Delta Upsilon San Jose

Blood, sweat and cheers at boxing club's Fight Night

SJSU student boxers took four out of eight bouts Saturday at the second annual Spartan Fight Night, including standout wins by Luc Mai and Monique Varela.

Mai, a sophomore aviation major, added another win to his amateur resume by out-pointing UC Berkeley fighter David Keegan, in a fight that didn't slow down until the last bell rang.

Mai's fluid punches and diverse skill set led to his victory as he out-paced his opponent, landing shots seemingly at will. Mai attacked the body, and then the head, and then went back to the body, untucking Keegan's shirt and bruising his face.

"I heard him wince when I hit him in the body," Mai said. "I have a new-found respect for that guy. I've never seen heart like that before."

Varela, a senior sports management major, fought her way through a tough, back-and-forth contest.

Participating in her first amateur fight after training all season long, Varela said she was nervous about her stamina going into the fight, but she wasn't worried about her opponent.

"I'm not questioning my skills, just my cardio," Varela said just minutes before her fight.

Varela landed the harder punches throughout the three-round fight, in which both fighters became fatigued in the latter stages.

Her opponent, Cal State Northridge club boxer Lisa Porter, had an obvious speed advantage, landing faster, although softer combinations. However, the judges decision went to an excited Varela.

"I'm just glad it is over, she is a very good boxer," Varela said. "I got tired in Round 2, but I did it. Not too many people can say they boxed before, and even fewer women can say it."

In other action Saturday, SJSU club fighters Alejandro Cuadra and David Ly both had success in the squared-circle against strong competition.

Cuadra, a senior finance major, battled through a bloodied nose he received early on in the first round, two referee warnings about hitting below the belt and rabbit punches - punches to the back of the neck - before securing two standing eight counts in the last two rounds, and winning via decision against University of San Francisco's Adam Tompkison.

"I did very well against him," Cuadra said. "I'm happy with my performance."

Ly, a senior public relations major, needed just one round to defeat his opponent, Michael Patane of USF.

Patane came out with high energy, swinging fast and hard, putting Ly on the defensive. Ly showed good reaction, and reversed the momentum of the fight to his favor, forcing Patane into the corner and unleashing his own intense flurry.

The referee called for a standing eight count as Patane complained of an eye injury, and the bout was stopped shortly thereafter.

"It was stopped too early," Ly said. "I didn't feel like I landed that hard of a punch. I don't really count that one."

SJSU's Aaron Guerrero, Kedrick Shadley, Ramzy Eldabbagh and Alan Cheng all had impressive moments in their fights but didn't claim victory, losing as a result of judge's decisions.

Cheng fought Santa Clara University's Chris Haley, the No. 2-ranked collegiate boxer in the nation at his weight class, in a fight that SJSU's coach thought belonged to the Spartan boxer.

"I thought he did really well against (Haley)," said Candelario Lopez, SJSU boxing club coach. "Alan could have got the win."

SJSU Fight Night attracted 257 fans. Last year's event drew more than 500.

Source: http://media.www.thespartandaily.com/media/storage/paper852/news/2008/03...