The finals of the Gateway Classic Sports Foundation’s 11th annual amateur boxing tournament last Friday evening brought together nearly all of the key players in St. Louis’ amateur ranks and provided thrills for the devoted fans in attendance.
The four-day tournament was held in the gym at the foundation’s beautiful complex, and the bleachers were divided to accommodate supporters for each of the teams competing.
The boxers and their trainers sat on the auditorium’s stage parallel to the ring, watching the action inside the rich red and blue velvet ropes. The room is trimmed with canary yellow paint and was further brightened by the lights from television cameras capturing the action for a future broadcast on City TV Channel 10.
A bout between West End Community Center stablemates Preston Freeman and Derrico Wafford kicked off the championship card. Freeman seems to grow a head taller every other month, and he continued his winning ways by staying busier than his opponent throughout three rounds to earn an impressive decision victory.
In the only female bout of the evening, Adora Keen from the 12th and Park Rec Center seemed right at home on her way to a victory in the 100 lb. class. She showed patience and confidence, grinning between rounds as she prepared to continue her attack.
In the final round, she took the verdict out of the judge’s hands when she backed her opponent into a neutral corner with a thudding counter left. As Keen moved in and began swinging, the referee interceded and waved his hands to halt the action.
The fight between Derrick Murray from Tandy and DeMarco McCrady from Cherokee was just that ( a street brawl with gloves and headgear. Both threw caution and the principles of the Sweet Science out the back door and punished each other in a ferocious first frame.
In round two, McCrady landed a chopping left hook that dropped Murray in slow motion onto the canvas. But Murray rose and vowed to continue, and in the process exacted a cost from his hard-hooking opponent.
After the spirited second round, which saw Murray absorb several jaw-popping blows, the cautious ringside physician came within a whisper of stopping the slugfest. After climbing the steps to examine Murray, the doctor was satisfied with the gutsy fighter’s answers and let the tussle extend into the final stanza. The crowd was also recharged, and the fans roared as the give-and-take action escalated with both fighters refusing to back down. In the end, McCrady took the decision in the 125 lb. dogfight.
The climax of the card was a brilliant bout between Danny Williams from Wohl and Ricky Lane from Cherokee. Both started slowly, showing respect and studying each other’s styles, looking for a solution. Williams was elusive, using great upper-body movement, and he mixed up his offense well, throwing to the body and head. Lane was also effective, using superb footwork to cut off the ring and sizzling straight punches to gain William’s respect.
In round two, Lane backed Williams into a corner and launched three haymakers tagged with hurtful intentions. The crowd “oohed” and “aahed” as Williams picked up the bombs on his radar and deftly avoided them with slick head movement.
By the deciding round, Williams was wincing and favoring his left shoulder, so it came as a surprise when he timed Lane perfectly with a vicious left hook that resulted in a knockdown. As the referee stopped the contest, a group of fans spilled from the stands onto the hardwood floor, reacting to the drama in the ring.
It was the perfect nightcap to a successful tournament featuring many of the finest amateur boxers our city has to offer.
The pros will do battle tonight, Thursday, March 31, in St. Charles on a highly-anticipated fight card at The Heart of St. Charles Banquet Center, located at Hwy 70 & Fifth St. For tickets, call promoter Jim Howell at (636) 561-2380.
