National Caliber Boxers Square Off in Oshkosh

National Caliber Boxers Square Off in Oshkosh /by Bill Harris

OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN [DEC 9, 2003] Oshkosh amateur boxing fans got a chance Saturday, December  7, to see two nationally ranked female boxers in the middle weight classes in action.

Naquana Smalls of Marinette, boxing out of the Peshtigo Boxing Club, faced Krysta Savage, Chippewa Valley Boxing Club in Chippewa Falls, in a 139-pound match that was the only women’s bout of the15 contested that night.

It was Smalls first competitive match since earning a bronze medal in the 132-pound class at the 2002 Women’s World Boxing Championships in Antalya, Turkey. Earlier Smalls had won the 132-pound division at the 2002 Women’s National Boxing Championships. Savage boxed in the same weight division at the Nationals but lost a decision early on. For this outing both women had moved up a weight class.

Savage was not in the least intimidated by Smalls although she lacked some of the hand speed and aggression shown by Smalls, relying more on sharp counter punching in her quest to gain the decision. Counter punching didn’t make it with Smalls, though, as she moved rapidly into her opponent and scored repeatedly with impressively fast hands. The Peshtigo 19-year-old mixed the attack going rapidly from head to body.

Savage did score well on several occasions frequently as the two broke of the action and she showed great resilience as well as good ability to land power shots. Smalls was often on the receiving end of well aimed jabs and rights thrown by Savage but she wasn’t phased and came right back capitalizing on her hand speed to score the decision.

The match was competitive and some believed that had it gone more rounds Savage might have emerged with the decision but this view was not widely held and not by the WBAN writer. Smalls was in top condition for the bout. She has been able to train at home with her father, Clement, who has installed a gym in their garage. Smalls’ Peshtigo Boxing Club is undergoing a change in venue as coach Willy Price has a new building under construction and can’t hold training sessions until he gets heat in the building and some amenities for the boxers he trains. He told WBAN that he had hung some bags against the time when his heating system is operational – possibly the week of Dec. 9. He also said he is looking for in-kind and financial support for the new gym but with limited success.

The capacity crowd of more than 500 in what used to be the Oshkosh Eagles Club on Washington Ave. which now is called Studio Hall, showed its appreciation of good boxing with wild cheers and as they urged each woman to perform her best. An exciting series of men’s bouts was held along with the women’s match and featured mostly novice class matchups with a couple of each Junior Olympic and open class matches.