Keli‘i Alcos, 11, of the Kaua‘i Police Activities League was successful during his boxing debut at the 5th Annual Clinton AJ Shelton Memorial Boxing Event, Nov. 1 at the Palolo Community Center on O‘ahu. Alcos, boxing in the 60-pound division,
Keli‘i Alcos, 11, of the Kaua‘i Police Activities League was successful during his boxing debut at the 5th Annual Clinton AJ Shelton Memorial Boxing Event, Nov. 1 at the Palolo Community Center on O‘ahu.
Alcos, boxing in the 60-pound division, beat Lennon Sullivan of the Pearlside O‘ahu Boxing Club in a unanimous decision, states a K-PAL release.
“Keli‘i beat a very tough and more experienced Lennon Sullivan in an action-packed unanimous decision,” said K-PAL coach Mark Ozaki in an e-mail. “Keli‘i landed lightning fast combinations and flashy double and triple lead left hooks to the body and head on the aggressive and advancing Sullivan in the first round.”
Ozaki said in the second and third rounds, Alcos’ hand speed and punching power was something Sullivan could not overcome.
“Sullivan was unable to press forward as he did in the first round and had to change strategies to footwork, sticking and moving,” Ozaki said. “Unfortunately for Sullivan, the strategy did not work as Keli‘i slipped and blocked, then countered with several five- and six-punch combinations each round to win the unanimous decision.”
Ozaki said Alcos looked impressive in his debut and with the experience of a few more fights, will be in the running for the 2010 Hawai‘i State USA Boxing Championships.
Ozaki was also the recipient of a lifetime achievement award to the late Kenneth Oki, Ozaki’s coach and trainer, during the intermission of the boxing event.
The boxing event featured 26 boxers on the fight card that included the defending RingSide Boxing Invitational National Female 119 lb. Champion.
Ozaki said the K-PAL Boxing Team plans on bringing eight boxers to O‘ahu on Nov. 28 to compete in the Hawai‘i versus Japan tournament. K-PAL also plans on having boxers compete in Hilo on Dec. 21 at another tournament.
“There are tournaments each month at various locations around the state and K-PAL hopes to enter as many of these as possible,” Ozaki said. “This will give our boxers as much experience as possible, which will help them develop into state champions.”
To help defray some of the off-island travel expenses, K-PAL is hosting a car wash fundraiser, Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the ‘Ele‘ele Shopping Center.
K-PAL plans on hosting a boxing card on Kaua‘i in March, 2010, allowing Kaua‘i boxing fans an opportunity to cheer for the hometown boxers.
