The night began with a tribute to longtime Golden Gloves ring announcer Dan Sartel, who will be announcing his final bouts this weekend.

In attendance, working corners, refereeing or judging were many former professional boxers from Minnesota including Jamal James, Adonis Frazier, Joe Amouta, Phil Williams, Dalton Outlaw, Anthony Bonsante, Michael Faulk, Cerresso Fort, Mohammed Kayongo, Joe Lorenzi, Chris Holt and more.

1. Ojem Omot (Region IV – St. Cloud GG) vs. Blong Thao (Region II – Backyard Boxing)

143-pound Novice Bout

Omot opened the bout with fast combinations from both hands, landing hard rights to the head. Thao responded with looping overhand rights and heavy body shots in an active first round.

Omot used more angles in round two, landing sharp jabs and combinations. Thao kept pressing forward and continued to dig to the body.

Both boxers came out firing in round three. Omot stayed sharp and fast, eventually pulling away with clean head shots. He scored a standing eight before referee Joe Lorenzi stopped the bout.

Result: Omot wins by RSC 1 in a fun opening bout with strong effort from both boxers.

2. Jefferson Toscano (Region I – Unattached) vs. Connor Wolf (Region III – Rouge Boxing)

143-pound Novice Bout

Toscano pushed the pace with a high-energy two-fisted attack and earned a standing eight in round two. Wolf fought back while backpedaling, but Toscano maintained pressure.

In round three, Wolf showed a good jab, but Toscano powered through, landing hard head shots and forcing another standing eight. Despite Wolf’s late rally, Toscano kept the momentum.

Result: Jefferson Toscano wins by decision over Connor Wolf.

3. Isai Penaloza-Milian (Region I – COD) vs. Mukhtar Maroofkheil (Region III – Barbot Boxing)

154-pound Novice Bout

Milian, the taller boxer, used his reach effectively, drawing comparisons to a young Jamal James, who was in his corner. Maroofkheil landed some looping shots, but Milian’s clean boxing took the round.

Maroofkheil tried to turn the bout into a brawl, but Milian’s jab and movement controlled the pace. He remained elusive and in command into the final round.

Milian continued to score with sharp combos. Maroofkheil landed two hard rights, but Milian wasn’t fazed and finished strong.

Result: Isai Penaloza-Milian wins by decision.

4. Daniel Saucedo (Region II – Padilla’s Gym) vs. Spencer Anderson (Region I – MPLS Boxing)

187-pound Novice Bout

Anderson, the taller boxer, was pressed early as Saucedo closed the distance well. Anderson landed a clean right later in round one.

Saucedo stayed close and active in round two. A jab from him knocked out Anderson’s mouthpiece, briefly stopping the action. Saucedo continued to brawl, while Anderson found some late success in open space.

Both traded heavy punches in round three. Anderson landed stiff jabs while Saucedo appeared to slow down. Anderson capitalized on the range late in the round.

Result: Daniel Saucedo wins by decision over Spencer Anderson.

5. Matthew Sumner (Region IV – Red Lake) vs. Ethan Hunsucker (Region II – Element)

198+ pound Novice Bout

Sumner used his height and reach early, while Hunsucker landed looping counters. Both traded heavy shots with little concern for defense in a high-action round.

The bout remained close in round two. Hunsucker, a southpaw, winged big punches while Sumner closed strong with head-snapping shots that echoed through the venue.

Hunsucker landed a big left, but Sumner responded with clean, straight punches. The crowd came alive as both traded bombs to the final bell.

Result: Matthew Sumner wins by decision over Ethan Hunsucker.

6. Moo Thaw (Region II – Backyard Boxing) vs. Zaro Snyder (Region I – MPLS Boxing)

121-pound Elite Bout

Snyder came out sharp, landing hard combos. Thaw responded with quick flurries, making for a fast-paced first round.

Snyder pressed while Thaw countered in round two. The southpaw Thaw landed clean late, making it a tightly contested bout.

Thaw switched to orthodox in round three and landed a big right that drew gasps. Snyder answered with accurate rights of his own, closing strong.

Result: Zaro Snyder repeats last year’s decision win over Moo Thaw in another high-action bout.

7. Edgar Olivo (Region I – Unattached) vs. Jose Lopez (Region III – Lopez Boxing)

132-pound Elite Bout

Both boxers came out trading. Olivo had the crisper combos, while Lopez ended the round strong with a hard straight left.

Momentum shifted several times in round two. Lopez pulled ahead midway as Olivo became more stationary but came back late.

In round three, Lopez edged it with higher volume and sharp punching in an entertaining clash.

