Three women's bouts over the weekend of May 4
and 5 during the Wisconsin Junior Olympics in Keshena, Wisc., met with solid
crowd approval although one competitor did not approve of her effort.
April Manowski, now 16, of Peshtigo Boxing Club, who won a national
championship at 108 pounds in 2000, was clearly outboxed Saturday night by
Krysta Savage of Chippewa Falls and the boxing club of that community. They
boxed in the 145-pound class. Savage was fast and showed the skills her
training had developed while Manowski appeared slow and seemed "out of
touch" with the match as she was moved around the ring by Savage.
Manowski recived her first defeat going to 4-1. Savage went to 3-0. Savage was expert at controlling her opponent and showed good ring
generalship, it was reported. She threw jabs that connected nicely. She
utilized combinations frequently in contrast to Manowski who seemed content
to throw one punch at a time. The bout was entertaining, though, and the
crowd of about 350 showed its appreciation when the final bell rang.
The second day of competition found Savage boxing again against Sarah Lyons
of Neopit-Keshena Boxing Club, in an Intermediate bout at 140 pounds. Savage
proved her skills again against a tough competitor who kept the pressure on
Savage throughout the match. Lyons pressed her attack against Savage but was
generally met with solid shots that got through her fallible defense. Lyons
pressed throughout the bout but just didn't quite have enough to defeat her
quality opponent The decision went to Savage giving her a 4-0 record.
In the
third women's bout and the second female match for the Sunday afternoon show
saw Catherine Pocan of Neopit-Keshena Boxing Club facing Samantha
Walters,
Chippewa Valley Boxing Club. The bout was in the 10 and 11 year old bracket
at 95 pounds. Pocan demonstrated good skills in the sport that prompted some
to forecast a good boxing future for her if she continues training and
working at the sport. The match was stopped in the second round as the hard
hitting Pocan clearly out-pointed her game opponent.
Willy Price, Manowski's coach and head of the Peshtigo Boxing Club, said she
told him after the bout as she was getting her gloves off that she was not
pleased with her performance. She promised she would not miss any more days
at the gym. She had dropped away from her regular boxing training for about
two months just before the Junior Olympics and many thought the absence
seriously depleted her considerable boxing skills.
All the women who
competed over the weekend told Price they planned to box in the all-women's
championships June 1 and 2 in Marinette that Price is promoting. Several
coaches have promised to bring women to the event.
Amateur boxers in
Wisconsin get another chance to pick up experience this coming Saturday, May
11, when Dennis Sprague stages another of his popular boxing program at the
Oshkosh Eagles Club. 405 Washington Street, Oshkosh. Doors open about 6 P.M.
and the first bout is slated to begin at 7 P.M.
