Southwest Regional Boxing Tourney Concludes With A Big Success
Southwest Regional Boxing Tourney Concludes With A Big Success
The two day Southwest Regional Boxing Tournament was concluded here Saturday night before a packed crowd at the Navajo Sports Arena Over 42 fighters competed in one of the most successful boxing tournament in history of the Navajo reservation. Fighters from as far away as Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Albuquerque and surrounding areas came to box. They did not disappointed the fans.
The Albuquerque Police Athletic League (PAL) took the first place followed closely behind by the local Navajo Boxing Team. Six PAL and two Navajo fighters walked out with first place trophies.
In Friday night actions saw the 110 lbs. novice division bout between Darby Valencia of Santa Fe (PAL) and Simon Otero of Albuquerque (PAL) fought each other closely in which Otero was the winner. Danny (Turtle) Tsosie of Navajo Boxing Team and Willard Smith of Fort Defiance Boxing Team fought eye to eye and finally toward the last round Danny took the upper hand to scored unanimous decision.
Catalino Zozoya of Santa Fe easily kayoed tired Kevin Collin of Navajo in the 118 lbs. Zozoya is currently rated as the National Champ . In the other 118 lbs. division Donald Baca of Albuquerque (PAL) humiliated and TKO Gary Norcross of Sand Springs, N.M.
It was Andy Otero of Los Lunas (PAL) in a close fight between Benny Garcia of Se-boyeta, N.M., (PAL) in the 147 lbs. novice division. In the same weight division, Harlan Santos of Phoenix scored TKO over Lee Norcross of Sand Springs. In the second round Tommy Hardy of Fort Defiance scored the quickest knockout over challenger Dave Holyan of Crownpoint, N.M.
At the Saturday night actions seven championships were decided and crowned. It was Simon Otero over Ruben Murrillo of Cobre, N.M. Otero later went on to defeated Danny Tsosie for Novice Championship. In a close fight between Donald Baca and Kee Carl, Jr., of Fort Defiance, Baca this time faced a tough opponent as he stood toe to toe with Carl in the 119 lbs. Novice Champion-ship. Baca took the split decision.
In the 147 lbs. Novice Welterweight Championship Andy Otero won unanimous decision over Harlan Santos.
After the intermission, fights resumed where Catalino Zozoya bested the swarming style of Johnson Tsosie in the Open Bantamweight (118) Championship. Zozoya was later awarded the most Promising Fighter.
In the open Featherweight (126) Championship fight, Carl “The Mean Machine” Ortega of Salt Lake City outstyled the tough Tony Barrella of Albuquerque. Ortega occasionally displayed the “Ali Shuffled0 to outecored Barrella. Ortega was later awarded the Sportsmanship trophy for bis effort.
In the Open Middleweight (160) Championship saw Dave Begay of Navajo TKO’d Ray Hunt of Shiprock.
Tommy Hardy slugs it out with Francis Billiman of Sawmill Boxing Club. This time Hardy couldn’t do away with Billiman. However, after three-round, Billiman all blooded and bleeding from his nose tired out
and couldn’t finished the round Hardy was the only fighter wh< kayoed his opponent in the firs fight and later successful^ captured the Quickest Knc ckout Award.