Dukes Pizza / Rice Street Gym Show 9/18/2010

There was a saying a few years ago, that went like this “Put your Dukes up.”  It meant someone wanted to do battle.  Well on a beautiful sunny, fall Saturday afternoon in St. Paul there were 20 young amateur boxers  “putting up their Dukes” at Dukes Pizza on Century Ave!

Hosted by Johnny Johnson and the Rice Street Gym this show featured several boxers from around the State and concluded with a double main event that featured two St. Paul Middleweights and two nationally rated Light-Heavyweights putting it on the line.

#1. 90lbs  Rielly Hammond, MN Top Team vs Brad Leeleads (sp?), Rice Street Gym

Hammond  came forward for two rounds but continually absorbed straight left hands from LeeLeads until the referee called the bout at the end of round 2.  Leeleads wins RSC 2.

#2. 165 lbs Tommy Langendyke, White Bear Boxing vs Thomas Brunner Savage

Lagendyke throwing both hands and although Brunner looks like he has potential, Lagendyke was too much and scored two standing 8 counts in the first round causing the referee to stop the bout. Lagendyke Wins RSC 1.

Nate Burkhalter after his win against Celso Ramirez

#3. 110lbs  Nate Burkhalter, Rochester vs  Celso Ramirez, COD

This was a fast-paced bout between two experienced highly skilled boxers. Burkhalter started to take control attacking both the body and the head in combination and stayed ahead on the score cards through three.  Burkhalter wins by Dec 3.

#4.  165lb Anthony Rose, Uppercut vs Allan Shiffren, Savage

This was a very even bout with both boxers showing their skills in repeated exchanges. Rose seemed to have the edge in the third and it may have been the difference. Rose by Dec 3.

#5. Alex Lusby,  Rice Street Gym     SHVY WT.  Joe Dupree, Lorenzi’s Gym

These big guys stayed busy and kept up a fast pace for big men. Both of them scored points and both showed solid boxing skills with the South Paw Dupree landing some of the cleaner blows. Dupree by Dec in 3.

Otahl "Slim" Saunders after his win against Damon Lachmon

#6. Otahl Saunders,   COD       105Lbs.     Damon Lachmon White Bear Boxing

Both of these boxers have experience and both showed it.  Saunders backed up Lachmon in the second and third and got the edge in scoring blows. Saunders Dec 3.

(LtoR) Johnny Johnson, Billy Kapaun, Tony Lee

#7. Billy Kapaun   Rice Street Gym 165Lbs.  Kevin Wright St. Cloud

This one featured some good old-fashioned back alley brawling and at times lacked finesse but definitely was a crowd pleaser.  Kapaun repeatedly landed the left uppercut followed by a big right hand using power punching to earn the victory. Kapaun by Dec 3.

#8. Richard Quiterro,  COD     115Lbs.  Carlos Martinez, Rice Street Gym

Quiterro was the aggressor with Martinez counter punching effectively. Both scored in combination but Quiterro’s aggression and getting off first lead to a victory. Quiterro wins Dec 3.

#9. Oscar Soto,  Rice Street Gym  152Lbs.    Joey Claus, White Bear Boxing

These two guy’s can go and they showed it.   Soto has gotten the national tournament experience this year that really seems to lead to so many boxers taking their game to the next level. Claus is an experienced boxer who has been around the game for years but today Soto was too much. His punching accuracy and the ability to keep Claus at a distance ended up with Claus getting a standing 8 count in the third and insured a win. Soto by Dec 3.

#10. Manny Contreras, Rice Street 178Lbs. Robert Brant, White Bear

This one was as good as it was billed.  Contreras is ranked 10^th in the nation and Brandt # 2.  Both boxers are from St. Paul and taking on each other in a local bout.  This one went back and forth with both guys trading and taking turns landing blows. This was an excellent bout at a level usually reserved only for national tournaments, body blows, counter punching, major power shots and solid defense was on display as the crowd roared with its approval.  Brant landed some solid one two combinations and put together a string of scoring combinations down the stretch in what seemed to earn him a well fought victory. Brant by decision in 3.

