The welterweight division (152 lbs) boxers were the first division to take the ring as 2005 Under 19 National Champion Enver Halili (Weatherford, Texas) faced off with Ritchie Guerrero (Phoenix, Ariz.). The first bout of the tournament was action-packed from the start with Guerrero moving out to an early lead, holding a four-point advantage after both the first and second rounds. Yet Halili pulled to within one point as the final round began, and his momentum continued into the fourth. Halili moved out to a 27-22 final decision to earn the first victory of the tournament.

Javontae Starks (Minneapolis, Minn.) recorded the second win in a preliminary round match-up with Alvin Santiago (E. Orange, N.J.). Starks won a stoppage victory at the 1:46 mark of the first round to advance to the quarterfinal round.

The final welterweight division bout went the full four rounds as Rodrigo Garcia (Santa Ana, Calif.) took on Brian Glenn (Overland Park, Kansas). Garcia enjoyed a small lead throughout the four round bout, taking a one-point lead at the midway point. Yet Garcia blew the bout open in the fourth stanza, extending his lead from four points to 12 by the end of the fourth round. He took home a 31-19 decision to move on in the tournament.

In the opening middleweight contest, Stepan Zeytunyan (Aurora, Colo.) defeated hometown boxer Ernesto Flores (Salt Lake City, Utah). Zeytunyan held Flores scoreless through the first round en route to a 17-3 lead after two rounds. He added the necessary six points in the third, to win the referee’s stoppage on the 20-point rule at the 1:25 mark of the round.

The second middleweight bout was a much closer affair as George Carver, Jr. (Galesburg, Ill.) challenged Ben Williams (Benton Harbor, Mich.). The bout was tied after each of the first two rounds, but Carver took control in the third. He enjoyed a four-point lead as the fourth round began; Williams looked to make up his deficit in the fourth and he cut Carver’s advantage in half but couldn’t take the lead. He went on to win a 13-11 decision to move on to the quarterfinal round.

A Lone Star State battle closed the show on Monday night with Larry Smith (Dallas, Texas) taking on Kelly Max Buchanan (Teague, Texas). Buchanan grabbed the momentum early on, moving out to a 9-1 lead after two rounds. Smith chipped away at Buchanan’s advantage in the third round, pulling to within four, but he couldn’t overcome his fellow Texan. Buchanan won a 23-17 final decision to grab the final victory on Monday’s action.

Six preliminary bouts in the light welterweight division will take place on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Monday’s Preliminary Results
152 lbs/69 kg: Enver Halili, Weatherford, Texas dec. Ritchie Guerrero, Phoenix, Ariz., 27-22
152 lbs/69 kg: Javonate Starks, Minneapolis, Minn., stopped Alvin Santiago, Elizabeth, N.J., RSC-1 (1:46)
152 lbs/69 kg: Rodrigo Garcia, Santa Ana, Calif., dec. Brian Glenn, Overland Park, Kansas, 31-19
165 lbs/75 kg: Stepan Zeytunyan, Aurora, Colo., stopped Ernesto Flores, Salt Lake City, Utah, RSCO-3 (1:25)
165 lbs/75 kg: George Carver, Jr., Galesburg, Ill., dec. Ben Williams, Benton Harbor, Mich., 13-11
165 lbs/75 kg: Kelly Max Buchanan, Teague, Texas dec. Larry Smith, Dallas, Texas, 23-17

Tuesday’s Preliminary Bout Sheet
Light welterweight
Anthony Wheaton, Lakewood, Calif. vs. Milton Ramos, Waco, Texas
Mike Faragon, Schenectady, N.Y. vs. Victor Garcia, Santa Ana, Calif.
Randy Trionfel, Ridgewood, N.Y. vs. Tony Gonzalez, Ogden, Utah
Del’vaughn Williams, Cleveland, Ohio vs. Kevin Barger, Foster City, Calif.
Joseph Elegele, Melbourne, Fla. vs. Michael Concepcion, E. Orange, N.J.
David Hopkins, Roanoke, Va. vs. George Newkirk, National City, Calif.