By Gary Curreri
In one short year, Dangelo Fuentes is making quite a name for himself in the boxing ring.
Fuentes, 15, who lives in Delray Beach and is a freshman at Olympic Heights High School in Boca Raton, said he took up the sport to stay out of trouble and he has racked up seven wins in seven bouts and recently captured the 125-lb., 15-16 Novice Division at the Ringside World Tournament at the Independence Events Center in Independence, MO.
“I’m very glad,” said Fuentes, who turned to boxing after a stint with the Pompano Tigers youth football program. Fuentes defeated Daniel Fulton (Missouri) by unanimous decision to take the title. “It is amazing. I never thought that I would win the world championship in just one year. I have great people around me with Coach Steve (Collazo) and boxers like Jordon (Murphy).”
Fellow Deerfield Beach Broward Sheriff’s Office PAL boxer Jordon Murphy, 14, also captured the 90-lb., 13-14 Open Division championship in the international tournament that featured more than 1,700 participants from 15 different countries. The completion included six rings, seven sessions and over 1,000 bouts.
Murphy’s win came just six months after winning the National Silver Gloves Tournament, also held in Missouri. It marked the second consecutive Ringside World Tournament title for the Deerfield Beach teenager. He won last year in the 85-lb. Division.
“It was cool winning it two years in a row,” said Murphy, a freshman at Monarch High School in Coconut Creek. “There was a lot of pressure on me to win it this year because I had won last year too.”
Murphy won by unanimous decision over Jeremy Adorno (Pennsylvania) in the championship bout. He moved up a weight class this year and won all of his fights by unanimous decisions.
“I focused on my training and what my coaches told me,” Murphy said. “It was more difficult this year than it was last year. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be. This will help me with my confidence going into my future fights.”
All PAL programs are free of charge. All participants must be currently in a school or home schooled. For more
information, contact BSO Deputy Butch Santy at 954-778-0174.
P I C K L E – BALL SLATED FOR SATURDAY
The City of Pompano Beach Parks and Recreation Dept. invites you to take part in a lively racket game for all ages and abilities called Pickle-ball! The Pickle-ball showcase will be held at the newly constructed Pickle-ball courts at Community Park next to the basketball courts on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 4 to 6 p.m. A demonstration will be given so everyone can learn how to play this fast growing sport.
Pickle-ball is a net game that incorporates tennis, badminton, ping pong and racquetball. It is played on a badminton-sized court with special Pickle-ball paddles, made of wood or high-tech aerospace materials. The ball used is similar to a whiffle ball, but slightly smaller.
The lower net and whiffle ball allow the game to be accessible to people of all ages and abilities, while still allowing more competitive players to test their skills. It was designed to be easy to learn and play whether you’re five, 85 or somewhere in between. It is a fun sport that has picked up a lot of popularity in recent years.
For more information call 954-786-4119.
DEERFIELD BEACH GIRL WINS NATIONAL TITLE
Florida juniors won three singles titles and five doubles championships at United States Tennis Association (USTA) Clay Court National tournaments played across the country recently in the 12 through 18 age groups.
Among the winners was Deerfield Beach’s Taylor Russo, who teamed with Miami’s Adriana Reami to capture the Girls’ 16s doubles title in Virginia Beach, VA. The unseeded pair upset the Californian No. 2 seeds Katie Chang and Claire Liu 6-4, 6-4 in the final.
