Dispatch from Salt Lake: Chicago Gloves Team Doin' Just Fine
By Kate Gardiner in News on May 7, 2009 5:00PM
Contrelle Wright (blue) has fought his way into the third round;
File Photo by Kate Gardiner/Chicagoist
According to our sources in Salt Lake City, Chicago had a good night in the national Golden Gloves ring: five of our six remaining Golden Gloves champions made it through round two, decisively beating boxers from all over the country.
- Contrelle Wright (112 pounds) beat veteran boxer Thomas Huitt-Johnson, representing Kansas City. According to USA Boxing, one of the event's sponsors, Huitt-Johnson placed second in the Ringside World Championship. Wright remains Chicago's best amateur light flyweight.
- Chicago's own Darres Smith (119 pounds) beat Prientkes Sanders, of Charleston, W. Va. Sanders has fought in at least three national Golden Gloves series, including last year's tournament of champions and in the 2007 and 2008 national championships.
- Tracy Rollins, (165 pounds) the 16-year-old whiz kid from Homewood, said he'd be changing up his style for last night's fight. "Call me the Punisher," he said. Apparently it worked. Rollins took out Pennsylvania's Morgan Fitch, a fighter built by Pittsburgh's Stay off the Streets boxing gym. Fitch used to fight in the 178-pound weight class, but stepped down to 165 just before the 2008 Golden Gloves. Rumor has it that the charismatic Rollins lost a tooth Monday night - a reporter from another newspaper said her photographer was frustrated when the boxer wouldn't smile. We're sure he'll get it fixed - when he gets back.
- And Junior Wright once again proved his prowess in the ring: the man who took out Chitown's Finest, Derek Zugic, did the same to Nevada's Shad Cramer by judge's decision. Cramer has been entered into several national golden gloves tournaments, though his record online is a little sparse - we're beginning to wish we were actually there, watching our guys fight.
- Last but not least: Lamar Fenner, who fights in the super heavies at just over 200 pounds, took out New Jersey's Tyrell Wright. Wright, of Renegade Boxing Club in Jersey City, has been in the national competition at least four consecutive years.
By the way: we're headed down to the UIC Pavilion May 29 to watch Windy City Fight Night . Chicago-raised fighter Jesus "El Matador" Chavez's (Standing Eight anyone?) little brother Jamie "Superfly" Sandoval will be taking on veteran fighter Juan Carlos "El Pez" Martinez for the World Boxing Federation's Americas Lightweight Championship.
Windy City Fight Night 2, Friday May 29, Doors at 7 p.m., first bell at 8:00 p.m., UIC Pavilion, $30 - $100, available via Ticketmaster