Utahns go 2-1 in 4th round of Golden Gloves fights

Gene Fullmer's legacy lives on. Maybe not in the ring, but not too far outside the ropes at the 2009 National Golden Gloves Tournament going on this week at the Salt Palace, some 30-40 of Fullmer's kin are involved with every aspect of the production from media advisers to ticket takers.

However, three Utah boxers were still on the ticket going into Thursday night, the fourth round of the competition. Competing against the best amateur boxers from all across the country, two of the three Utahns came out victorious and will move on to the semifinal round today.

In the 178-pound weight class, Utah's Alejandro Canez decisioned a tough Robert Sherman of Texas in what Rick Montoya, Canez's coach, called the best fight of the tournament.

The bout started with each fighter feeling his opponent out in the first round. By the third round, Canez determined it was time to take over and just pummeled Sherman onto the ropes early in the round.

"He wobbled," said Canez, but the referee didn't call it.

Sherman fought strong right up to the final bell.

"He has great power," Canez added.

Before the decision was announced, Canez pranced confidently around the ring sensing he had won.

Utah's Jose Haro Jr. continued his hot streak, too, just barely defeating Joshua Bowles of Pennsylvania in the 125-pound weight class. Bowles' corner was highly disappointed in the outcome, and some onlookers also were not sure that Haro won.

Haro expressed his nervousness once again but attributed his victory to "his family, Utah and the fans."

In the 112-pound weight class, Utah's Isaac Aguilar represented himself well for a 19-year-old but, in the end, he lost out to Michael Ruiz of California.

"He is ranked," said Aquilar, and "he has more experience."

The first round looked like a standoff, as neither boxer looked to take advantage, but Aquilar thinks he lost it in the second round.

"He hurt me with two body shots in the second round," he said.

He is debating whether to go to Colorado for the next tournament, but regardless of where he is, he will celebrate his 20th birthday next week.

In the heavyweight division, Lenroy Thompson of Kansas City and Serhiy Karpenko from the upper Midwest fought so hard that ring No. 2 collapsed. Some old-timers said they had never seen that happen before. The bout was moved to ring No. 1, where Thompson prevailed.

At 141 pounds, Michael Finney of Knoxville, Tenn., tore into Zeddie Adams of Cleveland with some serious flurries, and he advanced to the next round. Only 17 years old, he is still in high school but has compiled an overall record of 94-28. He said the difference in his fight was "body shots."

Gene Fullmer showed up to watch and was asked if he ever felt like he wanted to get into the ring again. He replied, "I'm glad I can't."

With all the Fullmers helping out in some way, he was granted clemency from doing anything.

However, his son, Delaun, described his responsibility: "He is overseeing everything."

E-MAIL: wjewkes@desnews.com