(SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS) – The National PAL Championships completed their final full day of competition on Saturday with over 60 bouts in the numerous age groups and weight divisions at the Municipal Auditorium in San Antonio, Texas. Six men punched their tickets for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials with final round wins on Friday night. Two women’s champions earned spots in the Pan American Games Trials with championship bout victories as well, with the flyweight and lightweight champions earning the coveted spots.

In addition to the Olympic trials berths being set, over 50 national champions were crowned in final round competition. Tournament action will conclude on Sunday with championship bouts in the men’s open lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight and middleweight divisions.

Louie Byrd (Denver, Colo.) won the first U.S. Olympic Team Trials berth, taking a gold medal in the light flyweight division with a 7-1 victory over Marco Rangel (Scottsdale, Ariz.) in the first match-up between the two national champions.  Both boxers started slowly in the championship bout with Byrd holding a slim one-point lead after the first round. Byrd picked up his output in the second round, and enjoyed a 5-1 edge with one round of boxing remaining. The three-time national champion Byrd, went on to win a 7-1 final decision and claim the first spot in the Olympic Trials.

Two-time Olympian Rau’shee Warren (Cincinnati, Ohio) advanced to his third consecutive Olympic Team Trials with an impressive victory over defending National PAL Champion Adam Lopez (San Antonio, Texas). Warren came flying out of the gates, giving Lopez a standing eight count in the first en route to an 8-1 lead after one. He continued his fast pace in the second, showcasing his patented speed and moving out to a 13-2 advantage. Warren kept up the pressure over the final three minutes to win a 20-2 decision and his third national championship of 2010.

The bantamweight final round contest showcased a match-up between O’Shanique Foster (Orange, Texas) and Luis Feliciano (Milwaukee, Wis.). Foster claimed the early momentum in the bout and never let it go. He grabbed a 4-1 advantage after the first and more than doubled his point total in the second to take a 10-5 into the final three minutes of boxing.  Foster went on to win a 14-6 decision to take the bantamweight gold medal and earn a berth in the Olympic Trials.

Marcus Browne (Staten Island, N.Y.) and Jerry Odom (Bowie, Md.) faced off in action-packed light heavyweight contest, and the bout was filled with momentum swings. It was Browne taking the early lead in the bout, claiming a 5-2 edge after the opening round. Yet Odom grabbed the momentum right back in the second, holding Browne scoreless to pull within one point with one round remaining. The two boxers battled in an even third round, and Browne held on to his one point lead to win a 7-6 final decision and the light heavyweight title.

Heavyweight Steve Geffrard (Boca Raton, Fla.) won his second national championship of 2010, defeating Robert Jekabson by a 10-6 margin their final round contest. Geffrard took the early lead in the bout, grabbing a 2-0 advantage after the opening three minutes. Jekabson mounted a comeback in the second, tying the bout at 5-5 after two. Yet Geffrard refused to be denied, outscoring Jekabson 5-1 over the final three minutes to win the 10-6 victory and a berth in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

Super heavyweight Lenroy Thompson (Lenexa, Kansas) enjoyed his second national championship of 2010 with a final round victory on Saturday night as well. He won a 7-1 decision over Roberto Morban (Bronx, N.Y.) in a slow-packed final round contest.  Thompson held Morban scoreless throughout the first two rounds to take a 4-0 lead with one round of boxing left in the bout. Morban got on the board in the final round but couldn’t put a dent in Thompson’s lead. Thompson went on to win a 7-1 decision to claim his second national title of 2010 and the super heavyweight berth in the Olympic Trials. 

Eight open division women won national titles on Saturday night as well, beginning with a walkover win by light flyweight Jessica Ponce (Napa, Calif.).

The flyweight division final showcased a highly anticipated match-up between former national champions Christina Cruz (New York, N.Y.) and Cynthia Moreno (Phoenix, Ariz.). The bout lived up to its hype with the lead changing hands in each of the first two rounds. The two battled to a 7-7 tie at the end of three rounds, leaving the bout up for grabs in the fourth round. Cruz reached out and took it, outscoring Moreno 5-1 in the final round to win a 12-8 decision. The victory earns Cruz both the flyweight title and a spot in the Women’s Pan American Games Trials.