Result: Jose Lopez wins by decision over Edgar Olivo.

8. Gavin Flynn (Region I – MPLS Boxing) vs. Britton Kleeb (Region IV – Bemidji Boxing)

143-pound Elite Bout

The southpaws exchanged lefts early in a competitive first round. Kleeb may have edged it slightly with cleaner punches.

Flynn stood his ground in round two and caught Kleeb coming in with heavy shots. Likely 1-1 going into the final round.

Both dug deep in round three. Flynn appeared to edge it with a stronger finish in a close and clean bout.

Result: Gavin Flynn wins by split decision over Britton Kleeb.

9. Blessing Taniah (Region II – Next Edge Academy) vs. Rafael Lopez (Region III – Lopez Boxing)

143-pound Elite Bout

Both boxers let their hands go early. Lopez landed crisp head shots while Taniah fired back with body work. A check left from Lopez stunned Taniah, who responded with a looping right.

Taniah struck first in round two, but Lopez landed a clean right to the jaw and appeared fresher. A body shot sent Taniah stumbling as Lopez pressed to finish the round strong.

Lopez held the edge in round three. Taniah fought back but couldn’t land a bout-ending shot.

Result: Rafael Lopez wins by decision over Blessing Taniah.

10. Isaiah Abalan (Region I – COD) vs. Jerome Jackson (Region III – Rouge Boxing)

154-pound Elite Bout

Abalan scored early with a clean right-left. Jackson pressed forward, and the round ended with mutual respect.

Abalan looked stronger and more powerful. Jackson kept pressing and landed here and there, forcing a competitive third.

Abalan boxed from angles while Jackson continued to come forward. Both had success in a close and fun contest.

Result: Isaiah Abalan wins by split decision.

11. Eduardo Valenzuela (Region II – Top Team) vs. Tyson Lamb (Region IV – St. Cloud GG)

154-pound Elite Bout

Both opened with hard body shots. Valenzuela then shifted to head combos, landing the higher volume.

In round two, Valenzuela’s speed and accuracy began to show. Lamb stood strong but wore the effects by round’s end.

Valenzuela continued with clean body and head combinations in the third. Lamb threw big looping punches but couldn’t turn the tide.

Result: Eduardo Valenzuela wins by decision over Tyson Lamb.

12. Zac O’Connor (Region II – Element Gym) vs. Devan Blakemore (Region IV – Takedown Boxing)

165-pound Elite Bout

O’Connor walked Blakemore down early.

Blakemore rallied in round two with a body-head combo. O’Connor used his height well and landed counters. Blakemore found range late but struggled mid-round.

O’Connor boxed smartly to start the third. Urged on by Anthony Bonsante, Blakemore closed the gap, but O’Connor maintained control.

Result: Zac O’Connor wins by decision.

13. Ndikumwenayo Faustin (Region III – Rouge Boxing) vs. Andrew Chansa (Region I – Champions Boxing)

165-pound Elite Bout

Chansa marched forward throughout the first, while Faustin countered effectively. The bout escalated into a firefight.

Round two was even closer. Both landed sharp punches while bouncing on their toes.

In round three, Chansa again pushed the pace. Faustin countered with volume, making this one of the night’s toughest bouts to score.

Result: Andrew Chansa wins by decision.

14. Antonio Varney (Region IV – Red Lake) vs. Abdul Wadud (Region I – Northside Boxing)

176-pound Elite Bout

Wadud, son of Phil Williams, came forward with his hands down, looking for a big shot. Varney, a UMGG vet, kept his composure, despite absorbing a heavy body shot.

Round two was technical, with Varney controlling the distance behind his jab. Wadud targeted the body but couldn’t land clean upstairs.

Wadud dropped Varney with a left early in the third. Varney recovered and landed a slick three-punch combo. Both exchanged heavy shots in an exciting final round.

Result: Abdul Wadud wins by split decision over Antonio Varney.

15. Manny Contreras (Region II – Sir Boxing) vs. Nathaniel Schwinghammer (Region IV – Bemidji Boxing)

198+ pound Elite Bout

Contreras landed a double right to the head early and pressed the action. He was warned for hitting on the break. Schwinghammer began to work behind his jab and landed a clean left hook.

Schwinghammer showed toughness taking clean shots, but Contreras caught him with a huge right that knocked out his mouthpiece.

Both went to war in round three. Referee Chris Holt issued warnings as tensions rose. An all-out slugfest closed out the bout with bombs from both boxers.

Result: Manny Contreras wins by split decision in a crowd-pleasing brawl.

Saturday finals scheduled at The Park Event Center, located at 500 Division Street begin at 11:30 am.

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