Kaua‘i Police Activities League boxer Makua DeBlake will be boxing in Hilo, from Friday to Sunday in search of his first State Boxing Championship. He will be joined by K-PAL Boxing Club boxers Keli‘i and Kristopher Alcos, who will be
Kaua‘i Police Activities League boxer Makua DeBlake will be boxing in Hilo, from Friday to Sunday in search of his first State Boxing Championship.
He will be joined by K-PAL Boxing Club boxers Keli‘i and Kristopher Alcos, who will be defending their 2010 state titles at the Hawai‘i State Junior Olympic Championships.
Makua, 13, was awarded the Outstanding Boxer of the Tournament, Saturday night on Maui, following his unanimous decision over Kawika Kuamoo of the South Central Maui Boxing Club, the defending 2011 13-14 year-old, 141-pound Hawai‘i State PAL Champion.
Mark Ozaki, K-PAL coordinator and boxing coach, said Makua worked and trained hard, knowing he would be matched against the defending champion.
The work paid off when Makua dominated all three rounds for the unanimous decision, upsetting the home town favorite and the victory earning him the Outstanding Boxer award by the Maui boxing fans, Ozaki said.
Kaua‘i boxers were featured in seven of the 15 bouts at the amateur boxing event held in Kihei, Maui and featured as “Boxing Under the Stars.”
The event was held on the Banquets Reception Lawn at the Hotel Wailea in Kihei, the ring being placed in the middle of the lawn area with the Kihei ocean front shoreline serving as backdrop for the more than 150 spectators who enjoyed the bouts under clear skies with a full moon on the ocean.
Makua’s award-winning match was one of three where Kaua‘i boxers came out with a win, Ozaki said.
Chucky Rapozo, fighting for K-PAL Boxing Club in the Open Men’s 152-pound division, came up with a strong third round to win a majority decision over Chris Banaag of the Wailuku, Maui Boxing Club.
“Coach, I winning, or I losing?” Rapozo queried Ozaki during the rest period between the second and third rounds.
“I think we’re losing. You gotta go after him this round,” was Ozaki’s reply.
The bell ignited Rapozo, who finished by landing more punches in the third round than the first two rounds combined, nearly scoring a knock out at the end, Ozaki said.
Latisha Alo of K-PAL faced Tiana Sarme of South Side Maui Boxing Club, both in the 15-16 year old, 119-pound division — the only bout showcasing female boxers — in the semifinal main event of the night.
Sarme is the defending 2011, 15-16 year old, 119-pound Hawai‘i State PAL Female Champion.
In preparation for the bout, Dennis Bohner, K-PAL coach, changed up Alo’s boxing style, incorporating various types of wind sprints to her workout routine as well as a unique heavy bag routine developed to make Alo’s boxing style more aggressive, Ozaki said.
The preparation work paid off as Alo scored two knockdowns in the opening round and kept the pressure on for the duration of the bout to walk off with a unanimous decision.
Jesse Cardenas-Roralio, boxing in the 10-year-old, 85-pound division for K-PAL Boxing Club, gave up a points decision loss to Micah Kuamo‘o, 10-year-old, 85-pound division for South Side Maui Boxing.
Florens Castillo Jr. of K-PAL Boxing Club, also lost a three-round decision to Chase Pico of the Wailuku, Maui Boxing Club in the Adult, 152-pound division.
Anson Agrade of the K-PAL Boxing Club gave up a three-round points decision to Daniel Bobo Silva of South Side Maui Boxing Club in another Adult, 152-pound division match, and Jon Antony Reyes of the K-PAL Boxing Club dropped the Main Event in a three-round decision to Adrian Pelayo of South Side Maui Boxing Club in an Adult, 165-pound match.
For more information on the K-PAL boxing program, call Ozaki at 652-6999.
