled the action. This weekend was the best I’ve ever seen the southpaw Moreu look.
Bout #15, 80 lbs., Jorge Villarruel, age 12, Power & Glory, Albuquerque, NM won by MD over Jermaine Nez, age 12, 505 Fight Factory, Farmington, NM in a Silver Gloves Championship bout. When I saw another fighter named Nez walking to the ring I started to enter his name in the win column. But Villarruel had other ideas and this was a very competitive bout. Villarruel was like a machine gun attacking the body, while Nez was like a dentist drill working his rival’s head. This is what you got for three rounds, with very little clinching.
Bout #11, 85 lbs., Mateo Moreno, age 14, Castillo’s Boxing Team, Albuquerque, NM won by SD over Jared Pope, age 14, Farmington, NM in a show bout. Pope had lazy feet which probably cost him in a close first round, allowing Moreno to score to the head. In rounds two and three Moreno scored two standing-8-counts thinks to powerful right hands to the head. I was surprised by the split decision verdict as Pope was game, but Moreno had more skills and knew how to employ them.
Bout #13,132 lbs., Fernando Vasquez, age 14, House of Pain, Las Cruces, NM won by UD over Eladio Castillo, Castillo’s Boxing Team, Albuquerque, NM in a Silver Gloves Championship bout. In an action packed fight both boxers used the entire ring and displayed some nice counter punching. The opening round was very close but Vasquez won the second by forcing Castillo to the ropes where he scored effectively. The third was a replay of the second. Castillo’s mistake was not keeping the fight in the center ring, where he was more effective.
Bout #1, 65 lbs., Esiah Martinez, age 8, 505 Fight Factory, Farmington, NM won by UD over Luciano Bustamante, age 8, JD’s Gym, Portales, NM in a Silver Gloves Championship bout. Martinez landed clean punches due to his excellent foot placement. This made the job of the judges sitting at ringside easy. Bustamante was determined, but needs to work on his distance to insure more accurate punch placement.
Bout #3, 85 lbs., Ethan Flores, age 12, 505 Fight Factory, Farmington, NM won by UD over Joseph Hernandez, age 13, Crosstown Boxing, Las Cruces, NM in a show bout. In the opening two rounds Flores landed the cleaner punches. Hernandez fought from a crouch but lacked head movement. He had his best round in the third by sheer force, determined to win the fight. Flores maintained his composure in the final round to capture the verdict.
Bout #4, 75 lbs., Alejandro Castillo, age 12, Castillo’s Boxing Team, Albuquerque, NM won by SD over Dominick Marquez, age 12, Unattached, Albuquerque, NM in a Silver Gloves Championship bout. Castillo used good timing and quick hands to exploit the defense of Marquez. In round two Marquez showed improvement, by utilizing his height to create problems for Castillo. But Castillo stayed busy, dropping his rival with a nice right hand. Marquez had his best round in the third, utilizing his height and reach in an entertaining bout.
Bout #7, 55 lbs., Lorenzo Cerrillo, age 9, Duke City Brawlers, Albuquerque, NM won by UD over Damon Tovar, age 9, Crosstown Boxing, Las Cruces, NM in a show bout. Cerrillo showed some nice skills for a nine year old. He used an assortment of punches, including accurate placement of uppercuts, and lateral movement to take the fight. Tovar was aggressive, but smothered his own punches by rushing in wild, and not under control. Cerrillo is somebody to watch for someone so young, and I liked the attitude of Tovar.
Bout #6, 60 lbs., Elias Acosta, age 9, Castillo’s Boxing Team, Albuquerque, NM won by SD over Josiah Miera, age 9, Warrior Boxing, Albuquerque, NM in a show bout. This contest had lots of action, featuring some toe-to-toe exchanges in all three rounds. I gave the first two rounds to Miera, but the final round to Acosta. Miera appeared tired from the fast pace of the bout. The fans loved this contest as Acosta and Miera fought like two energizer bunnies.
Bout #8, 65 lbs., Ezekiel Perez, age 10, Crosstown Boxing, Las Cruces, NM won by SD over Sammy Romero, age 10, Duke City Brawlers, Albuquerque, NM in a show bout. This was a close competitive fight. Romero won the opening round but Perez proved to be tough. But rounds two and three belonged to Perez who used a nice jab and the ability to trap his opponent on the ropes and keep him there.
Bout #10, 75 lbs., Jose Sandoval, age 10, JD’s Gym, Portales, NM won by UD over Roman Almanzar, age 10, Crosstown Boxing, Las Cruces, NM in a show bout. Sandoval won the fight by cutting off the ring, trapping Almanzar on the ropes, and scoring with volume punching. Give Almanzar credit for learning on the job. In the final round he employed lateral movement to make himself a more difficult target.
Bout #14, 95 lbs., Jackson Nez, age 11, 505 Fight Factory, Farmington, NM won by UD over Chris Almanzar, age 11, Crosstown Boxing, Las Cruces, NM in a show bout. If you viewed this bout; you know the importance of a good jab. Nez continually set up his offense off an excellent left jab all three rounds. Almanzar was a live opponent who continually pressed the action, but never tried to throw overhand rights in an attempt to disturb Nez’s rhythm.
Bout #16, 85 lbs., Christopher Reyes, age 10, Torito Boxing, Albuquerque, N M won by UD over Michael Sanchez, age 10, Crosstown Boxing, Las Cruces, NM in a show bout. Reyes used hit and run tactics to control the fight at a distance. In the third round Sanchez had to take a standing-8-count. Sanchez deserves credit for never giving up, and applying pressure the entire bout. If Sanchez has the same attitude he displayed in the ring when he trains, he will be somebody to watch.
