By David Hughes
TERRE HAUTE — Thursday night was a happy time for Tucker Ray, Tony Myles and Franky Johnson.
Representing the Terre Haute Boxing Club, the youths left Indianapolis’ Tyndall Armory with trophies symbolizing the championships they had just won in the Indiana Golden Gloves amateur tournament.
Ray, 12-year-old son of former World Boxing Federation cruiserweight champion Terry Ray, outpointed Linsie Wright of Gary 3-2 over three rounds to win the 110-pound class of the Junior Division.
“I knew Tucker was going into this tournament having already fought some tough kids,” Terry Ray said. “He’s got some natural skills, but I wanted to get him in good shape this last month. I think that’s what won the fight for him. He backed the other kid up and he was able to hit him with more solid punches. I’m real proud of him.”
“Tucker fought real well,” said his other coach, Billy Reese. “He put his punches together, he moved well and he outclassed him. He fought a real good fight. He stuck to his gameplan.”
Myles, 16, outlasted Natlantis Rowell of the Indy PAL 3-2 to claim the 145-pound title in the Senior Division.
“That was a real tough fight,” Reese emphasized. “Tony really gutted it out. The pressure was on him and he didn’t quit.”
In addition to the trophy, Myles received an Indiana Golden Gloves jacket for his effort.
Johnson, 13, was unopposed in winning the 138-pound class of the Intermediate Division.
The other THBC representative Thursday was 13-year-old Mikey Weir, who lost to Chris Duff of Gary when the referee stopped the title contest in the second round in the Intermediate Division’s 85-pound class.
Representing the Terre Haute Boxing Club next Thursday will be Will Jones, Pierre Smith, Chris Newman, Ricky Crosby, Kevin Huey and Cameron
Salyers.
In other Indiana Golden Gloves news from Thursday, Raymond Lucies of Frankfort put himself one victory away from a second consecutive Open Division 165-pound championship after he scored a 3-2 victory over Kevin Hoover of Indiana South. Lucies will move into the title bout April 19.
David Bonds of Muncie will be Lucies’ opponent in the championship match, thanks to his 5-0 victory over Tony Malone of Sarge Johnson.
Lee Roy Tu’Qul of the Badd Boyz Club lost a shot at defending his Open Division 125-pound crown without ever throwing a punch. Tu’Qul weighed in too heavy before the fight, so the victory went to David Velasquez of L.T. Warriors.
Thursday’s results
Open
125 — David Velasquez (L.T. Warriors) defeated Lee Roy Tu’Qul (Badd Boyz Club) by walkover.
165 — Raymond Lucies (Frankfort) dec. Kevin Hoover (Indy South) 3-2; David Bond (Muncie) dec. Tony Malone (Sarge Johnson) 5-0.
Championship bouts
Junior
100 — Anthony Sims (Sarge Johnson) dec. Clarence McKenney (Indy PAL) 5-0.
110 — Tucker Ray (Terre Haute Boxing Club) dec. Linsie Wright (Gary) 3-2.
Intermediate
80 — Joshua Holliday (Crumes) dec. Alonzo Calloway (Indy PAL) 3-2.
85 — Chris Duff (Gary) defeated Mikey Weir (Terre Haute Boxing Club), referee stopped contest, 1:00, round 2.
101— Austin Winger (Lafayette) dec. Brian Strickland (unattached) 3-2.
114 — William Wilson (Ced’s) dec. Danny DeLeon (Crumes) 3-2.
119 — Curtis Hill (Sarge Johnson) defeated Courtney Ellis (Gary) referee stopped contest, :42, round 2.
138 — Franky Johnson (Terre Haute Boxing Club) was unopposed and awarded championship.
145 — Jordan Robinson (Indy South) dec. Rick Cruz (unattached) 3-2.
176 — Michael Stillabower (Columbus) defeated Tyrone Haynes (Indy PAL), referee stopped contest, 1:50, round 2.
Senior
119 — Jordan Williams (Southpaw) defeated Ryan Strickland (unattached) by walkover.
125 — Steven Perry (Crumes) dec. Eric Santana (Columbus) 5-0.
132 — Josh Adams (Rockem Sockem) dec. Sean Bailey (Gary) 4-1.
138 — Diego Garibey (Frankfort) defeated Luis Rangel (Broad Ripple), referee stopped contest, :50, round 2.
145 — Tony Myles (Terre Haute Boxing Club) dec. Natlantis Rowell (Indy PAL) 3-2.
154 — Milton Peggs (Gary) dec. Jaquan Fordrem (Gary) 4-1.
176 — Wynten Ellis defeated Anthony Murdock (Rockem Sockem), referee stopped contest, :44, round 1.
189 — Keith Ousley (Southpaw) defeated Malcolm Tracy (Legends) by walkover.
Super heavyweight — Tim Motlen (Legends) dec. Austin Black (Sarge Johnson) 5-0.
