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Get up close at ringside at fights throughout the Deep South. You can almost feel the sweat! Visit the Fight Card Photos section. Go now...
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Lafayette, LA's Jessie Fletcher, won the 80-pound, 10-11-year-old age group at the Title National Championship Tournament in Ripley, TN on June 5. A decorated amateur boxer, Fletcher defeated Memphian Eugene Collins by RSC in the second round. Fletcher only started boxing in January of 2009, but has won four championships in his age group. Go now...
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At 5-foot-3, Kansas City, MO light middleweight Melisenda Perez is used to having to fight much taller opponents. Despite the height disadvantage, Perez has managed to be a force in her division. Perez won a 4-round unanimous decision over Batesville, AR's April Ward Saturday night (July 10) on Les Bonano's "Battle On The Bay" card at Hollywood Casino. Read more...
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Amateur Boxing
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Ragin' Cajun's Gavin Stowe Overcomes Long Odds To Become Champion |
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Referee Kevin Allen, center, lifts the arm of Gavin Stowe, right, after Stowe defeated Bobby Weathers. (Photo credit: Ragin' Cajun Boxing Club)
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By Winston Mount-Batten
Ragin' Cajun Boxing Club
WEST MONROE, LA - Eleven year-old Gavin Stowe is a rising sixth grader at Maurice Elementary School near Lafayette, LA, and very proud of the fact that he has never failed a grade.
After this past weekend, he has something else for which to be proud. On Saturday night (July 11), Gavin won the 75-pound Louisiana/Mississippi Junior Golden Gloves championship in the junior (11-12 year-old) division with a hard fought, unanimous decision over Mississippi's Bobby Weathers.
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Gavin had to overcome a lot in his early years just to make it to this point.
At the age of three, Gavin drowned, but rescue efforts brought him back to life. Grandmother Abrana Sparks continued to perform CPR even after emergency medical personnel declared the youngster legally dead. He was without oxygen for nearly 12 minutes. Doctors believed he would surely suffer severe brain damage from the loss of oxygen to the brain.
A slow recovery took place, and doctors were amazed to find that Gavin's inner strength and determination were unbelievable after such a traumatic experience. Recovery is still ongoing. He works very hard to pronounce his words correctly and still has to battle the occasional loss of balance.
Making straight A's in school was not enough for Gavin. He had a dream to become an amateur boxer. His grandmother, who Gavin refers to as "Nanny," was very concerned for his safety and consulted his physicians for answers to prove to Gavin that he was not well enough to try such a demanding sport. When the doctors approved of his boxing, "Nanny" was disappointed, but super supportive in letting Gavin make his dream a reality.
At Lafayette's Ragin' Cajun Boxing Club, Gavin has worked many long hard hours with his coaches. Deirdre Gogarty, the former undisputed women's world featherweight champion, works with Gavin daily to help him improve on every aspect of boxing. Head coach, Beau Williford called on Ginger Boudreaux, a special education teacher to come by and visit with Gavin and give the coaches some insight on how best to teach him.
Boudreaux suggested the coaches be very concise in their instructions and not be alarmed if it required more repetitions for Gavin than others. Doctors believe that because boxing requires coordination in both hands, it has helped Gavin recover left and right brain function more rapidly.
Success in the ring has come slowly, but now that he can lay claim to the LA./MS. Junior Golden Gloves championship, Gavin Stowe has proved that he is alive and boxing today because he is a champion. |
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