Semi-Finals Update 2008 National PAL Tournament

What a night, What a night!!!!!

Jamal James started it off again for the Circle PAL Amateur Boxing team competing against Donte Strayhorn in the Open 141 lbs division. Jamal boxed Donte earlier this year at the Platinum Gloves in Orlando, FL and beat him, so this was a rematch for Donte. Jamal looked beautiful all three rounds, throwing combinations and jabs at Donte all three rounds. At one point Jamal sat down and let loose a combination that stopped Donte in his tracks. Donte was doing his best to stay in the bout trying to come through Jamal’s combinations and putting the heat on Jamal by moving forward, which didn’t work at all for him. Donte ended up getting an eight count in the first round from Jamal walking straight into a beautiful combination Jamal threw. Jamal won the bout with a 5 – 0 decision and advanced to the finals this evening.

Javontae Starks ended the evening for the Circle PAL Amateur Boxing team competing against a hometown boxer from Oxnard, CA, Abraham Lopez in the Open 152 lbs division. So you already know the crowd was thick for Abraham. However that didn’t phase Javontae at all. He started the bout off throwing jabs and landing every single one. In the second round Javontae’s coach, Sankara Frazier, told Javontae turn the heat up on the body shots and get in close. What a round that was!! Javontae was landing damaging body shots to Abraham. I was surprised that Abraham could continue after the second round. The third round Javontae came out utilizing his jab again keeping Abraham at a distance for the first part of the round and ending the round working in close again with awesome body punches and uppercuts. Javonte won the bout with a 5 – 0 decision and advanced to the finals this evening.

We are now down to one ring, so I will be free to watch both Championship bouts. I forgot to grab the bout sheet this morning at weigh-ins to let everyone know who their opponents are this evening. I know Javontae will be competing against a boxer from Texas and Jamal is competing against a boxer from California. I will be sure to have the correct information of their opponents and the outcome of the championship bouts for the last update, so stay tuned.

Oh yeah, don’t forget to continue to send that positive energy, thoughts and prayers their way for this evening competition .