Surprises in Chicago Gloves Finals – by Bob Marovitz

The National Women’s Golden Gloves closed out it’s final night in Chicago with 10 Junior Division and 12 Open divisions bouts. A crowd of over 500 boxing fans packed the Ramada Plaza Ballroom to witness over four hours of action with all bouts, except two, going the distance.

The Open Division got out to a rousing start pitting 3x US Champ Carina Moreno versus 2x US Bronze Medallist Samantha Sanchez for the 106 pound title.

While each women landed stinging power shots during the 3-round duel, Moreno was awarded the decision.   Both of these women have the tools to turn pro, but both aspire to box in the Olympics before turning pro.

One of the biggest upsets of the night was Chicago area native Rosa Rubio who was taken the distance by Eileen Kuwaye of New York. At 112, Rubio won the 2002 Chicago Golden Gloves and was expected to win the title at 112. Both women were well matched with Kuwaye forcing action in the second and third stanzas.

At 119, Anju Reejhingham who splits time between a Seattle gym and Richard Lord’s Boxing Gym in Austin, TX lost to Deborah Stein. Both women locked horns in a three-round slugfest, but in the end, Stein got the nod taking home the title. Three-time US Champ Amber Gideon and 2001 US Champ Jennifer Han are close friends, but met in the ring to settle the 125 pound title. Both women have met in the ring before and have sparred together.  Friendship aside, they brawled over three rounds. While Han won the judges decision for the 125-pound title and was voted Best Boxer of the tournament, Gideon won the hearts of the Chicago fan’s and the Golden Gloves 2002 award for Best Sportsmanship.

Bonnie” The Cobra”Canino flew in from Florida for the tournament with her 156 pounder, Yvonne Reis who won the decision over a game Jenna Johnlin.

Other highlights came from Light Heavyweight (178) Bose Liaola and Heavyweight Elizabeth Kerin, both trained by George Hernandez out of Chicago’s Garfield Park Boxing Club. Liaola fought Teresa Pierozzi toe-to-toe and had the crowd on their feet as both fighters rocked each other with several power uppercuts during the bout. Liaola took the decision and then watched as her stable mate Kerin waged war with Sonji Lamonakis in the next bout. Lamonakis threw everything she had in her arsenal at Kerin, but Kerin absorbed it all and won the Heavyweight title statue.

Chris Kreuz was ringside at the semi’s on Friday and talked briefly with Bonnie Canino about their future plans. Both Chris and Bonnie appeared in excellent shape. It is this reporter’s opinion that an exhibition bout between these two warriors would have been a true highlight for all young women and boxing fans in attendance.

Olga Vlasova and Zula Koutdoussova were ringside nightly with George Hernandez encouraging Liaola and Kerin, who also train at Garfield Park.   Zula said is still looking for a bout with Lucia Rijker who Zula claims  “is ducking me to fight a no-name opponent!”

Zula is hoping this fight can be made before years end.

The Chicago Golden Gloves put on this event along with the valuable sponsorship of Everlast. With the time and efforts of Illinois and Midwestern Golden Gloves officials, Trayce Zimmerman Public Relations bringing out the Chicago Press at Tuesday’s Media Day and the incredible determination of the Junior and Open fighters and their families who traveled to Chicago from as far as Hawaii, the 2002 National Female Golden Gloves was a class event to lay foundation’s of many female boxer’s futures yet to develop.