Plant City Boxing Gym got a new look earlier in April, just in time to host the 2017 Junior Olympics State Tournament.
The gym hosted 39 fights, many of which were qualifiers for the Florida State Junior Olympics team. Plant City-area fighters Jovanie Feblez, Gyno Rould, Mohammed Salem, Eric Denson and Alex Martinez competed, but the only winner was Denson — who won his Sunday, April 23, fight with familiar foe Zee Zamora by unanimous decision.
After knocking down a wall separating the gym’s unit from a vacant unit next door, with help from Jason Crosby and neighbor Advantage Restoration and Contracting, the gym moved its ring to the middle of the two areas and set up seating on either side. For the tournament, the gym was able to secure belts, medals and trophies with help from its sponsors, including Save the Moment Awards and Recognitions.
RESULTS
Note: a * denotes a Florida State qualifying fight
Saturday, April 22
Kevion Williams d. Nathaniel Cintron (Split)*
Rufino Cabrera d. Januel Roman (Unanimous)*
Juliano Castellano d. Omari Jones (Unanimous)*
Robert Gomez d. Derrick Jackson (Split)*
Axel Garcia d. Eduard Macaya (Split)*
Alexander Rios d. Darrion Henry (Split)*
Ruben Soto d. Jovanie Feblez (Stoppage)
Jayelen Margeston d. Allan Hernandez (Split)
Robert Figueroa d. Bear Chang (Unanimous)
Jamar Blasini d. Nestor Alvarenga (Unanimous)
Giovanni Louis d. Austin Smith (Stoppage)
Kristhian Fernandez d. Jose Alfaro (Unanimous)
Djuan Jefferson d. Martin Garcia (DQ)
Anran Witter d. Ricky Zamora (Unanimous)
Maleek Brooks d. Devan McClinton (Unanimous)
Roberto Dominguez d. Gyno Rould (Unanimous)
Jose Hernandez d. Mohammed Salem (Stoppage)
Sunday, April 23
Curtis Blackman d. Allan Hernandez (Unanimous)
Carlos Lebron d. Alex Bray (Split)
Eric Denson d. Zee Zamora (Unanimous)
Martha Lopez d. Aliyah Charbonier (Unanimous)*
Kevion Williams d. Rufino Cabrera (Split)*
Justice Henry d. Da Mazion Van Houter (Split)*
Darrius Jackson d. Alfonso Diaz (Stoppage)*
Jeavani Figueroa d. Joaquin Roberson (Unanimous)*
Bray Kamar d. Alex Rosado (Split)*
Jonathan Lopez d. Jesse Aviles (Split)*
Joshua Lebron d. Cornelius Denard (Split)*
Luis Vazquez d. Santiago Hernandez (Split)*
Juliano Castellano d. Michael Garcia (Split)*
Armani Almestica d. Omari Peebles (Unanimous)*
Robert Gomez d. Adam Calixto (Unanimous)*
Juniel Garcia d. Axel Garcia (Unanimous)*
Jeovany Estela d. Kamauriay Walker (Split)*
Ricardo Campos d. Alexander Rios (Split)*
David Garcia d. Alex Martinez (Split)*
Isais Torres d. Martin Garcia (Unanimous)
Alex Macaya d. Willie Weaver (Unanimous)
Darrelle Valsaint d. Lue Caymite (Unanimous)
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.