The Trenton Boxing Club sent three members to the 82nd annual Kansas City Golden Gloves tournament last weekend, representing the north Missouri area in the longest running sporting event in all of KC. Among those competing with teams from all of western Missouri and eastern Kansas were Owen Brown, fighting in the boys 141 pound open division, Joey Lynch fighting in the boys 114 pound novice division, and Faith Baker fighting in the girls 135 pound open division.
Brown won his division when his opponent switched divisions leaving Owen unopposed. Â Joey Lynch received a bye, then faced off with Flaco Ramirez boxing member Adrian Zamora. Lynch while ahead on judges scorecards, was caught with a shot to the throat and was unable to continue. Lynch took second in the tournament.
Faith Baker, qualified to the championship night where she was matched up with Turner Boxing Academy undefeated star Joana Esperaza. Faith fought a good fight throwing clean quick combinations and good footwork to turn her opponent. However, the doctor stopped their bout after a nosebleed developed that could not be stopped. Â Faith placed second for her second time in the tournament.
Coach Rocky Dunkin was very pleased with his fighters performance and looks for them to improve greatly from the experience, saying “I feel as if though our fighters are good enough to compete with anyone from the much larger cities to small towns such as ourselves. We put a lot of work in every night in the gym, and it pays off.”
The Trenton Boxing Club will next be in action on Saturday and Sunday, April 22 and 23 in Topeka, Kansas for the Junior Olympics box-offs. Trenton will be sending 9 members to the tournament. Winners will advance to regional competition with boxers from the states of Oklahoma, Nebraska, Arkansas, Illinois on Friday and Saturday, May 12 and 13 in St. Louis.