Nephateria Miller (New Haven, Conn.) claimed the bantamweight title in her final round contest with Patricia Cuevas (San Antonio, Texas). Miller led throughout the contest before taking a 17-1 final decision over Cuevas. Her second victory of the tournament earned Miller the bantamweight crown. 

The featherweight title went to LaTonya King (Detroit, Mich.) following her 11-5 victory over Elizabeth Leddy (Portland, Ore.). King enjoyed a strong first round, taking a 5-0 lead after one and Leddy was never able to make a significant dent on her deficit.  King took a 10-3 advantage and held on over the final two minutes to win the 11-5 final decision and the featherweight title.

Stephanie Han (El Paso, Calif.) claimed the second Pan American Games Trials berth with a victory in her lightweight contest with Mikaela Mayer (West Hills, Calif.). The bout was a low-scoring affair from the start with Han scoring the lone point in each of the opening half of the bout. Mayer was finally able to connect in the third, but Han held a tenuous 3-2 lead after three. Han scored the only scoring blow of the final round to win a 4-2 decision and the lightweight title. She is the younger sister of Jennifer Han, a member of the first-ever Women’s World Championships team.

Former National PAL Champion Brittany Inkrote (Red Lion, Pa.) claimed another National PAL title with a final round victory over Jenna Johlin (Mayfield Heights, Ohio). After falling behind in the opening round, Inkrote came flying back in the second to take her own 7-2 lead. She added to her advantage with a strong third round before taking a 15-5 final victory.

Tiffanie Ward (Hacienda Heights, Calif.) won the welterweight division title with a final round victory over Nisa Rodriguez (Bronx, N.Y.). Rodriguez held a 3-2 lead after the first round, but that was the last advantage she would hold. Ward took a 6-4 lead at the midway point of the bout and never looked back. She went on to win a 16-7 final decision and the welterweight title.

Saturday’s action concluded with a heavyweight match-up between Tameka Stephens (Houston, Texas) and 2010 National Champion Denise Rico (Los Angeles, Calif.). Rico lead the bout from the opening bell, slowly building out her advantage before winning a 10-4 final decision over Stephens to claim the 2010 National PAL Championship.

Saturday, October 8

6 p.m. session

Championship Bouts

Open Male Division

108 lbs: Louie Byrd, Denver, Colo., dec. Marco Rangel, Scottsdale, Ariz., 7-1

114 lbs: Rau’shee Warren, Cincinnati, Ohio dec. Adam Lopez, San Antonio, Texas, 20-2
123 lbs: O’Shanique Foster, Orange, Texas dec. Luis Feliciano, Milwaukee, Wis., 14-6

178 lbs: Marcus Browne, Staten Island, N.Y., dec. Jerry Odom, Bowie, Md., 7-6
201 lbs: Steve Geffrard, Boca Raton, Fla., dec. Robert Jekabson, Chicago, Ill., 10-6

201+ lbs: Lenroy Thompson, Lenexa, Kansas dec. Roberto Morban, Bronx, N.Y., 7-1

Open Female Division

106 lbs: Jessica Ponce, Napa, Calif., won on walkover

112 lbs: Christina Cruz, New York, N.Y., dec. Cynthia Moreno, Phoenix, Ariz., 12-8
119 lbs: Nephateria Miller, New Haven, Conn., dec. Patricia Cuevas, San Antonio, Texas, 17-1
125 lbs: LaTonya King, Detroit, Mich., dec. Elizabeth Leddy, Portland, Ore., 11-5

132 lbs: Stephanie Han, El Paso, Texas dec. Mikaela Mayer, West Hills, Calif., 4-2

