Ricardo Rios (right) at semi-finals.
The Sand Lake Boxing Club competed in the 2013 West Michigan Golden Gloves semifinals last Friday, April 5. Sand Lake entered four boxers into this year’s tournament and all four were able to make the semifinals.
Jon Hawley started the night off for Sand Lake in a 235lb junior bout against Robert Curry III of Grand Rapids. Jon was able to win a split decision in what was a very close bout. On one occasion Hawley knocked his opponent’s mouthpiece out with a straight right hand.
“I feel great,” noted Hawley. “My opponent was pretty tough, and I can’t wait to get into the ring again.”
In the 132lb semifinal bout, David Lewis was able to hit Lansing’s Verome Edmonson with several hard right hands. The bout ended early, in the second round, when Lewis put a great combination together that forced Edmonson to quit. Lewis will be moving on to the West Michigan Championship bout against Holland’s Isaac Flores.
In the 152lb semifinal bout, Zach Schmuck was able to beat Grand Rapids Devon LeSure. Devon was coming into the bout after knocking his previous opponent out 30 seconds into the first round. Schmuck was able to negate his power and out box LeSure, while also hurting him with hard right hands on several occasions.
Cody Cross was scheduled to box in the 178lb semifinal bout but could not box due to a schedule conflict that had him in Virginia with his Davenport Lacrosse team.
In the final bout of the night, Ricardo Rios lost a decision to Grand Rapids Burim Beqiri. Rios got off to a slow start, which costed him. “I really didn’t get going until the 3rd round and by then it was too late,” he explained. This will be the first time in 4 years that Rios will miss the championship round.
David Lewis and Zach Schmuck will be boxing for the West Michigan Championship on April 19 in Grand Rapids. They also have qualified for the state tournament that will be held on April 26 and 27 in Grand Rapids.
