Lorenzo “Truck” Simpson stopped his opponent 15 seconds into the first round yesterday, as the hard-swinging Upton Boxing team swept to victory at the Silver Gloves Maryland Championship.
An unprecedented 12 members of the boxing center – profiled by The Brew for its success in giving inner-city kids discipline and focus – dominated the 20 matches staged at the tournament in Oxon Hill, Md.
This included two female members, Mia Ellis and Nailah Shakiv, who were both unopposed last night.
“I am incredibly proud of these kids who did all the hard work to make this our best season ever,” said lead coach Calvin Ford.
Eleven-year-old champ Lorenzo Simpson after practice last Thursday. (Photo by Mark Reutter)
A number of young boxers profiled in our article won last night, including Jordan Darden, Juan “N.C. State” Jenkins and “Truck” Simpson.
After the match, the team celebrated Juan’s 12th birthday with cake, a treat otherwise forbidden by the coaches, who insist on a strict diet of fruit, salad and fish or chicken during the year-around training program.
Ten of the young fighters will advance next month to the regional Silver Gloves in Wilmington, N.C. and two winners will not advance because of their age (under 10). Five team members lost to opponents yesterday.
Established by the Recreation and Parks Department in 2006, the Upton center is a fully equipped boxing facility run by “Coach Cal,” Garry W. Jackson, Mack Allison III and Kenny Ellis.
Two of the program’s graduates – Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Tyrieshia “Baby Girl” Douglas – are currently training at the center for the 2012 U.S. Olympics boxing teams.
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