Napa Sheriff’s boxers shine in Silver Gloves

By MARTY JAMES
Executive Sports Editor

It was one heck of a weekend for Joel Alvarez and Brandon Trejo.

Competing close to home, the two Napa Sheriff’s Activities League boxers went 2-0 and won Northern California Silver Gloves Championships during the two-day tournament at the American Canyon Community Center.

“They’ve both been in there trading with some of the top kids,” said Oscar Ortiz, a Napa County Sheriff’s Dept. Sgt., and coach of the SAL boxing program. “Sometimes they win, sometimes they lose. But they’re always competitive.”

Entered in the intermediate (12-13 year olds) 75-pound division, Alvarez Saturday defeated Anthony Fernandez of Vacaville PAL in a 3-2 split decision in the semifinals. On Sunday, Alvarez captured the title, beating Nicholas Sepulveda of Dreamland Boxing Club of San Jose in an exciting bout in which the fighters traded non-stop punches from the start.

“He boxed a little bit different style today than (Saturday),” said Ortiz, noting the good footwork that Alvarez, a sixth grader at Harvest Middle School, used in the ring. “But I was really pleased with how he did. One of the things we’ve been working on the last two months is getting him to time his counter punches.”

Trejo defeated Darren Gaines of Ring of Fire Boxing Club in San Francisco by a 5-0 unanimous decision the semifinals of the junior (10-11 year olds) 85-pound division. Trejo, a fifth grader at Phillips Edison, went on to beat Alan Molina, who was unattached, in the finals.

“I thought he was a little bit sluggish Saturday, but I know what he’s capable of,” said Ortiz. “Today, I was pleased. Today, it was the Brandon I was looking for. Today, he just kind of took over, with a little bit more hand speed and better counter punching.”

Alvarez has four years and Trejo three years of boxing experience with Napa SAL. Both have competed in tournaments back east.

“They’ve been pretty busy over the course of the last three or four years,” said Ortiz.

The titles advance Alvarez and Trejo — and all of the other NorCal champions — to the State Silver Gloves in Carson, Calif., Dec. 6-7. From there, winners move on to represent California at the western states regionals in January in Norwalk, Calif. The regionals take in Colorado, Utah, California, Nevada and Arizona. The nationals are in Kansas in February.

“Both of these boys have been in with some of the top kids from around the country,” said Ortiz. “I expect them to be competitive again this year at the state championship.”

NorCal winners received a long sleeve shirt and gold medal. Runner-ups got a silver medal. Trophies were also awarded. The amateur tournament featured both boys and girls ages 8 to 15, was sanctioned and officiated by USA Boxing.

Jesus Perez, 13, automatically advanced to the state championships for SAL, as he did not have an opponent at this tournament. Perez, a seventh grader at Silverado Middle School, has only five amateur bouts and Ortiz was looking for more experience for his SAL member.

Jesus’s younger brother, Juan Carlos Perez, had a good match Saturday in non-tournament action against Alfredo Toro of Sacramento BC. USA Boxing officials called the bout, however, due to a severe nose bleed from the Napa boxer.     Omar Cisneros, 10, boxing at 74.5 pounds, beat Isai Sandoval of Sacramento. It was Cisneros’ first amateur bout.

In other championship matches Sunday:

• Charles Sheehy of Ring of Fire beat Izaiah Bautista of Straight Forward BC at bantam 65 pounds.

• Osvaldo Miranda of Caballeros BC beat Emilio Martinez of Woodland BC in the junior 75-pound division.

In semifinal bouts:

• Brian Bazan of Caballeros BC beat Darryl Jaime of Vacaville PAL in a crowd-pleasing bout in the senior 112-pound division.

• William Villa of Mateen’s BC of Sacramento beat Caleb Orozco of Mateen’s BC in the senior 112-pound division.

In other fill-in bouts:

• Yusef Mateen of Mateen’s BC beat Joshua Santana of Woodland BC.

• Ernesto Cuellar of Oakland BC beat Marcos Suazo of Double Punches BC of Santa Rosa.

• Saulo Orozco of Sacramento BC beat Christropher Rodriguez of Woodland BC.

• Freddy Cuellar of Oakland BC beat Alfred Toro of Sacramento BC.

• Thomas Soto of Double Punches beat Gilberto Alvarez of Oakland BC.

• Jose Vasquez of Caballeros BC beat Niko O’Campo of Double Punches.

• Jovan Brown of Sacramento BC beat Sammy Villa of Mateen’s BC.

The Napa Sheriff’s Activities League was the host club. Sponsors included the Napa Deputy Sheriff’s Association, Calistoga Police Officers Association, St. Helena Police Officers, Napa Police Officers Association, and the Napa Lion’s Club.

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