Luis Lopez, the youngest of nine children, made a successful United States debut at his first major amateur boxing tournament.
Lopez, 23, of Pembroke Pines, won his opening bout at the March 20 South Florida Golden Gloves Boxing Championships at Young Circle Bandshell.
Lopez moved to South Florida from Tuluca, Mexico three months ago and joined Contenders Gym of Hollywood. He is looking for a professional career in the sport but first wants some major amateur bouts under his belt. He got one that before a packed house.
After dropping the first round of his 125-pound match, Lopez (15-6) came out slugging in the second and third rounds to win a split decision over Jaime Palma, 22, of West Palm Beach and Steve Shepherd’s Gym.
He has a lot of heart and all the guts it takes to be a boxer, Contenders Gym trainer and Golden Gloves matchmaker Chico Rivas said. Rivas works full-time for the Broward County Sheriff’s Office at Port Everglades and coaches in his off hours.
Lopez, discovered at a training camp in Mexico by Contenders Gym’s Norman Wilson and George Scott, had lost his first two fights in the U.S. so Rivas and Wilson decided to change his style.
We needed to change his style from the Mexican-style of boxing to our style, Rivas said. He is picking up his speed in the gym and it’s showing in his fights.
Lopez started boxing in Mexico four years ago. After a year off, he resumed boxing in 1998.
I always wanted to box in this country, Lopez said. I want to do good in this country. That’s why I’m so excited I won.
Open, novice and women’s winners of the two-day tournament held in Hollywood and Boca Raton advance to the May 1 State Golden Gloves Tournament at Sons of Italy Lodge in Lake Worth.
South Broward County boxers had a good showing at the annual tournament featuring the top amateur boxers in the Florida Gold Coast. Hollywood PAL Mike Ortiz won in a walkover. Slugger Mario Galan, 21, also of Hollywood PAL, knocked off Chris Grasso of Broward PAL in the 147-pound novice division.
Dania-based US 1 Fitness, coached by world champion Bonnie Canino, a Coral Springs High graduate, also had several winners. They were: Billie Garcia, 119-pounds; Ada Velez, 118-pounds; Diana Matty, 178 pounds; and Kenny Rivera, 135.
This year’s event was the strongest Golden Gloves show of the last five years, boxing promoter Tommy Torino said. Torino, a McArthur High graduate, got the idea to host the Golden Gloves Tournament in Hollywood two years ago. It is such a great venue and Hollywood is such a great, supportive city of amateur boxing and the Golden Gloves program.
Miami-based Gerrits Leprechaun Boxing, Inc., producers of the event, honored Christine Thrower of the Hollywood Parks and Recreation Department and Hollywood Mayor Mara Giulianti.
It was the sixth Golden Gloves Tournament that Gerrits Leprechaun Boxing hosted and the second consecutive year it was staged in Hollywood.
