The Trenton Boxing Club sent three members to the 82nd annual Kansas City Golden Gloves Tournament over the weekend.
Among those competing with boxers from western Missouri and eastern Kansas were Owen Brown, fighting in the boys 114-pound open division; Joey Lynch, fighting in the boys 114-pound novice division, and Faith Baker, fighting in the girls 135-pound open division.
Brown won his division when his opponent switched divisions and left Owen unopposed.
Lynch received a first-round bye, then faced off with Adrian Zamora of the Flaco Ramirez Boxing Club. Lynch, who was ahead on the judges’ scorecards, was caught with a shot to the throat and was unable to continue. As a result, he took second in the tournament.
Baker qualified to the championship round, where she was matched up with Joana Esperaza, an undefeated boxer from the Turner Boxing Academy. Coach Rocky Dunkin said Baker fought a good fight, throwing clean quick combinations and good footwork to turn her opponent. The match was stopped by the doctor, however, due to a nosebleed that couldn’t be stopped, placing Baker second in the tournament.
Dunkin said he was very pleased with his fighter’s performance and looks for them to improve greatly from the experience.
“I feel as if our fighters are good enough to compete with anyone from the much larger cities to small towns such as ourselves,” Dunkin said. “We put a lot of work in every night in the gym, and it pays off.
Members of the Trenton Boxing Club will next be in action April 22-23 in Topeka, KS for the Junior Olympics box-offs. Trenton will be sending nine members to the tournament, with winners advancing to regional competition with boxers from Oklahoma, Nebraska, Arkansas and Illinois on May 12-13 in St. Louis.
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