Barry Dennis Jr. caputured STL’s only National Golden Gloves title.
By Glenn McBrady
For the St. Louis American
When Barry Dennis Jr. and his fellow fighters from St. Louis traveled to Arkansas for the National Golden Gloves Tournament two weeks ago, it was another step on a path that he planned after eliminating distractions and re-dedicating himself to boxing.
Despite strong performances from the talented St. Louis team, Barry was the lone member to win all five of his bouts in his 112 lb. weight class and capture a national title.
After the grind of the busy tournament schedule, he was back in the gym at the 12th & Park Rec Center on Monday, peppering the focus mitts with stiff hooks and crosses. As he exited the ring, he pulled off his gloves and waved me over to a wooden bench near a lopsided uppercut bag.
He gave me the details of each bout throughout the previous week, starting with a decision win over his opponent from Syracuse, NY. He stopped his second opponent in the third round, but he knew his next bout would be much tougher. It was a rematch with a boxer he had defeated last summer in the Ringside National Tournament, and he knew his old foe from New York would be looking to exact revenge.
But Barry won a 5-0 decision and cruised into the semifinals, stopping a fighter from Texas in round three. He capped off his winning week on Saturday by taking a 4-1 decision in the finals.
His master plan is to repeat with national championship wins at the Ringside and Golden Gloves Tournaments before beginning his pro campaign. He is especially grateful to his coach Ray Oliver, whom he calls “the best coach in town,” for sticking with him after others had lost faith.
When asked about Barry’s performance at the Golden Gloves, Oliver smiled and said, “I knew he’d win the tournament, but I didn’t think he’d walk through it as easily as he did.”
Barry also had a message for potential suitors that handle the pro fighters in town.
“I want them to know that there is serious talent at 112 lbs.,” he said matter-of-factly. “I have the speed and the power. Don’t overlook me.”
A National Golden Gloves title often ends up being the masterpiece of an amateur boxer’s collection, but for Barry Dennis Jr., it’s just one more addition to a growing body of work.
St. Charles showdown
Promoter Jim Howell and his stable of pro fighters continued their string of exciting bouts last Thursday night at the Heart of St. Charles Banquet Center with a card that included several thrilling highlights.
Cornell Jackson continued his winning campaign with a decision win over Nain Yates of Louisville, KY. Jackson gained momentum as the fight wore on, hacking at Yates’ ribs with left hooks and clubbing his head with crosses. By the final bell, Yates’ face was chafed and bleeding and he had a mouse under his left eye, all products of Jackson’s heavy hands.
Speaking of heavy hands, Steve Vincent added another spectacular one-punch knockout to his record when he starched Louisville’s Matthew Cottman. Vincent patiently looked for an opening in the first frame, and midway through round two, as the action slowly drifted to the ropes, Vincent connected with a stinging right hand that bloodied Cottman’s nose.
The huge lead left hook follow-up sent a spray of crimson specks across my notebook and bout sheet. The icing was provided just thirty-six seconds into round three, when Cottman threw a right hand and left it hanging precariously in front of his body, exposing the right side of his jaw. Vincent jumped on it like a power hitter on a hanging breaking ball and dropped his opponent with a textbook left hook.
The fallen fighter landed on his side right in front of me, and even though his eyes were wide open, his gaze was locked in a cold, hollow stare. Referee Marvin Elam immediately summoned the ringside physician, and it took Cottman several minutes to get his legs under him for the disappointing trudge back to the dressing room.
Fan favorite Mike Wood capped off the evening by getting revenge in a rematch with fellow light heavyweight Jason Dietrich. Dietrich got the nod from the judges in their first meeting, but Wood looked particularly focused as he assaulted Dietrich with left hooks and right crosses.
The pitched battle contained some great inside fighting, especially in round three, as both fighters traded hooks and then stepped out to create distance for vicious one-twos. Wood looked fresh after four busy rounds, but Dietrich had nothing in the tank and failed to answer the bell for the fifth.
Rumble by the River tonight
The wait is finally over for fight fans heading to The Family Arena in St. Charles tonight, June 2, for Round One Promotions’ “Rumble By The River.” A large walk-up crowd is expected for the pro fight card featuring terrific local fighters Devon Alexander, Eddie McCray and Danny Williams. Top contender David Diaz will also battle in a big-time boxing atmosphere similar to last February’s record-setting evening with Cory Spinks at the Savvis Center. Call The Family Arena box office at (636) 896-4242 or Metrotix at (314) 534-1111.
