By Bobby Breen – 1/24/10. Hats off to NJ resident Carlos Tamara. Tamara travelled to the Philippines last Sunday to face Brian Viloria for the IBF Light-Flyweight Championship this past Friday night Jan. 23rd. In a brutal slugfest that lasted almost 12 rounds Tamara sent the three-time World Champion Viloria to the hospital for tests and observation. The fight was halted by TKO at 1:45 of round 12th round with Tamara winning his first world title in three attempts. Tamara previously held the WBC and WBO Latino Light-Flyweight titles..
Viloria known as “The Hawaiian Punch” is a former Olympian (2000 Sydney) and was a standout amateur boxer winning a National Golden Gloves title in 1999. Tamara came to NJ via Columbia where he was a world class amateur boxer competing in the Pan-Am Games and Olympics (2004 Athens). He has struggled working small jobs and training waiting for his chance to become a world champion. Managed by Nelson Fernandez and trained by Butch Sanchez, Tamara trains out of the Bergen County PAL gym and carries himself as a true champion both in and outside the ring. His dream was to return to his native Bogota, Columbia a world champion. His record now is 21-4-0 (15KO’s). Congratulations Champ!
Around the Ring and other Things: Got to see junior-lightweight Chazz McDowell (Yonkers, NY) make his pro debut last week at the Yonkers pro show promoted by O’Shea Brothers Boxing Promotions. McDowell, a former NY Golden Gloves champion and Olympic trials finalists (2008), won by TKO at 2:24 of round two in a scheduled four rounder over Alex Cooper (Bronx, NY). McDowell starts his pro career at 1-0-0 while Cooper falls to 0-2-0. Look for McDowell to appear on future O’Shea Brothers Boxing Promotion cards held at the Yonkers PAL sports complex on North Broadway, Yonkers, NY. They are hoping run again around March 12th and are in negotiations to hold a show in Brooklyn, NY in April.
Amateur Events: The New Jersey State Championships begin January 30th with an amateur show in Plainfield, NJ at the Plainfield 5 Star Gym on 5th St. Plainfield, NJ. Weigh-ins 12noon start time 3pm. For more info go to the NJ USA-Boxing website at: http://www.usaboxingnj.com/EventsSchedule.html
The NY Daily News Golden Gloves began this past Wednesday at BB Kings in NYC. This coming week look for shows at; Weds. Jan. 27th Freeport Recreation Center 130 E. Merrick Rd. Freeport, NY 11520 and Friday Jan. 29th at Bishop Kearny H.S. 2202 60TH St. Brooklyn, NY 11204.
For more info go the NY Daily News website at: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/goldengloves/index.html
See you “around the ring”. BB