141 lbs: Brittany Inkrote, Red Lion, Pa., dec. Jenna Johlin, Mayfield Heights, Ohio, 15-5
152 lbs: Tiffanie Ward, Hacienda Heights, Calif., dec. Nisa Rodriguez, Bronx, N.Y., 16-7
178+ lbs: Denise Rico, Los Angeles, Calif., dec. Tameka Stephens, Hosuton, Texas, 10-4

Senior/15-16-year-old/Male Division

145 lbs/senior/15-16-year-olds: Jerime Rodriguez, Kyle, Texas dec. Hud Mellencamp, Indianapolis, Ind., 9-8
154 lbs/senior/15-16-year-olds: Marcos Rodriguez, Midland, Texas, stopped David Mendoza, Rosharon, Texas, RSC-2
154 lbs/senior/15-16-year-olds: DeAndre Robinson, Columbia, S.C., dec. Jessie Nares, Oxnard, Calif.,
165 lbs/senior/15-16-year-olds: Lou Grant, Loxatchee, Fla., dec. Eric Guajardo, San Antonio, Texas, 10-7
176 lbs/senior/15-16-year-olds: Jose Rocha, Selah, Wash., dec.  Alejandro Bermudez, Gatesville, Texas, 17-6

176+ lbs/senior/15-16-year-olds: Angel Rivera, Harrisburg, Pa., dec. Nazareth Hernandez, Dallas, Texas, 12-5

11 a.m. session

Semifinal Bouts

132 lbs: Kenneth Sims, Chicago, Ill., dec.  Joshua Davis, Washington DC, 8-5
132 lbs: Luis Cruz, Bronx, N.Y., dec. Eric Fowler, Humble, Texas, 20-6
141 lbs: Amir Iman, Albany, N.Y. dec. Abel Ramos, Eloy, Ariz., 9-5
141 lbs: Pedro Sosa, Bronx, N.Y., dec. Michael Reed, Waldorf, Md.,  4-1 (paper scoring)
152 lbs: Errol Spence, Desoto, Texas dec. Bryant Perrella, 7-3
152 lbs: Antoine Douglas, Burke, Va., dec. Reyes Marquez, Fountain, Colo., 9-4
165 lbs: D’Mitrius Ballard, Temple Hills, Md., dec. Daquan Arnett, Temple Hills, Md., 9-3
165 lbs: Kenneth McNeil, Birmingham, Ala., dec. Edgar Alvarado, San Bernadino, Calif., 8-6
* Final round action in the four weight divisions above will take place on Sunday

Championship Bouts

Junior Division/11-12-year-olds

70 lbs/11-12-year-olds: Guillermo Gutierrez, San Antonio, Texas dec. Brandon Limonez, Beeville, Texas, 7-2
75 lbs/11-12-year-olds: Thomas Blumenfield,  dec. Israel Rodriguez, Houston, Texas, 6-5
80 lbs/11-12-year-olds: Isaac Cuellar, Paterson, N.J. dec. Hugo Tovar,  McAllen, Texas, 7-6
85 lbs/11-12-year-olds: Ryan Garcia, Adelanto, Calif., dec. Vergil Ortiz, Grand Prairie, Texas, 7-1
90 lbs/11-12-year-olds: Brandon Vega, Cleveland, Ohio dec. Roman Ruiz, Buda, Texas, 14-0
95 lbs/11-12-year-olds: Michael Dutchover, Midland, Texas dec. Adolfo Alanis, Edinburg, Texas, 6-0
101 lbs/11-12-year-olds: Cherry Carter, Penn Hills, Pa., dec. Aaron Martinez, Houston, Texas, 2-0
106 lbs/11-12-year-olds: Aaron Florez, Odessa, Texas dec. Christopher Valdez, Indianapolis, Ind., 7-1

