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                         March 12, 2004

48th Brigade Boxing Open crowns 13 champions

Story and photo by Jim Fox 
Assistant Editor

Thirteen champions were crowned March 5 at the 48th annual Brigade Boxing Open Championships at Holleder Center’s Christl Arena. An estimated 1,200 spectators were on hand to witness the event, which was also aired live on the local command channel.

Eleven bouts were decided on the canvas, with two titles decided by injury default.

F-4 Frogs senior Fred Kim won a unanimous decision to claim the 125-pound title over A-2 Spartan sophomore Scott Yeung to claim his fourth Brigade Boxing Open title. Kim’s win earned him the inaugural William Cavanaugh and Herb Kroeten Outstanding Boxer Award. Cavanaugh and Kroeten represent 76 years of service to boxing and West Point, having coached the academy’s boxing program from 1918 until 1994.

The evening’s only other multiple-time winner was F-3 F-Troop senior Gil Taylor-Tyree who won a unanimous decision over C-1 Crusader junior Patrick Lynch at 132 pounds. Taylor-Tyree, a three-time Open winner, won the 139-pound title as a junior and the 147-pound title as a freshman. He also lost the 139-pound title as a sophomore.

The other 11 winners were all first-time Brigade Boxing Open winners.

D-4 Dukes freshman Mike Benedosso won a unanimous decision over D-3 Devils freshman Patrick Dullano to claim the 112-pound title.

The Open featured two women’s bouts for the first time. In the evening’s first women’s bout at 125 pounds D-3 Devils freshman Chauncey Parks won a majority decision over E-2 Dawgs freshman Amelia Childress.

G-4 (Fighting) Guppies sophomore Darren Joyce earned a majority decision over H-4 Hogs sophomore Dan McAllister to win the 139-pound title. Joyce lost the 132-pound title as a freshman.

The night’s final women’s bout came at 139 pounds and saw A-2 Spartans sophomore Haley Mercer win a unanimous decision over C-2 Circus junior Katie Thomen.

C-4 Cowboys freshman David Tyson won the 147-pound title with his unanimous decision over B-2 Bulldogs freshman Devin Mitchell.

The best fight of the night came at 165 pounds as G-2 Gators freshman Reggie Smith and G-3 Gophers freshman Alex Rendon put on a classic display of pugilism in its truest form.

The two pounded each other mercilessly sending the crowd to its feet on numerous occasions as they traded blows.

Smith edged Rendon earning the night’s only split decision for the win.

At 175 pounds H-4 Hogs freshman Stuart Osborn won a unanimous decision over G-2 Gators sophomore Jesse Sladek.

H-1 Root Hawgs junior John Baxter brought home the 185-pound hardware with a unanimous decision over A-2 Spartans senior Marvin Robertson.

The final bout of the evening saw G-3 Gophers sophomore Tom Payne earn a unanimous decision over E-1 Vikings sophomore Chase Roe at 195 pounds.

The two titles that were determined by injury default were at 156 pounds where D-4 Dukes sophomore Matt Pride was awarded his first title over D-3 Devils sophomore Kelvin Thomas, who could not compete due to a fractured hand.

The heavyweight title went to B-2 Bulldogs junior Cecil Wolberton as his opponent E-2 Dawgs junior Wes Baer suffered a knee injury.