Champions Crowned At Regional Golden Gloves!

Five boxers punched their tickets to Omaha, NB Friday evening during the 2018 Regional Golden Gloves at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, MD.

Three boxers from Virginia are headed to the nationals as they defeated boxers from the DC/Maryland/Delaware region.  Portsmouth, VA's Nick Sullivan was named the Outstanding Boxer of the night as he put on a great performance defeating defending champion Wilfredo Avelar of Germantown, MD to win the 141-Pound championship.  Sullivan was accurate throughout the contest, keeping Avelar at bay.  For Sullivan, the win marked his second time winning a regional title -- he won the title at 132 pounds in 2016.

Kelvin Davis of Norfolk, VA defeated Brian Avelar, Wilfredo's brother, to win the 152-Pound title.  Davis used his left hand very well throughout the contest, eventually getting a standing eight count in the third round.  Davis will try to match what his brother, Keyshawn did -- win a national Golden Gloves championship.  Keyshawn won his national title in 2017.

Hampton, VA's Christian Salinas won the 165-Pound championship defeating Keon Burroughs of Andrews Air Force Base.  Salinas, who is in the Navy, was able to outlast his opponent in what looked like a very close contest.

One Avelar Brother will head to the national tournament.  Tommy Avelar won the 132-Pound championship with a victory over Andrew Duke of Fredricksburg, VA.

Delaware will by represented by Dover's Ezri Turner, who defeated Ter'ryan Rogers of Richmond, VA to capture the title at 178 pounds.

Here is the 2018 DC Regional Golden Gloves Team who will head to Omaha, NB, May 13-20:

108 Pounds:  Kevon Cooke, Washington, DC

123 Pounds:  Dwayne Holmes, Jr., Upper Marlboro, MD

132 Pounds:  Tommy Avelar, Germantown, MD

141 Pounds:  Nick Sullivan, Portsmouth, VA

152 Pounds:  Kelvin Davis, Norfolk, VA

165 Pounds:  Christian Salinas, Hampton, VA

178 Pounds:   Ezri Turner, Dover, DE

201 Pounds:  Thomas Mottinger, Salisbury, MD

201+ Pounds:  Malik Titus, Baltimore, MD

There was also a matched bout at 155 pounds as Mansabory Cooke of Laurel, MD defeated Nicholas Noriz of Baltimore.

Three strong performances highlighted the Novice Division regional championship.  Joel Tchantchuinj of Silver Spring, MD capped off a strong tournament by scoring a second-round TKO over Rashid Bynum of Portsmouth to win the 178-pound championship.  Tchantchinj, a native of Cameroon, stopped three opponents during the tournament.

Zackary Chick of Galena, MD delivered a stunning second-round TKO over Jimmy Speros of Great Falls, VA to win the 201+ Pound title.  Despite a height disadvantage, Chick leaped in and landed a blistering left hand to knock Speros to the canvas.

Also, Keishawn Horne of Raleigh, NC put on a solid defensive performance to defeat Dominic Fantauzzo of Washington, DC to win the championship at 141 pounds.

Here are the other Novice Division title results:

123 Pounds:  Ishmael Bennett of Richmond, VA over Brient Rodriguez of Kensington, MD

132 Pounds:  Isaiah Harris of Upper Marlboro, MD over Jeffrey Yu of Oakton, VA

152 Pounds:  Quenten Stephens of Accokeek, MD over Joan' Planas of Manassas, VA

165 Pounds:  Steven Tyson of Arlington, VA over Tremaine Fuller of Lexington Park, MD

201 Pounds:  Jermaine Harbert of Waldorf, MD over Chadrick Hollingworth of Stafford, VA