Last years Silver Gloves Champions

[ohioboxer]

As i watched some of the boxers this year that won it last year, not too many of them seemed to impressed me. The one boxer that did impress me the most was Gary Salazar from region 8. I thought he would have had it tough this year moving up in age, but he seemed to control every fight he was in. I just thought some of the fighters like Tyler Augee, Ruben Villa, Marshall Sanchez would have repeated this year. And i didnt see Gervonta Davis this year, was he too old? Whats your opinion on why these fighters did not repeat?

[DCAmateurBoxing]

As i watched some of the boxers this year that won it last year, not too many of them seemed to impressed me. The one boxer that did impress me the most was Gary Salazar from region 8. I thought he would have had it tough this year moving up in age, but he seemed to control every fight he was in. I just thought some of the fighters like Tyler Augee, Ruben Villa, Marshall Sanchez would have repeated this year. And i didnt see Gervonta Davis this year, was he too old? Whats your opinion on why these fighters did not repeat?

There are a lot of factors in repeating. I'll list a few IMO and then give you feedback on the fighters you mentioned.

1) TOTAL POOL OF BOXERS IN YOUR DIVISION - Some boxers have it a little "easier" for lack of a better word. If you are a 14 year old weighting 75lbs. more than likely you will walk through to the nationals and then maybe only have one bout to win the title. On the flip side if you are 12 year old and 200lbs. the same rings true. It's going to be easier to repeat in these scenarios. For our region, the local tournament is 2 days (maybe 3), the regionals are 3 days and then the nationals another 3 days. So, for our Region (3), the most that a boxer would box is 9 total bouts. However, you could have a boxer only have to box once and win the nationals.

2) GROWTH OF A BOXER - We are talking about pre-teens and teenagers here, so from year to year, the growth of a boxer can be all over the place. We had a boxer who grew from 5'9 to 6'2 in a three year period! So, if you were 12/13 80lbs. one year, but the next you are 12/13 112lbs. that is a big jump up.

3) PEAKING AT THE RIGHT TIME - Our local Silver Gloves starts in December, so that's three months of actually being "in" the tournament. The goal for any athlete is to peak right before competition but that's easier said then done. In an advancing tournament like the Silvers, you don't have the luxury of a do-over or double elimination. Other than filling an empty rosters spot at another weight class or someone not being able to attend, once a boxer loses that's it. So, part of the key to repeating is being healthy and being in the top physical and emotional state right before the competition.

As far as the boxers that you mentioned:

Aujee Tyler - may have very well repeated but he (by almost every account) lost a bad decision at the Nationals to Region 6 boxer. Video will be posted but I didn't record it. I was recording another bout, but even the Region 6 spectators told me that it was a really bad decision.

Ruben Villa - lost to Omero Gallegos, who Villa beat last year in the Championship and again in the PAL this year. There is nothing that motivates a boxer like a loss and whenever you have two great competitors (teams/individuals), it is really difficult to beat them 3 times in a row IMO. I didn't see this bout, but regaring the Villa repeat, he lost to a very good boxer.

Marshall Sanchez - moved up to 112lbs. after winning the Silvers at 106lbs. and beating a very accomplished Pedro Duran en route. I did see this bout and while it was competitive, I think that Salazar was too strong physcially for Sanchez. You can see the bout here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGCddV5fn4M

Gervonta Davis - I would bet my right arm that he was going to win it last year at 14/15 95lbs. However, he did not make weight at all and never boxed in Missouri. Back, bigger and stronger at 119lbs. and looking strong he lost a decision to Nick Torrance (Davis vs. Torrance is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWGxsVBG854) who played the spoiler two years in a row to two national champions. Last year it was Antonio Russell, brother of 2008 Olympics Gary Russell Jr. (Torrance vs. Russell is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJQLAItBBlU).

Now how about the boxers that did repeat

12/13 80lbs. Zimmie Dickinson (2009 10/11 70bs. & 2008 10/11 65lbs)
12/13 75lbs. Nico Hernandez (2009 12/13 65lbs & 2008 10/11 60lbs. & 2007 10/11 50lbs.)
14/15 100lbs. Hector Valdez (2009 12/13 95lbs.)
14/15 112lbs. Gary Salazar (2009 12/13 112lbs.)
14/15 80lbs. Melik Elliston (2009 14/15 75lbs. unopposed)

All but Elliston will be eligible for Silver next year, so maybe we can pick this thread back up to see what happens.