When amateur boxers from our city’s gyms hit the road to compete in regional and national tournaments, they travel as a team representing St. Louis. They band together and fight not only for themselves, but also for the reputation of their hometown.
At local tournaments, however, they fight for the reputation of their gym. This competition can get hot, and at the finals of the Henry Armstrong Diamond Gloves Tournament this past Saturday night, it reached the boiling point during several bouts.
The ring stood at the center of a basketball court. Friends and families of the fighters fanned themselves in wooden bleachers beneath a row of windows coated with steam. Clusters of boxers adorned in team colors gravitated around the middle of the hardwood floor, bouncing on their toes and ripping off combinations into the air. In the far corners of the room, anxious-looking fighters were perched at gloving tables for the last step before battle.
Local pro Chantel Stanciel and veteran boxing trainer Willie Temple were on hand to take in the action, along with several hundred ardent boxing supporters. They watched as the four-hour marathon card warmed slowly with bantam and junior boys in the smaller weight classes. But it was a female fight in the Intermediate division that captured the crowd’s undivided attention.
Deirdre Rhodes from the Gamble Community Center and Ieshea Wallace from Marquette met in the center of the ring and traded hooks and crosses with reckless abandon, sending the crowd into a frenzy as spectators screamed encouragement and cheered between rounds. When the dust settled, Rhodes emerged with a hard-fought win.
In addition to the teams with long boxing histories, St. Louis’ newest boxing gym was well-represented. The Panda Athletic Club threw four new fighters into the tournament, and they all looked like seasoned veterans. Demetrius Johnson, 10, and Montrell Washington, 15, both looked impressive in their wins. Lorenzo Taylor, 14, showed poise and promise in his victory, and afterwards he strolled through the crowd wearing a stylish black hat tipped to a rakish angle.
But most impressive was 13-year-old Derron Moore. With only three fights under his belt, he brazenly stepped through the ropes to face the decorated national amateur champ Otis Brown from Cherokee. Moore lost the bout via decision, but in the process showed tremendous potential and earned Brown’s respect.
Other high points of the evening included an impressive knockout win by William Boyd from the North County Boxing Club, and another impressive showing by Preston Freeman from the West End Community Center. The Singleton Brothers from the Gamble Community Center also continued their winning ways.
But the thermostat was at its peak during the closest bouts, and the judges were guaranteed that their decisions would be unpopular with at least half of the crowd. Juzzton Hill from West End looked confident during and just after his bout with Cherokee’s Aaron Thompson, but was stunned when Thompson’s hand was raised as the decision was announced. Cherokee’s Demarco McCrady was able to ride the wave of support from the vocal fans at his home gym on his way to his victory at 125 lbs.
When the evening concluded, the coaches and fighters put away their gloves and their rivalries for the evening, but there is no doubt that the razor-thin decisions and near misses will only fuel the fighters as they train for the next local card.
There are still tickets and tables available for tonight’s amateur card at the Two Hearts Banquet Center, located at South Lindbergh and Gravois. The bouts will help pay for the St. Louis amateurs fighting in a national tournament in March at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. For tickets or information, call 892-7609.
