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11/11/2003 Archived Entry: "116th Annual New England Tournament of Champions"
116th Annual New England Tournament of Champions
Worcester’s Rodriguez to fight a third time
By J. D. Vena at ringside; Photos by Emily Harney
Somerville, MA – It couldn’t get any more difficult for Worcester’s Edwin Rodriguez. The 165-pounder not only had to overcome and defeat 2-time New England Golden Gloves winner Michael Andrade of Providence last night, he has to win a third bout Thursday night to capture the 165-pound trophy in this year’s 116th Annual New England Tournament of Champions. Rodriguez troubled Andrade with an awkward style but more importantly was landing more of the clean punches. It was close contested bout, and a trying one for both young men.
Tonight at the Good Time Emporium, on a night when most of the competitors were fighting for their division titles, Rodriguez won his second fight, when referee Nick Previti halted a one-sided bout at :58 of the the round. In this semi-final match, Rodriguez pounded the tough Antonio Vasquez from the opening bell until Previti waved it off. On Thursday night at the Somerville Boxing Club, Rodriguez will pair off with Jonathan Silveira of Beverly,MA who defeated Nathan Busa of Newton, MA tonight by a 4-round decision. Though 132-pound Kermith Gonzalez of Methuen, MA was named the tournament’s outstanding boxer with his impressive win over Sean Eklund, the nephew of famed duo, “Irish” Micky Ward and Dick Eklund, Rodriguez is your writer’s choice for this honor should he defeat Silveira. Gonzalez faces Omar Pena of Providence, RI in the final on Thursday.
Gonzalez on the attack versus Eklund
Tuesday night’s exciting punch-out between Simeon Dunwell of Peabody, MA and Nick Morganelli of Weymouth was named the most outstanding fight of the tournament. The fight had its ebbs and flows and though most at ringside felt that Morganelli deserved the verdict, you had to applaud the performance of each fighter. As it turns out, Dunwell drew a bye and won his division outright, though Morganelli offered to fill the spot. Had they fought it would have probably been the first time that two fighters fought each other three times in less than three weeks. Morganelli defeated Dunwell three weeks ago in Brockton.
Dunwell and Morganelli battle on the inside
As mentioned earlier, the Rodriguez-Silveira 165-pound final is one of four finals that will take place at the Somerville Boxing Club. According to boxing coach John Curran, The club is located in the back of a church at 125 Highland Ave. in Somerville. Tickets are $10 and the first bout will tale place at 6:30 P.M.
Results
Championship Round - Tuesday, Nov. 11
Open Division
132 – Omar Pena (Providence, RI) WDEC4 Edwin Rosado (Worcester, MA) 141* -- Simeon Dunwell (Peabody, MA) won by walkover. 152 – Frank Tejada (Somerville, MA) WDEC4 Xavier Lugo (New Bedford, MA) 165 -- Jonathan Silveira (Beverly) WDEC4 Nathan Busa (Newton Corner, MA): Edwin Rodriquez (Worcester, MA) RSC3 (:58) Antonio Vasquez (Lewiston, ME). 178* -- Robert Brando-Hunt (Osterville, MA) WDEC4 DeShawn Parris (Dorchester, MA). *Final
Novice Division
132* -- Aneury Olmo (Mansfield, MA) WDEC3 Seferina Rodriquez (Methuen, MA).141 -- Lessdel Valencia (Worcester, MA) WDEC3 Kidani Abadi (Dorchester, MA). 152* – Jorge Gonzalez (Dorchester, MA).Anthony Everett (Beverly, MA) 165* – Russ Lamour (Portland, ME) won by walkover.201* – Todd Bacon (Portland, ME) WDEC3 Pat Sainato (Malden, MA)
*Final
