(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – The 2011 USA Boxing National Championships concluded with a great day of boxing on Saturday at the historic City Auditorium in Colorado Springs, Colo. With Olympic medalists Andrew Maynard, Nate Jones and Andre Ward, as well as legendary coach Freddie Roach, in the attendance the athletes all put on a great performance.
The evening session started with an upset as David Carlton (Cincinnati, Ohio) took a 28-27 decision over three-time national champion Louie Byrd (Denver, Colo.) to win his first USA Boxing National Championships gold medal.
Flyweight Marlen Esparza (Houston, Texas) made history on Saturday night, becoming only the third female boxer in history to win six straight national title. Esparza defeated Tyrieshia Douglas (Baltimore, Md.) 27-16 in a rematch of their 2010 showdown.
In front of a hometown crowd, the U.S. Army’s John Franklin (Fort Carson, Colo.) won his first USA Boxing National Championships to the delight of the soldiers in attendance. Franklin won a 13-10 decision over Oscar Cantu (Kingsville, Texas) to win the flyweight crown.
In bantamweight action, Joseph Diaz, Jr. (S. El Monte, Calif.) defended his 2010 crown in a match-up with fellow Californian Joet Gonzalez (Glendora, Calif.). Diaz won his second straight title with a 14-11 decision over Gonzalez.
Lightweight Queen Underwood (Seattle, Wash.) was the second female boxer to defend her crown on Saturday. Tiara Brown (Lehigh Acres, Fla.) gave her a tough battle but Underwood won a 23-21 decision to take her fifth consecutive national championship.
The men’s lightweight division showcased a repeat national title as well with Jose Ramirez (Avenal, Calif.) defeating 2010 USA Boxing National Championships bronze medalist Toka Kahn Clary (Providence, R.I.). Ramirez won a 28-20 decision over Kahn Clary to take his second straight national title.
Light welterweight Semajay Thomas (Chicago, Ill.) enjoyed a triumphant return to the boxing ring, winning his first national championship. Thomas put on a commanding peformance in his bout with Thomas Duquette (Boston, Mass.), winning a 23-12 decision and the light welterweight title.
Welterweight Errol Spence (Desoto, Texas) returned to the top spot for the third straight year, winning his bout with Luis Olivares (Glendale, Ariz.), 13-7 to complete the three-peat.
Two former national champions faced off in the women’s middleweight division with Alyssa DeFazio (Peoria, Ariz.) and Franchon Crews (Baltimore, Md.) battling for the 2011 crown. Yet only one hand could be raised and the 2011 National Championship went to Crews on a 15-13 decision.
Another new national champion was crowned in the middleweight division as Chris Pearson (Trotwood, Ohio) won the gold medal in a closely contested match-up with Edgar Alvarado, Jr. (San Bernadino, Calif.). Pearson pulled out an 11-10 decision in front of his favorite boxer, Andre Ward, to take the middleweight crown.
Due to an injury to Jerry Odom (Bowie, Md.), Jesse Hart (Philadelphia, Pa.) won the light heavyweight title on a medical disqualification.
In the final contested bout of the evening, 2009 National Champion Jordan Shimmell (Hudsonville, Mich.) faced off with Andrew Tabiti (Las Vegas, Nev.) for the heavyweight championships. Shimmell won her second heavyweight title with a 14-8 decision over Tabiti.
As in the light heavyweight division, the super heavyweight bout didn’t take place due to an injury. Jonathan Hamm (St. Paul, Minn.) won the championship on a medical disqualification over Laron Mitchell (San Francisco, Calif.) to put an end to the 2011 USA Boxing National Championships.
Olympic Weight Class Championship Bout Results
108 lbs/male: David Carlton, Cincinnati, Ohio, dec. Louie Byrd, Denver, Colo., 27-20
112 lbs/female: Marlen Esparza, Houston, Texas, dec. Tyrieshia Douglas, Baltimore, Md., 27-16
114 lbs/male: John Franklin, Fort Carson, Colo., dec. Oscar Cantu, Kingsville, Texas, 13-10
123 lbs/male: Joseph Diaz Jr., El Monte Calif., dec. Joet Gonzalez, Glendora, Calif., 14-11
132 lbs/female: Queen Underwood, Seattle, Wash., dec. Tiara Brown, Lehigh, Fla., 23-21
132 lbs/male: Jose Ramirez, Avenal, Calif., dec. Toka Kahn Clary, Providence, R.I., 28-20
141 lbs/male: Semajay Thomas, Chicago, Ill., dec. Thomas Duquette, Waltham, Mass., 23-12
152 lbs/male: Errol Spence, Desoto, Texas, dec. Luis Olivares, Glendale, Ariz., 13-7
165 lbs/female: Franchon Crews, Baltimore, Md., dec. Alyssa DeFazio, Peoria, Ariz., 15-13
165 lbs/male: Chris Pearson, Trotwood, Ohio, dec. Edgar Alvarado, Jr., San Bernadino, 11-10
178 lbs/male: Jesse Hart, won on medical disqualification over Jerry Odom, Bowie, Md., DQ
201 lbs/male: Jordan Shimmell, Hudsonville, Mich., dec. Andrew Tabiti, Las Vegas, Nev., 14-8
201+ lbs/male: Jonathan Hamm, St. Paul, Minn., won on medical disqualification over Laron Mitchell, San Francisco, Calif.
Women’s Non-Olympic Championship Bout Results
106 lbs/female: Amy Sowers, Bozeman, Mont., dec. Marina Ramirez, Las Vegas, Nev., 21-14
119 lbs/female: Haley Pasion, Waipahu, Hawaii, dec. Amanda Pavone, Burlington, Mass., 11-11 (87-86)
125 lbs/female: Heather Hardy, Brooklyn, N.Y., dec. Elizabeth Leddy, Portland, Maine, 21-12
141 lbs/female: Cashmere Jackson, Cleveland, Ohio, dec. Luvisa Matali, Denver, Colo., 27-14
152 lbs/female: Stephanie Taylor, West Hills, Calif., dec. Amournix Stamp, Milwaukee, Wis., 9-1
178+ lbs/female: Charnita Johnson, Columbus, Ohio (unopposed champion)
