Army boxers will take experience to armed forces competition

By Master Sgt. Doug Sample
ARNEWS

	Photo by metrocreativegraphics.com

FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. — Thirty-three Soldiers entered the ring during the All-Army Boxing Trials April 7 through 9, but at the clang of the final bell, only 11 were left standing to represent the Army at the Armed Forces Boxing Championship April 18 through 24.
The team that enters the ring against the other services for the championship at Naval Base Ventura County, Calif., April 18 through 24, will be as experienced as any that All-Amy boxing head coach Basheer Abdullah has fielded.

Abdullah, who has coached at the Olympic level, sat with his coaching team quietly studying and analyzing each bout at Barnes Field House and repeatedly pointed out that experience often distinguishes the winners from losers.

“In most of these matches, you’ll notice that the fighter with the most experience in the ring will have an edge,” Abdullah explained. That point was echoed by his staff in their analysis as well.

In the first fight, Spc. Terry Pena, of Fort Carson, Col., outscored (28-13) his opponent, Spc. Guy Jean-Baptiste, of Fort Richardson, Alaska to win his light welterweight match; while in the second matchup, Staff Sgt. Tracey Napper, of Fort Bragg, out-punched Spc. William Bennett, from Camp Humphreys, Korea, for a 35-8 decision and the middleweight crown.

“Napper is an aggressive fighter; he’s experienced and he just never let up,” noted Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Downs, assistant coach and former Olympic trials gold medalist. “His experience shows in the ring. Napper is just too fast with his punches. Pena has a lot of experience as well as training in the World Class Athlete Program. He is just a good pound-for-pound fighter, so the outcome of that fight was expected.”

In the heavyweight category, Spc. Ron Donaldson, representing Walter Reed Army Medical Center, started out strong, but faded in the later rounds against Sgt. Louise Gibbs of Fort Sill, Okla. Donaldson had a quick knockdown of his opponent in the first round. However, Gibbs regained his composure and returned the favor, flooring Donaldson in the third, causing the referee to stop the fight, for a 25-16 point win.

“Donaldson is a very young fighter and needs more experience,” said Staff Sgt. Runnel Doll, the only Army Reserve member on the All-Army coaching staff. “He’s only 19, so I hope to see him back next year because he has potential and we can work with him. Gibbs just had too much experience in this fight.”

That was the case throughout much of the night, where the more experienced fighter prevailed. Featherweight champion, Sgt. Alexis Ramos, of Fort Carson, Colo., dazed Sgt. Chad Reed of Fort Polk, La., with a hard body shot, stopping the fight 51 seconds into the second round. Assistant coach, Staff Sgt. Joe Guzman could only shake his head with amazement at how well Ramos handled his opponent. “Look at the points (17-1). That pretty much says it all,” he said.
For Ramos, the experience of being part of Army’s World Class Athlete Program at Fort Carson, Colo., seemed to have given him an edge.

In other matches: Spc. Jeffery Spencer of Fort Carson, Colo., defeated Sgt. Quadi Hudgins of Fort Hood, Texas, (27-6) for the light-heavyweight title, giving WCAP a 3-1 record for the event; while hometown favorite, Pfc. Charles Blackwell, an Arizona Army Reserve Soldier, turned the lights out early, knocking out Pfc. William Lambo of Fort Bragg, 45 seconds after the opening bell.  

WCAP boxers 1st Lt. Michael Benedosso (light flyweight), Sgt. John Franklin (bantamweight), Spc. Donnie Palmer (super heavyweight), and Spc. Carrie Barry (female lightweight), were all unopposed during the All-Army Boxing competition and will advance to the Armed Forces Championship by default.