Female/Junior Division/11-12-year-olds

119 lbs/junior/female: Celeste Wilson dec. Basimah Baker, 12-11

Intermediate Division/13-14-year-olds

80 lbs/intermediate/13-14-year-olds: Jimmy Serra, Paterson, N.J., dec. Brian Cannady, Ft. Myers, Fla.,  17-1
85 lbs/intermediate/13-14-year-olds: Hector Tanajara, San Antonio, Texas, dec. Ricardo Quiroz, Oxnard, Calif., 10-2
90 lbs/intermediate/13-14-year-olds: Gilbert Renteria, Houston, Texas, dec. Joshua Franco, San Antonio, Texas, 15-4
95 lbs/intermediate/13-14-year-olds: Francisco de los Reyes dec. Isaias Perez, 5-1
101 lbs/intermediate/13-14-year-olds: Fernando Vasquez, Dallas, Texas, dec. Da’reece Crawford, Kansas City, Mo., 3-1
106 lbs/intermediate/13-14-year-olds: Gary Antwuan Russell, Capitol Heights, Md., dec. Isaac Rodriguez, San Antonio, Texas, 12-2
110 lbs/intermediate/13-14-year-olds: Mike Yanez, Pflugerville, Texas dec. Zakery Rollins, 5-1
110 lbs/intermediate /13-14-year-olds: Efren Lopez, Fresno, Calif.,  dec. Ramon Cardenas,  San Antonio, Texas, 9-1
114 lbs/intermediate/13-14-year-olds: Jose Moreno-Pesina, San Antonio, Texas dec. Jose Pena, Houston, Texas, 12-6
119 lbs/intermediate/13-14-year-olds: Anthony Rodriguez, Houston, Texas, dec. Diego Chavez, Chicago, Ill.,  5-2
125 lbs/intermediate/13-14-year-olds: Abel Mendoza, Pecos, Texas,  dec. David Franco, Los Angeles, Calif.,  5-0
132 lbs/intermediate/13-14-year-olds: Milton Santiago, Warminster, Pa.,  dec. Travis Jerig, Zanesville, Ohio,  6-4
154 lbs/intermediate/13-14-year-olds: Mark Reyes, Tampa, Fla.,  dec. Jazavian Palmer,  Lubbock, Texas, 7-6

Senior Division/15-16-year-olds/Male

101 lbs/senior/15-16-year-olds: Mario Barrios, San Antonio, Texas, won on walkover
106 lbs senior/15-16-year-olds: Aujee Tyler, Temple Hills, Md.,  dec. Brent Venegas III, Elk Grove, Calif., 13-3
110 lbs/senior/15-16-year-olds: Christian Williams, Chicago, Ill., dec. Epi Soto, Laredo, Texas,  6-1
114 lbs/senior/15-16-year-olds: Jalonte Cole, Washington, DC, won on disqualification over Samuel Villareal, Jr., Laredo, Texas,  DQ-2
119 lbs/senior/15-16-year-olds: Gervonta Davis, Baltimore, Md., dec. Cresencio Ramos, Jr., San Antonio, Texas, 12-3
125 lbs/senior/15-16-year-olds: George Naclerio, East Haven, Conn., dec. Kendo Castanedo, San Antonio, Texas, 4-3
132 lbs/senior/15-16-year-olds: Julian Rodriguez, Paterson, N.J., dec. Joe Lamas, Houston, Texas, 26-4
138 lbs/senior/15-16-year-olds: Cristino Ceballo, Brooklyn, N.Y. dec. Kareem Martin, Clinton, Md., 7-6

Senior Division/15-16-year-olds/Female

110 lbs/senior/female: Elizabeth Rodriguez, Gilroy, Calif., dec. Berenice Hernandez, Las Vegas, Nev., 3-1
119 lbs/senior/female: Rianna Rios, Alice, Texas, dec. Ayanna Vasquez, Las Cruces, N.M., 6-3
125 lbs/senior/female: Morayah Patterson, Warren, Mich., dec. Liana Rico, San Bernadino, Calif., 11-7
138 lbs/senior/female: Earnestine Wesley, Garland, Texas, dec. Talanee Tillery, Capitol Heights, Md., 5-5 (10-10) (judge’s poll : 5-0)