Boxers take to ring in preliminary-round action
By KERRY SMITH
Assistant Sports Editor
Eight decades of tradition takes the spotlight at the Joyce Center as the Notre Dame Boxing Club takes part in the 70th annual Bengal Bouts this weekend.
The Bengal Bouts, which began in 1931, aim to raise money for the Holy Cross Missions in Bangladesh. Over the years, the participants in the Bouts have donated thousands of dollars to aid the disadvantaged people of the impoverished country.
"To compete in Bengal Bouts and to accomplish so much for charity is a great thing," said senior co-captain Mike Maguire. "This is something you hear about, not something that everyone gets the chance to do. It's a great accomplishment."
The 1999 Bengal Bouts raised $51,000 for the Holy Cross Missions and the club is well on its way to its 2000 goal of $55,000.
If we had no charitable cause to work for, we might have the same turnout for the Bouts," said senior co-captain J.R. Mellin. "But the boxers would never have the sense of pride and accomplishment that they get from working toward something that is bigger than them."
Not only does the club plan on raising more money than it ever has, it also plans on putting on the most competitive Bouts in the tournament's history.
Changing the bracket system and condensing weight classes, this year's matchups promise to be more competitive than in past tournament
"By making 16-people brackets, we've increased the talent in each division," said Mellin. "With more competition, there will be better fights in each round."
Training since the fall, the participants in the bouts will finally have the opportunity to show what they're made of in the preliminary round of tournament tonight, beginning at 7 p.m.
The 120-pound division is an open field — any boxer could rise to the top and claim the title.
In the 130-pound division, Jason McMahon is the favored contender. The champion of the 125-pound division last year, McMahon is looking for his second Bengal Bouts title.
The 140-pund division boasts a talented group of fighters. Kurt Wilson, Bill Uniowski, Jim Shackett and Anton Kemps received byes in the preliminaries and will not enter the ring until the quarterfinals on Sunday.
Mellin is the top seed in the 150-pound division. Mellin has had a successful history in the Bengal Bouts. Competing for the fourth year, the senior is looking for his first title. After advancing easily to the final round in his division last year, Mellin lost in a unanimous decision to Edward "El Papoose" Hernandez.
The University administration will not allow Hernandez to compete in this year's Bouts because of his previous boxing experience. Hernandez is a U.S.A boxing champion of Texas and is making a bid for the 2000 Olympic Games.
In the 160-pound division, any of the contenders could take the top spot. Don Schaeffer earned the top-seed, but a talented field of 11 competitors are eager to unseed him
The presence of Sean Nowack and Don Penn make the 165-pound division one of the most talented brackets. Nowack earned the 163-pound division title last year with a unanimous decision in the finals over Travis Alexander.
Don Penn, who registered the Bouts only knock-out decision year in the semifinals, only to lose in the championship round to Tom Biolchini is looking to avenge last year's second-place finish.
In the 170-pound division, junior captain Brian Hobbins is the boxer to beat. Hobbins failed to make it to the finals last year and will have to fend off a tough group of fighters to earn the title this year.
Biolchini, a two-time defending champion earned the top bill in the 175-pound division. With an experienced and talented field, the 175-pound division promises to be the most competitive.
Biolchini will have to fend off attempts by Tom Dietrich, Steve Pfeiffer, Chris Viasnoris and William Pepek on his quest for the title.
The heavy weights won't have to worry about fending off and 185-pound defending champion Mike Romanchek. The senior captain and four-year boxer will sit out because of a shoulder injury.
In the 180-pound division, Joey Leniski heads a competitive bracket of 10 competitors, while Mike Hammes, who lost in the finals last year leads the pack in the 190-pound division.
In the 200-plus division, junior captain Peter Ryan is the top-seed. Ryan won a split decision over Alex Kant last year and looks to hold on to his title.
The quarterfinal round of the Bouts takes place tonight and winners will advance to the quarterfinal round on Sunday.
All Sports Stories for Friday, February 25, 2000