(LtoR) Rob Brant with Coach Adonis Frazier

A large crowd enjoyed a great show with local professional boxers handing out medals to their young protégé’s and a who’s who in the St. Paul boxing scene in attendance. The officiating was excellent with Gene Stringer the Physician in attendance accompanied by Christy Stringer RN.

All Photos on this page were taken by Alex Kanwischer
Results by Todd Webb

Click here for more photos

Contact Rice Street: 651.497.4635

#10-30-033

Oscar Soto/ Photo by: Ryan Hamilton

Rice Street boxer, Oscar Soto,  just informed me that at 9:06am today, Layla Maria Soto was born.  She was 8.6 lbs and 21.1 in long. Congratulations Oscar!

Oscar Soto/Photo: Ryan Hamilton

Oscar Soto is the current USA Boxing 4 State Regional Champion at 152 Lbs. He will be representing this region at the USA Boxing National Tournament beginning July 11th in Colorado Springs Colorado. He is the Minnesota State Champion at 152Lbs. He defeated a local boxer from White Bear Lake in the finals at the Oak Ridge Country Club. He then advanced to the 4 State Regional Tournament in Lincoln Nebraska which was held May 22 & 23rd where he defeated a boxer from Nebraska in the semi-finals and then a boxer from Wisconsin in the finals to advance to the Nationals in Colorado.

Age: 20 Yrs Old
Gym: Rice Street Gym, St. Paul MN.
Coach: Johnny Johnson
Height: 6’1
Weight: 152LBS.
Stance: Orthodox
Experience: Approximately 100 Bouts

Started Boxing: “I started boxing when I was 10 years old, I liked the sport from the beginning and have had the same coach and boxed out of the same gym throughout my career.”

Training: I train 3 to 4 days a week in the Gym and run several days a week as well.  I used to live above the Gym which was convenient but I now live in Burnsville MN.

Boxing Style: I am a tall boxer and use my left jab to set up my other combinations.  I have a hard right hand and look to set up my fight hand using my jab. I plan on using a lot of straight punches and one-two combinations at the nationals.

Future Plans: Right now I am focused on winning a national title. I have been to this tournament in the past in 2008, I saw the level of competition then and feel confident that this time I will be in a position to not only advance deep into the tournament but to win the tournament.

-Todd Webb

L to R: Emmett Yanez, Oscar Soto

LFR: You looked good in Nebraska.  How did you feel about your match?

Contreras: I felt like I did alright not my best though.  The night (before) my first match I was running all night long because I was over weight.  I was supposed to box at 165, but after all that running I was still over weight.  I knew we didn’t have a 178lb boxer so I decided to box at 178lbs.  The second match was a little awkward because the guy was a southpaw.  I’ve been with different styles like, Michael Faulk, he’s a good southpaw so that helped out a lot.

LFR: I thought you listened to your corner (David Lusby and Adonis Frazier) well.

Contreras: I try to listen to my corner as much as I can because they are my second pair of eyes.  They see stuff that I can’t sometimes and it helps me out a lot listening to them.

LFR:What things are doing to prepare yourself for competition at a national level?

Contreras: I’m trying to do everything.  Work out harder, spar a lot more with different styles and add more workouts to my schedule.
my record now is 31 wins and 8 losses

-Ryan Hamilton

Regional Junior Olympics and Senior Tournament

Day 1

Semi-Final – 152 lbs Oscar Soto (MN) def. Marcus Robinson (NE)

Semi-Final – 178 lbs Manny Contreras (MN) def. Wesley Washington (Iowa)

Championship – 112 lbs Luis Rodriguez (NE) def. Jonathon Perez (MN)

Championship -  125 lbs Luis Feliciano (WI) def. Fransisco Noyola Solis (MN)

Championship – 145 lbs Annie Griffin (MN) def. Debra Willies (Iowa)

JO  Semi-Final – 154 lbs Anthony Theon (MN) def. Edel Gomez (NE)

JO Semi-Final – 101 lbs Damon Lachman (MN) def. Grant Sherman (Iowa)

Int. Championship – 114 lbs Richard Quitero (MN) def. Edgar Gonzalez (NE)

