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| BOXING DEBUT SUCCESS — Anthony Navarro shows off the right hand that twice dropped his opponent while scoring a first round referee stoppage during his first amateur boxing exhibition match held at the Al Gonzalez Recreational Center in Corpus Christi this past weekend. |
“As soon as the bell rang - I was kind of nervous this being my first fight and my opponent being bigger then me - he came at me like he wanted to take my head off,” Navarro said while taking a minute off during training at the Twelfth Street Gym this past Thursday. “I wanted to box him but he was being very aggressive so I stayed outside a little bit and hit him with a wide right hand when he came in.” Navarro was surprised to have downed his opponent so quickly.
“I knew it (right hand) stunned him and I wanted to start jabbing but the referee told me to go to my corner as he (opponent) took a knee,” Navarro said. “I was thinking he was pretty much through at that point when he was on his knee; the fight was pretty much over. He went to his corner and they gave him an eight-count.”
Not a quick learner, Navarro’s opponent resumed his plan of attack. “After that he came at me the same way he had the first time,” Navarro said. “I just pretty much let my hands go and knocked him down again with the right hand.”
The referee brought the fight to a halt after Navarro dropped his opponent for the second time. Navarro was back in the gym this week getting ready for his next bout later this month. “I know the competition is going to be a little bit better now,” he said. “Right now I am just training hard while looking forward to my next fight, trying to keep my weight down, which is the hardest part, and staying focused.”
Experienced Slugger Oscar also had little trouble fighting Omar Cantu, a former nationally ranked amateur fighter.
“Oscar was excited to box against Omar, which was the first time because Omar had always been heavier than Oscar,” Coach Jaime Cantu said. “Oscar established his jab, stuck and moved in the first round. In the second round, Oscar picked up the pace and began hitting Omar’s body and head with hooks. Oscar finished things off in the third round with a twelve punch barrage to win the unanimous 5-0 decision.”
Oscar fights in his first senior tournament in November. Also entering his first amateur fight was Johnson who lost a 4-1 decision.
“Lynell went into his first fight against an opponent with a little more experience and we thought he did very well as he was very aggressive but his opponent landed a few more punches,” Jaime said. “Lynell was a little hesitant at times and let his opponent throw two or three punches at him and in amateur boxing it is the points that count.” Overall, Jaime was content with his amateur group. “I am very proud of what the kids did and we are getting ready for another show October 13 in Aransas Pass,” he said. “We are taking the same five fighters out there and then getting ready for a November tournament in San Antonio.”