Mahiai Naihe, the Kaua‘i Police Activities League assistant boxing coach, recently retained his State of Hawai‘i Amateur Boxing Super Heavy Weight (+201 pounds) Championship at the Palolo Community Center on O‘ahu. “Naihe has been training very hard for this year’s
Mahiai Naihe, the Kaua‘i Police Activities League assistant boxing coach, recently retained his State of Hawai‘i Amateur Boxing Super Heavy Weight (+201 pounds) Championship at the Palolo Community Center on O‘ahu.
“Naihe has been training very hard for this year’s Hawai‘i State Championships since returning from the National Championships in Colorado Springs last June,” said Mark Ozaki, the K-PAL coordinator and boxing coach.
“He showed up to the weigh-in looking very trim, fit and ready, but unfortunately, he may have looked too ready because all the other Super Heavy Weights suddenly pulled out of the tournament,” Ozaki said.
Naihe retained the State Heavy Weight Champion title via a walk over, Ozaki said in a news release. Next on his calendar is the National Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo., from Feb. 25 to March 3.
“This National Championships tournament is huge,” Ozaki said. “It’s the last chance to make the 2012 Summer Olympics. With hard work and a little bit of luck, Naihe’s knockout punch might get him there.”
Ozaki said Naihe is contemplating dropping 45 pounds prior to the tournament to be able to compete in the 201-pound maximum weight division.
Anson Agrade, at 152 pounds, from the K-PAL Boxing Club, was also in the State Championship Tournament with just five bouts of experience.
Advancing to the finals, Agrade faced Antonel Cruz, at 152 pounds, of the O‘ahu Kawano Boxing Club in the finals.
Cruz is considered a veteran boxer with more than 30 previous bouts to his name, but Agrade demonstrated no fear and took the fight to Cruz from the opening bell, Ozaki said.
“Both boxers exchanged fierce combinations through all three rounds,” Ozaki said. “In the end, Agrade came up a little short, losing by a close majority decision.”
The testament to their fight was the awarding of the “Fight of the Tournament” award for both fighters’ efforts.
“Silver Medal isn’t too bad,” Ozaki said. “Anson is the most inexperienced boxer in this tournament with only five fights, and he still managed to walk away as the second-best 152-pounder in Hawai‘i. He has got to be one of the most improved boxers in the gym during the last year.”
Kristopher “The Real Deal” Alcos, at 95 pounds, the K-PAL champion in the 13-14-year-old category, was pitted against Logan Youn of the O‘ahu TNT-The New Testament Boxing Club (at 95 pounds, and the 11-12 year old category champion) in one of the more anticipated non-tournament bouts featuring two Hawai‘i State Junior Olympic Champions.
Youn has been rated the No. 1 ranked boxer in the United States in his age and weight division for the past three years, states RingSide.
“All the fans assumed this was going to a close, tough and exciting bout,” Ozaki said. “Both champions did not disappoint the fans and came out showing what real talent, professionalism, sportsmanship and class looks like in the squared circle.”
Ozaki described the match as a three-round war. Alcos eventually turned the bout his way by landing some clean and sharp body shots in the second round, which slowed Youn. This set up Alcos to land his signature lead uppercut straight left combination, which swayed the bout and gave him the win by decision.
“I’m so proud of Kristopher,” Ozaki said. “Both Kristopher and Logan are great kids and great champions, not only in the ring, but outside as well — true gentlemen who show sportsmanship all the time.”
Ozaki said this demonstration of character comes from their parents. Darren Alcos is an assistant coach for K-PAL, and George Youn is his son’s main boxing coach on O‘ahu.
Other K-PAL boxers participating in non-tournament bouts included Cullen Gante-Rapozo and Keli‘i “Pretty Boy” Alcos.
Cullen, fighting in the 123-pound Open Men’s Division, beat Nicholas Castillo of the O‘ahu Pearlside Boxing Club, the bout earning “Bout of the Night” honors.
Keli‘i Alcos picked up a unanimous decision over Casey Nitta of the O‘ahu Pearlside Boxing Club.
Ozaki said the Kaua‘i hometown boxers will be in action during the Second Annual Prince Kuhio Hawai‘i State Police Activities League Boxing Championships March 23 to March 26 at Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall.
The event is being sponsored by K-PAL and the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa.
Call Ozaki at 652-6999 for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
