USA Boxing Announces 2020 National Championships Outstanding Boxers Honors
by Brian Taylor, USA Boxing
USA Boxing announced today the six boxers awarded the “Outstanding Boxer” honors for the 2020 USA Boxing National Championships in Shreveport, La.
Elite Division
Female: Amy Minter, Rocklin, Calif.
Minter went 4-0 in Shreveport to win her first USA Boxing national title in the women’s elite lightweight (60 kg/132 lbs.) division. The Rocklin, Calif. native defeated Heather Cirka in the first round by split decision to advance to a quarterfinal matchup between the tournament’s top-seed Jaleeci Dominguez, where she took all five judges’ cards in her victory. Minter took split decision victories over Karla Hall in the semifinals and again against number two seed Neida Ibarra in the finals to become national champion.
Male: Omari Jones, Orlando, Fla.
In his first elite tournament, Jones went 6-0 to take the elite men’s welterweight title. His impressive tournament run included an RSC victory over Efrain Loredo, split decision win over Jessie Fletcher, and unanimous decision victories against Jarias Lott and Steven Cunningham, before defeating the number two-seed Ramon Acosta by 5-0 in the semifinals. Jones faced the top-seeded Angel Perez in the finals and pulled out a split decision win to take the championship.
Youth
Female: Jewry Rodriguez, Humble, Texas
Rodriguez entered these championships as the third seed, in one of the most impressive youth female brackets of the whole tournament. Her tournament run included three wins by split decision to take the youth women’s 125-pound title. Rodriguez faced Alisha Ricks in the opening round, and number two seed Alyssa Mendoza in the semifinals, before topping the brackets top-seeded boxer, Yoseline Perez, to end the tournament 3-0 and earning a place on USA Boxing’s Youth High Performance team.
Male: Abdullah Mason, Henderson, Nev.
2019 Junior National Champion Abdullah Mason made a strong youth debut in Shreveport to take the 141-pound title. Mason stopped all three of his first opponents before taking all five judges’ cards over fellow 2019 Junior National Champion and tournament third seed Bobbie Pettigrew to set up one of the most highly anticipated matchups of the tournament against defending champion Joel Iriarte in the finals. Mason did not let the pressure or experience of Iriarte get to him, as he took the unanimous decision win to take the championship.
Junior
Female: Stephanie Martinez, Monroe, N.Y.
119-pounder Stephanie Martinez put on a dominating performance to win her first national title and become a first-time member of USA Boxing’s High Performance team. Martinez won her first two fights by RSC over Yasmine Lopez and Ayhnae Harte, respectively, before taking a unanimous decision win against Dannia Armwood in the championship bout.
Male: Cornellio Phipps, Oxford, Pa.
Phipps entered the tournament as the 2019 light bantamweight Junior National Champion looking to take his second Junior National crown, but this time in the bantamweight division, and did so in dominating fashion. The Oxford, Pa. native won three out of his four bouts by unanimous decision, including a semifinal win over the fourth seed Richard Dodson in the semifinals. The rising star closed out his tournament run with a split decision victory over seven seed Jeremiah Jimason to hold his place on USA Boxing’s High Performance team and take his second junior national championship crown.
Photo: HoveyFilms