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The boxing program, sponsored by the Puerto Rican Cultural
Committee, was for honoring the Puerto Rican community in light
of its selection as this year’s Lorain International Festival
spotlight nationality.
The event also served as a fundraiser for Lorain’s Freddy’s
Boxing Club. About half of the fighters represented the
Lorain gym and others came from Cleveland, Elyria, Akron, and
Lakewood. But Freddy’s Boxing Club fell short as only one of its
fighters was victorious. Lorain’s Angel Figueroa defeated
Lakewood’s Mohamad Bodair, with his quick and unyielding
right jabs.
“I trained real hard. I feel real good right now,” Figueroa said
of his victory.
The Cleveland fighters were the most victorious as all seven won
their bouts.
For the main event, Wilkins Santiago would once again square off
with the No. 1 ranked boxer in the United States—Terrell
Gausha. Santiago had a chance to redeem himself Saturday
after losing to Gausha in the Cleveland Golden Gloves Tournament
earlier this year, but he failed.
A
right jab from Gausha sent Santiago to the canvas in the
beginning of the third round, and the audience responded with
roars of disapproval.
“I was tired,” Santiago said “I thought I had it but he got that
good punch in the third round. He was the better man tonight,”
Santiago said.
Santiago’s cousin, Sito Guzmán, who was on the balls of his feet
and waving the Puerto Rican flag while watching the fight, said
he was disappointed. “He hasn’t fell. I was surprised to see
that,” Guzmán said “If anything, this will make him stronger for
the pros,” he said.
Saturday’s fight was Santiago’s last amateur bout, as he plans
to go professional.
Cleveland’s Gausha said his hard training paid off. “It feels
great. I worked hard,” Gausha said “Hopefully now I’ll win the
gold medal and then take it from there,” Gausha said.
The celebrity boxing match between Mayor Krasienko and Kennedy
ended the evening. Their fight was found a draw although
Krasienko, 39, dominated the fight and even knocked Kennedy, 59,
to the canvas in the third round.
“We know the sport of boxing is very important in the Puerto
Rican community,” Krasienko said “I’m all about the city of
Lorain. If this is a way that I can help out to make (the
International Festival) successful, I’m happy to do it,”
Krasienko said about his decision to take on such a fight.
Krasienko said he had a newfound respect for boxers and said “It
was fun,” at the end of his three-round bout.
“I never realized how much endurance, speed, and agility you
need to be a good boxer,” Krasienko said.
Kennedy said the training for the boxing event has helped him
greatly.
“I’ve reinvented myself,” Kennedy said “I went from having a big
belly to a little belly. The mayor has me outweighed by about 20
years and 44 pounds but I don’t think he’ll hurt me too badly,”
he said before the fight.
Freddie Barreiro,
of Freddy’s Boxing Club, has been training boxers ranging from 8
to 28 years old for 35 years. Before that, Barreiro was an
amateur fighter in Puerto Rico.
Training for boxing “It’s a lot of work but it’s fun,” Barreiro
said “Once you get in shape, you feel good,” he said.
Dennis Flores,
Lorain city councilman and member of PRCC, said organizing the
boxing match was highly challenging.
“This is probably as big of a challenge as I’ve ever been
involved with,” Flores said “But these kids (from Freddy’s gym)
work hard. Freddie has been a good mentor for the kids to keep
them out of trouble. That’s a great passion of his,” he said.
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