After winning national accolade, pair of boxers star on Daily News Golden Gloves card
From Sugar Ray Robinson to Paul Malignaggi, the Daily News Golden Gloves has always produced some of the finest boxers that the country has to offer. This year, the 152-pound open division has two.
The Daily News Golden Gloves arrived at St. Finbar Auditorium in Brooklyn Tuesday night for the second set of Finbar fights in this year’s tournament. On center stage were the 152-pounders, who have asserted themselves as one of the deepest classes in the tournament.
Last week in Colorado, two of New York’s best — Christopher Galeano (John’s Gym) and Patrick Day (Freeport PAL) — collided in a classic at the USA Boxing National semifinal. After the bout ended in an 8-8 tie, Day took the victory in a tiebreaker. The following day, Day took the gold medal with a win over Chicago’s Alex Martin, making him the No.1 152-pound amateur in the country. Galeano would take the bronze.
“I wanted to win so much (and) my ambition is what fueled me the whole week,” Day said. “I knew that whether I lost or won, that I’d give my all.”
Back at Finbar, both boxers shrugged off their fatigue and put on a show. Galeano scored the Empire City Casino Punch of the Night during Round 3 of his matchup with Stepan Rogulskyi (NY Athletic Club) when a straight left hand knocked the challenger to the floor.
“I knew he’d lunge in the third because I was comfortable with the lead that I had,” Galeano said. “It was a nicely timed punch.”
Though Day took his businesslike approach to the ring against Chordale Booker (Team Freeport), there was nothing easy about his 5-0 victory. Booker pounced on Day from the opening bell, trying to expose some exhaustion from the newly crowned No. 1.
“He has the heart of lion,” Day said. “I knew when I drew him he’d be a formidable opponent. He knew I fought five days in a row and tried to test my lungs, test my legs.”
Peter Dobson (Atlas Cops N Kids) and Jeremy Fiorentino (Win or Die BC) will join Day and Galeano in the semifinals. Dobson took home the P.C. Richard and Son Boxer of the Night award after taking down Juan Mancilla (Long Island BC) via 5-0 decision. Fiorentino fought his way to a 3-2 victory over Daniel Gonzalez (Universal BC).
The quarterfinals of the 2012 Daily News Golden Gloves continue Wednesday night at Harlem PAL Center. Bouts between the 125-pound women, super heavyweight women and 178-pound novices will begin at 7:30.
