The resurgence of amateur boxing in the Valley continued on Saturday with the Carlos Vieira Foundation’s first annual Gloves Not Drugs boxing show at Livingston High. The 14 bout event boasted fighters from 16 different clubs who ranged in age from 9 to 28 years old.
Representing its 5150 sponsorship, the Delhi Boxing Club walked away from the event 2-for-2 as its two fighters—20-year-old Francisco Madrigal and 18-year-old Mariela Banuelos—won their respective bouts via majority decision.
The 155 pound Madrigal—a Turlock native—faced off against 19-year-old, 146 pound Milton Ramirez of the Mateen Boxing Club in the 11th bout of the night. Fresh off a disputed loss via decision in his last bout, Madrigal entered the ring on Saturday eager to earn retribution and notch his fourth career win over Milton.
During the course of three rounds, the two young men exchanged solid three to four punch combinations with Madrigal attacking in spurts and Milton relying on his counter punches. After ending rounds two and three with several hard shots to the head of the Sacramento southpaw, Madrigal secured a majority decision victory and improved his record to 4-2.
“It feels great. I trained my heart out, so it feels good to bring home the victory,” Madrigal said. “He had good power but it wasn’t enough to faze me. I was just thinking about getting my combos in and keeping him off of me.”
Banuelos entered the ring immediately after her Delhi club mate to face off against Mateen’s Sara Gruber, a 28 year old in the first amateur bout of her career. Despite entering the ring at 153 pounds and giving her opponent a 14 pound weight advantage, Banuelos asserted herself as the stronger fighter as she landed the cleaner, harder, and more consistent punches of the bout.
“I thought she was going to be stronger and be more conditioned,” Banuelos said. “I was nervous, but I did my best.”
While Gruber landed her fair share of shots, Banuelos ensured her victory in the third round when a three punch combo—overhand right, uppercut, left hook—was followed by a pair of overhand right punches that led to a standing eight count for Gruber.
Banuelos and Gruber will fight again in a rematch on Aug. 3, while Madrigal will seek out a rematch of his own with the fighter who defeated him last.
