The Light Welterweight Division is Showcased at the 2007 Western Trials
By Julie Goldsticker // USA Boxing // May 22, 2007
(SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH) – The light welterweight division owned the ring on Tuesday at the 2007 Western Trials at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City. Four bouts were contested in the 141- pound weight division with all of the victors moving on to quarterfinal action.
A preliminary match-up between Anthony Wheaton (Lakewood, Calif.) and Milton Ramos (Waco, Texas) opened the day’s action. Ramos took a slim, early lead and slowly built it out over the four rounds. He enjoyed an 18-14 lead at the end of three, and nearly doubled his advantage in the fourth to win a 26-19 final decision.
In the second contest of the evening, Victor Garcia (Santa Ana, Calif.) battled Mike Faragon (Schenectady, N.Y.) for a berth in quarterfinal action. Garcia held a one-point lead at the end of the first, but Faragon led after each of the next three rounds. He went in to the final round of action with a 21-13 lead and finished the round as the victor, earning a 29-18 final decision.
In other preliminary action, Kevin Barger (Foster City, Calif.) came on strong in the final three rounds of his bout with Del’Vaughn Williams (Cleveland, Ohio). It was Williams taking the lead after the first round, but the momentum shifted permanently in the second. A strong third stanza pushed Barger to a convincing 30-16 advantage as the fourth round began. Barger continued to press the action in the final stanza before moving out to a 40-23 decision.
A preliminary match-up between Joseph Elegele (Melbourne, Fla.) and Michael Concepcion (E. Orange, N.J.) closed the event. The contest was close throughout with Elegele holding a slim lead through the first three rounds, and he went into the fourth up by one point. Yet the bout shifted dramatically in the fourth, with Concepcion pouring on the points en route to a 35-24 final decision.
Thirteen bouts will be contested in Wednesday’s quarterfinal action with the bantamweight, lightweight, middleweight, heavyweight and super heavyweight boxers all taking the ring.
Tuesday’s Preliminary Results
141 lbs/64 kg: Milton Ramos, Waco, Texas dec. Anthony Wheaton, Lakewood, Calif., 26-19
141 lbs/64 kg: Mike Faragon, Schenectady, N.Y. dec. Victor Garcia, Santa Ana, Calif., 29-18
141 lbs/64 kg: Tony Gonzalez, Ogden, Utah, won on walkover over Randy Trionfel, Queens, N.Y., W/O
141 lbs/64 kg: Kevin Barger, Foster City, Calif., dec. Del'Vaughn Williams, Cleveland, Ohio, 40-23
141 lbs/64 kg: Michael Concepcion, E. Orange, N.J. dec. Joseph Elegele, Melbourne, Fla., 35-24
141 lbs/64 kg: George Newkirk, National City, Calif., won on walkover over David Hopkins, Roanoke, Va., W/O
Wednesday’s Quarterfinal Bout Sheet
Bantamweight
Jose Haro, Jr., West Valley City, Utah vs. Shawn Nichol, Lakewood, Colo.
Oscar Vasquez-Reyes, Reno, Nev. vs. Rick Lopez, Brighton, Colo.
Christopher Avalos, Lancaster, Calif. vs. Adrian Gutierrez, Santa Ana, Calif.
Jazzma Hogue, Albuquerque, N.M. vs. Sergio Perales, Los Fresnos, Texas
Lightweight
Emanuel Medina, Alhambra, Calif. vs. Roberto Vargas, Santa Ana, Calif.
Middleweight
Payton Boyea, Sacramento, Calif. vs. Ian Mauleon, Los Angeles, Calif.
Dominic Wade, Largo, Md. vs. Michael Valenzuela, Phoenix, Ariz.
Rudy Cutnose, Salt Lake City, Utah vs. Stepan Zeytunyan, Aurora, Colo.
George Carter, Jr., Galesburg, Ill. vs. Kelly Max Buchanan, Teague, Texas
Heavyweight
Duncan Hunter, Central Point, Ore. vs. Andres Taylor, Johnstown, Pa.
Javier Torres, Medford, Ore. vs. Victor Arriola, Yuma, Ariz.
Super heavyweight
Juan Rivera, Florence, Ky. vs. Excell Holmes, Amherst, N.Y.
Justin Jones, Houston, Texas vs. Abodurin Akinyanju, Springdale, Md.
