The 2007 Eastern Trials Kick into Full Action in Cocoa, Florida
(COCOA, FLA.) – A full session of preliminary bouts highlighted day two of competition at the 2007 Eastern Boxing Trials in Cocoa, Fla. Boxers from five different weight classes took the ring on Tuesday evening with all of the victors moving one step closer to a berth in the 2007 U.S. Championships, the lone direct qualifier for the Olympic Team Trials – Boxing.
Three featherweight bouts opened competition, beginning with recent college graduate Walter Sarnoi (Monterey Park, Calif.). Just days after receiving a degree in Finance from Northern Michigan University, Sarnoi recorded an 18-13 decision over James Maher (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.). Maher kept the bout close and the two boxers were tied at eight at the end of two rounds, but Sarnoi pulled ahead in the third and never looked back. Jario Delgado (Denver, Colo.) and Chazz McDowell (Mt. Vernon, N.Y.) both joined Sarnoi with first round featherweight wins.
One lightweight bout was contested on Tuesday with Chris Green (Asbury Park, N.J.) facing off with Steven Weimer (York, Pa.) in the lone 132-pound preliminary contest. Due to computer problems, the bout went to paper scoring and Green recorded a 2-1 decision to move on to Wednesday’s action.
A trio of welterweight contests took place in Tuesday’s competition, and the first featured Alvin Santiago (Elizabeth, N.J.) recorded a commanding fourth round stoppage of Marcus Chapman (Indianapolis, Ind.) in their preliminary match-up. The referee called a halt to the bout at the 1:45 mark of the fourth round after giving Chapman a standing eight count. Anthony Tillman (Riverview, Fla.) and Charlemagne Juste (Weatley Heights, N.Y.) both earned welterweight wins on Tuesday as well.
Middleweight Abraham Han (El Paso, Texas) put on a masterful performance in his first round bout with Frederick Yates (Waterboro, S.C.). Han held Yates scoreless throughout the contest, building up a 20-point advantage at the 1:17 mark of the third round to earn the mandatory stoppage victory. 2005 Junior Olympic National Champion Dante Moore (S. Euclid, Ohio) and Florida’s Quinton Willis (Ft. Myers, Fla.) rounded out Tuesday’s middleweight victors.
Two former junior stars enjoyed open division success in their first round contests in the heavyweight division. 2006 Junior Olympic National Champion Norman Neely (Patterson, N.J.) led his bout with Jose Garcia (Inwood, W. Va.) from start to finish. A strong second round pushed Neely to a 13-2 lead at the end of two, and Garcia couldn’t overcome his deficit, dropping a 22-6 final decision. Joseph Dawejko (Philadelphia, Pa.) held the advantage in his bout throughout as well, taking a 13-8 advantage after two rounds. He continued to build out his lead over the final two rounds to win the preliminary round contest. Andres Taylor (Johnstown, Pa.); Maurice Owens (State Line, Miss.); Victor Filerio (Loomfield, N.M.) and Lenroy Thompson (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) were the final four winners in Tuesday’s heavyweight action.
Thirty-two preliminary contests will be contested in Wednesday’s action at 7 p.m. EST at the Cocoa Sports Expo in Cocoa, Fla.
Tuesday’s Preliminary Results
125 lbs/57 kg: Chazz McDowell, Mt. Vernon, N.Y. dec. Victor Valenzuela, Passaic, N.J., 2-1 (paper scoring)
125 lbs/57 kg: Walter Sarnoi, Concord, Calif./NMU dec. James Maher, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., 18-13
125 lbs/57 kg: Jario Delgado, Denver, Colo. dec. Rockne Harris, Garland, Texas, 12-2
132 lbs/60 kg: Chris Green, Asbury Park, N.J. dec. Steven Weimer, York, Pa., 2-1
152 lbs/69 kg: Alvin Santiago, Elizabeth, N.J. stopped Marcus Champan, Indianapolis, Ind., RSC-4 (1:45)
152 lbs/69 kg: Anthony Tillman, Riverview, Fla. dec. Alexander Deon, Gray, Ga., 20-15
152 lbs/69 kg: Charlemagne Juste, Weatley Heights, N.Y. dec. Malcom Stimphill, West Palm Beach, Fla., 22-19
165 lbs/75 kg: Quinton Willis, Ft. Myers, Frla., dec. Gerrail Miller, Cincinnati, Ohio, 22-11
165 lbs/75 kg: Dante Moore, S. Euclid, Ohio dec. Russell Lamour, Jr., Portland, Maine, 8-7
165 lbs/75 kg: Abraham Han, El Paso, Texas stopped Frederick Yates, Walterboro, S.C., RSCO-3 (1:17)
201 lbs/91 kg: Joey Dawejko, Philadelphia, Pa. dec. Joseph Miller, Port St. Lucie, Fl;a., 25-11
201 lbs/91 kg: Maurice Owens, State Line, Miss., won on medical disqualification over Dorsett Barnwell, Capitol Heights, Md., DQ
201 lbs/91 kg: Norman Neely, Patterson, N.J. dec. Jose Garcia, Inwood, W. Va., 22-6
201 lbs/91 kg: Andres Taylor, Johnstown, Pa. dec. Tobias Rice, Macon, Ga., 24-11
201 lbs/91 kg: Victor Filerio, Loomfield, N.M., dec. Dan Elsner, Jacksonville, N.C., 16-9
201 lbs/91 kg: Lenroy Thompson, Port St. Lucie, Fla., dec. Jonathan Ortiz, Orlando, Fla., 12-2
