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SPORTS
> YOUTH SPORTS
Corrales falls at nationals to Olympic alternate
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Luck of the draw?
For Hollister boxer Tony Corrales, that certainly was not the case.
Corrales is competing this week at the 2008 National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions in Grand Rapids, Mich. Although the 17-year-old fighter has excelled through the state and regional levels - competing at the age minimum for Golden Gloves, no less - Corrales' run came to an end on Monday.
But it came to an end against perhaps the top 141-pounder at the tournament.
Corrales lost by decision to Daniel O'Connor of Massachusetts in their three-round bout. O'Connor, 22, is an Olympic alternate for the 2008 Beijing Games.
"What luck," said Zeke Lopez, Corrales' trainer. "But that's okay because you know where you stand now."
Although Lopez was not present for the fight, he was relayed the information on Corrales from another California trainer attending this week's tournament.
"That's one hell of a guy to pool in the first fight," Lopez said. "But he did what he had to do and stuck it out for three rounds."
Corrales will return to California next week. Although he is out of contention for a national title, he'll continue to train with the Golden Gloves team for the remainder of the week in Michigan.
Meanwhile, another one of Lopez' fighters, Jorge Hernandez, was recently selected for the California Junior Olympics team, but is seeking funds to attend the event.
Hernandez will fight this weekend in Avenal, but since he will be unopposed, his inclusion to nationals is all but guaranteed.
For it to be official, though, Hernandez must be present in Avenal to weigh in, and he is seeking funds to attend that event as well as nationals in Marquette, Mich.
"He's pretty much assured a spot because they didn't have a 145-pounder at his age," Lopez said.
Hernandez, 15, has previously qualified for the national Silver Gloves twice and has made it to regionals for Junior Olympics twice before.
For more information or if you'd like to donate funds, contact Zeke Lopez at 831-636-1349.
Andrew Matheson
Andrew Matheson is a sports writer for South Valley Newspapers. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 334 or at amatheson@svnewspapers.com.
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