165-pound class
By TIM CASEY
Assistant Sports Editor
Justin Myers had a memorable Thursday night.
First, the freshman from Morrissey defeated Tim McCurdy in the preliminaries of the 165-pound weight class. Then, following the fight, former champion and fellow Manorite Edward Hernandez offered to be in Myers's corner for his quarterfinal round bout.
Last night, the expertise helped, as Myers beat Brian Berg by a split decision and advanced to Wednesday's semifinals.
"Edward's a professional," Myers said of Hernandez, who won the title in 1999 but was told last year that he could not fight again in the Bengal Bouts. "He comes in and calms you down. He told me a lot of strategy. He was telling me to go in there and throw a combo and then if I wasn't going to throw a punch, (Hernandez told me) not even to get near him. He knows his stuff."
Myers deserves most of the credit, however, for his victory. Myers began the fight with an aggressive flurry of punches and backed Berg in the corner on several occasions in the first two rounds. Berg came back in the third but Myers continued to move around and dictate the tempo.
"He got a lot of nice, straight shots to my face," Myers said. "He was throwing well. But when I charged him, he really couldn't do anything. I was landing five or six punches (at a time). I had a lot of strategy but it didn't end up mattering because he didn't move around a lot. It was more like I could overpower him."
On Wednesday night, Myers will face off against senior captain Brian Hobbins. Hobbins, the only fighter in his weight class to receive a bye, opened up his final Bengal Bouts with a unanimous decision win over freshman Patrick Dillon.
It was a long time coming. Hobbins spent the weekend alone in his apartment, as three of his roommates went to Mardi Gras and the fourth went home to Chicago.
"It was kind of rough because they're usually around to shoot the bull with," Hobbins said. "It was like a true fighter's camp this weekend."
Maybe the time alone actually helped the senior, as Hobbins dominated the bout from the beginning. Dillon hung in but could not mount much offense.
"I felt real good," Hobbins said. "The main part was just getting the jitters out."
Junior Christopher Kitalong and 32-year old MBA student Thomas Macias also won their bouts last night, both by unanimous decision. Kitalong knocked down his opponent, Billy McMurtrie, in the third round. When the fight resumed, Kitalong continued to be the aggressor and landed a few punches in the corner moments before the final bell was rung.
Macias flustered sophomore Clay Cosse with several combinations. Midway through the first round, Cosse lost his contact then his mouthpiece flew onto the canvas. In the third round, Cosse's mouthpiece fell out again and Macias continued his dominance.
The action resumes on Wednesday with Hobbins and Myers squaring off in the first of the two semifinal fights.
"Justin likes to get wild, likes to get in nice and close," Hobbins said. "He's looking good. He's real active but real wild. It'll be a matter of sticking and moving."
Myers first Bengal Bouts may come to an end tomorrow. But the memories will last.
"I was pretty surprised when I won the first time," Myers said. "I didn't really think I knew anything. So I'm just really excited I got here. It's a huge thrill."
175 pounds
In the weeks prior to the Bengal Bouts, due to a limited number of participants, the captains decided to merge the 170, 175 and 180 weight-classes. Thus, all the fighters from 170 to 182 pounds are competing in the 175-pound division.
"I'll probably catch slack for this but it's the strongest weight class in the whole tournament," junior captain Mark Criniti said. "I think any of the captains would tell you that."
Many of the fans at last night's fights would also agree. Criniti and the three other victors all turned in dominating performances. Criniti, a lefthander and the defending champion in the 180-pound class, advanced to the semifinals with a victory over Brian Colville. The referee stopped the fight 58 seconds into the second round after Colville had two standing eight-counts.
"I had a lot of good movement tonight, low to high," Criniti said. "I was working on the body, working on the head. It's hard to defend when you're changing planes so well and you're moving well. I feel like I'm fighting the best I've fought in the three years I've been here."
Sophomore John Lynk, who recorded a unanimous decision victory over Dan Schaeffer, will face Criniti on Wednesday night. Lynk controlled last night's fight and Schaeffer received a standing eight-count right before the end of the match.
"John's in incredible shape," Criniti said. "The kid's a brick. He's the type of guy that could hit you twice and you could open your eyes ten seconds later and you're out of the ring."
The other semifinal will pit Rob Joyce against Keith Arnold. Joyce, the defending champion in the 185-pound division, won by a unanimous decision over Matt Padilla while Arnold beat Nathan Scheid.
From the opening bell, Arnold landed several punches and may have recorded the most dominating performance of all the boxers in his weight class. With 28 seconds remaining in the first round, the referee stopped the contest after Scheid received his third standing eight-count.
"That's how we planned it out — Rob, myself, John and Keith," Criniti said. "Just four tough guys that like to get in the ring. We want to give the people a good show. And I think our weight class is definitely holding our part of the bargain in showing the fans some good fights."
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, February 27, 2001
