Four Kaua‘i boxers returned from the Hawai‘i State Junior Olympic Championships with four medals — three gold and a silver. Competing at the Hilo Armory, Keli‘i Alcos of the Kaua‘i Police Activities League Boxing Club gave up a decision loss
Four Kaua‘i boxers returned from the Hawai‘i State Junior Olympic Championships with four medals — three gold and a silver.
Competing at the Hilo Armory, Keli‘i Alcos of the Kaua‘i Police Activities League Boxing Club gave up a decision loss to Micah Samson-Giron of the Pearlside O‘ahu Boxing Club in the 11-12 year old, 70-pound division. Keli‘i was handed a silver medal for his efforts.
Kairey Bermoy of the Up & Up Kaua‘i Boxing Club, competing in the 13-14 year old, 95-pound division, had an easy route to her gold medal with two walkovers.
Mark Ozaki, the K-PAL coordinator and a K-PAL boxing coach, said Bermoy weighed in expecting to box twice, but when her opponents realized who they were matched with, both pulled out just before the bout.
“Kairey beat the other two boxers in previous tournaments rather decisively so when they found out to win a State Championship they had to get through Kairey first, both wanted nothing to do with that match up and pulled out of the tournament,” Ozaki said in an email.
Makua “Big Mak” DeBlake of the K-PAL Boxing Club held his own against the 15-16 year old, 132-pound Champion Jeffery Ferrell of the Yeshua Big Island Boxing Club.
DeBlake, fighting in the 13-14 year old, 132-pound division, had a big challenge as the seventh grader went up against the ninth grader and finished with a gold medal along with gaining a lot of confidence and experience while still retaining his title, Ozaki said.
Kristopher “The Real Deal” Alcos captured two tournaments in two days to bring home a hard-earned gold medal in the 13-14 year old, 90-pound division.
Kristopher opened with a convincing unanimous decision against Brenson Fernandez of Shalom Hilo Boys & Girls Boxing Club, utilizing a slick boxing style with sharp counter punches for the decision.
Carlos Harvey of the Pearlside O‘ahu Boxing Club was the draw for Kristopher’s final.
Ozaki, aware that Pearlside coaches were scouting and strategizing against Kristopher’s counter punching style, suggested Kristopher open differently, being aggressive and putting pressure.
Kristopher followed the advice and caught Harvey by surprise, scoring a knock down and a standing eight count in the opening round.
“Kristopher is so talented and can box with many different styles,” Ozaki said. “It’s almost impossible for an opponent’s coaching team to come up with a specific strategy to beat him.”
Following the match, which earned Kristopher a gold medal, he told Ozaki he cannot wait until he’s 15 years old so he can fight for the National Junior Olympic title.
“Kristopher is definitely blessed with God-given talent, but he makes the most of that talent by working the hardest in the gym, always going 100 percent from the start of practice until the end,” Ozaki said. “That’s why he’s the Champion. The Junior Olympic Nationals is great, but I can’t wait until he’s 18 years old — he might be boxing at the 2016 Olympics.”
Next on the K-PAL boxing calendar, K-PAL Assistant Boxing Coach Mahiai Naihe travels to Colorado Springs to fight for the National Championship at the Olympic Training Center, June 19 through 26.
K-PAL will take Kristopher, Keli‘i, DeBlake and seven other K-PAL youth boxers to the RingSide National Championships in Lenexa, Kan. from Aug. 1 through 7.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
