Waianae's Rabellizsa falls in USA Boxing Championships final
Advertiser Staff
Miguel Cartagena of Philadelphia decisioned Garen Rabellizsa of Waianae, 7-5, to win the men’s open 106-pound title at the USA Boxing National Championships today at Denver Coliseum.
Rabellizsa decisioned Fabian Cervantes of Arleta, Calif., in the semifinals, while Cartagena, the 2009 Golden Gloves champ, decisioned Michael Benedosso of Fort Carson, Colo., to reach the final.
The USA championships serves as a World Championships qualifier for the open division men.
More than 450 boxers, including several from Hawai‘i, competed in the men’s and women’s open and junior divisions.
Three other Hawai‘i boxers lost in junior division finals:
Junior Male—101 lbs: Emilio Sanchez, Pacoima, Wash., stopped Jonathan Benitez, Waianae, RSC-3 (1:53)
Junior Female—125 lbs: Flora Yanes, Hawthorne, Calif., dec. Chazette Szu, Kihei, Maui, 9-3; 132 lbs: Asia Stevenson, Washington, D.C., dec. Alyssa Kane, Kapolei, 5-3