Armed Forces Boxing Championships Night 2

Friday morning on Bill Bennet's morning American it was mentioned there had been two thousand days since 9/11 and there has been no major attack on the US,I collected a dividend from Annhuiser Busch commerce has continued,The the Achillie Lauro hijacking mastermind and one of the planners of the embassy bombings in Africa discovered that United States once angered has a surprisingly long memory and will pursue justice till justice obtained.  Col Wilbur commander of the 737th training group highlighted  the fact that once again  Armed Forces Boxing championships were at time of war.  The National Anthem while not being punctuated by the roar of C-5 taking off still had special significance.  While some inner service quips and rivalries were played out.  There were grins on the Army side as the Marine's at one time lived up to their typical stero types.  Among the rival cheers on the medal presentations there was a full acknowledgement of the unity that brings the Armed Services Together and unites a WWII vet and a USAF basic trainee.  This was punctuated by a missing flight cap which for more then a few present provided a laugh. 

The night began with a medal ceremony for the previous nights bouts.

Navy yeoman Lynette Lopez was the victor she is on the right.

Specialist Autumn Anderson US Army was awarded the medal for her victory over IT2 Navy Trivia Pino the previous night. 

The bout lived up the typical quip about Marines attacking and Army  being smarter.  PFC Adrian Ghisou with good countering and accurate punching out boxed his opponent SGT Roberto Castillo.

Alexis Ramos US Army had a sweet homecoming as he defeated SSGT Eugene Marquez in his bantamweight bout.

The crowd got into it was loud accurate counter punching and good defense by USAF staff sgt Rosey Summerville eared him the victory in the featherweight bout.  The Army boxing team took on the group of USAF basic trainees in a yell fest during the bout. 

Both Services showed their toughness as Army Specialist James Villa defeated a tough hard charging Marine in a thirilling bout.  The bout was in the lightweight division. 

PFC Samuel Martinez persisted tough enough to get an RSC victory in his light welterweight bout.  The RSC occurred in the last round.

Local boxer former USAF team member James DuBois and former USAF coach now USMC boxing team coach Ron Simms and others enjoy a reunion.  James Dubois is a local boxer and fire fighter who suffered an injury on duty but will return as his hands healed eta in May.

It was a fierce struggle that fired up the crowd providing noise and cheering AF V Army it Captain Boyd Melson US Army won it in the welterweight class.

He looks long lanky and awkward but in those long arms is serious punching power middle weight bout.  PFC Zacheous Hardwick won by RSC in round 4

With the last punch photographed SFC Christopher Downs won by RSC in the light heavyweight division.  His medal was presented to him my USAF basic trainee dorm chief.  The tradition of fierce warriors protecting those first ten amendments of the constitution and those whose vigilance and fight allows elections to occur in safety continues. 

It was a slow start but once he got going he got going for unambiguous ending.  SSGT Joe Guzman won the heavyweight bout.

Due to my error there are no action shots of the super heavyweight bout that SGT Andrew Sheperd won.  His gold medal as given him by a man who spent 50 years serving from WWII to recently in the services and recreation end of Armed Services as both military and civilian. 

Col Wilbur USAF awards silver team medals to members of the USMC boxing team.

Col Wilbur USAF awards gold team medals to members of US Arny boxing team.

Photos and story by Esteban Erik Stipnieks.