Int. Championship – 132 lbs Alexis Gomez (MN) RSCIII Jacob Elsey (Iowa) and won Jr. Best Boxer

JO Championship – 132 lbs Thomas Hill (WI) def. Andrew Monette (MN)

JO Championship – 201+ Ryan Watson (MN) def. Denota Lezine

Day 2

JO Championship – 101 lbs Damon Lachman (MN) def. Ezequiel Rodriguez (NE)

JO Championship – 154 lbs Anthony Theon (MN) def. Zachery Waltermate (WI)

Championship – 152 lbs Oscar Soto (MN) def.  Kristian Byrd (WI)

Championship – 178 lbs Manny Contreras (MN) def. Adam Willis and won Best Boxer

Non Tournament Bout

112 lbs – Jonathon Perez (MN) def. Rickey Lacefield (NE)

114 lbs – Otahl Saunders (MN) def. Antonio Perales (NE)

145 lbs – Savannah Osborn (MN) def. Debra Willies (Iowa)

Walked Through

Otahl Saunders (MN)

Celso Ramirez (MN)

Good luck you guys! Do your best!

Manny Contreras in the Red Gloves

Age: 19

Gym: Rice Street Gym

Coach: Johnny Johnson

Weight: 165 lbs

Stance: Orthodox

Record: 26 wins & 7 losses

Favorite Boxer(s): Roy Jones Jr. and Miguel Cotto.

Tournaments & Titles:  2008 Under 19  Bronze Medal, 2009 USA State Champion, 2009 Golden Gloves Region 2 champion, 2008 Region 2 champion.

Training:  Runs 3 to 5 mile twice a week
shadow box 3 rounds with 2 pound weights
jump rope 3 rounds
heavy bag 4 rounds
double end bag 4 rounds
pads 4 to 6 rounds
“I work out two 3 min rounds with 30 sec breaks.”

Info: Manny started boxing when he was 16 years old.  ” I always wanted to box since I was a little kid, ” he remembers,  “and my mom said I could start boxing when I  got my braces off.  So the same week I  got my braces off, I went to the Rice Street Gym.  A couple weeks later, Johnny told me I had a lot of heart and I was going to be a champion.”

Contreras, now a 19 year old college student, attends St. Paul College.  He likes to play hockey, football and baseball.  He also likes to fish a lot.  Manny “thinks” he’s an outgoing person and likes “making people happy.

Being a role model to his family is important to him.  “I have five little sisters and two little brothers.  I’m the oldest out of all of them and I try to be a good role model for them ’cause they all look up to me.”

His plans for the tournaments this year are to make it to Golden Gloves & USA Nationals and win.  He also plans to turn pro after the 2012 Olympics.

-Ryan Hamilton

*Editors Note* After witnessing his impressive win (by retirement in the 4th) over hard hitting Robbie Loyde (Uppercut) in the St. Paul vs Minneapolis Tournament, I’m convinced that Contreras will be the man to beat at 165lbs.

VeShawn Owens (left) Manny Contreras (right) Photo by: Ryan Hamilton

70lbs Dion Bower (White Earth) dec. Da’San Frazier (COD)

95lbs Nathaniel Burkhalter (Roch.) dec. James Champion (WBL)

106lbs Otahl Saunders (COD) dec. Jamal Morris (Roch.)

112lbs Carlos Martinez (Rice St.) dec. Wyatt Ryan (Roch.)

139lbs Payton Lee (Roch.) def. Gabriel Barrera (ACR) by RSCII

156lbs Eugene Sommers (White Earth) def. Hunter Dahl (ASMA) by retirement in the 1st round.

110lbs Jesus Rivera (WBL) dec. Laquentin Banks (Rice St.)

175lbs Heidi Henrikson (Uppercut) dec. Natalya Kenigsberg (Uppercut)

140lbs Josh Melton (ACR) dec. Jose Garcia – Molina (Uppercut)

145lbs Abdi Gelle (Roch.) dec. Gizzy Hobbs (Uppercut)

165lbs Manny Contreras (Rice St.) dec. VeShawn Owens (Uppercut)

I will be adding more photos and video so keep checking back!

Click here for photos