 David Benitez (ARG) & Samario Miranda (ECU)
The AMBC's Youth Continental Championships continued with its second competition day in Portoviejo in Ecuador where the winners advanced to the finals. The Puerto Rican youth boxers made a great show of it in the semi-finals and each of their three youngsters secured places in the gold medal contest.
Puerto Rico's best Light Flyweight boxer is Jantony Ortiz who was a quarter-finalist in the London 2012 Olympics so due to his age of 18 he should have been able to compete in Portoviejo as well, but since the period after the games he has yet to restart training so his participation was not possible. However on the flip side of the coin Puerto Rico had another youth star, Orlando Gonzalez who eliminated Dominican Republic's 17-year-old Victor Santillan by 31:18 in the semi-final.
Dominican Republic's current Pan American Junior Champion 17-year-old Sparkinson Almonte who competed in an international event in Portoviejo two years ago continued the winning path in the Ecuadorian city where he triumphed over Argentina's newcomer Elias Gonzalez by 23:10 at the Bantamweight division (56kg).
Joedison Teixeira, South American Elite Champion 18-year-old and Brazil's actual best youth boxer, had a great fight against Dominican Republic's new sensation Pan American Junior Champion Huascar Ramirez. The Brazilian Lightweight (60kg) boxer made a better last round of it than his opponent and won the contest by narrow 19:15.
Wilson Villacis, Ecuador's Golden Belt Junior Tournament winner, secured another victory for the host nation and advanced to the final of the Lightweight class (60kg). The 17-year-old talented boxer eliminated Argentina's Eduardo Coria by larger margin of points and reached his career highlight in Portoviejo.
Dominican Republic's current Youth National Champion Carlos Adames and Brazil's Pan American Junior Championships silver medallist Jonathan Soares made a great battle for the final. The Brazilian Light Welterweight (64kg) boxer competed at the South American Championships among the elite fighters but in despite of his experience he was defeated by the Dominican athlete by a close 22:21.
Francisco Vargas, Puerto Rico's teenage spearhead 18-year-old, was involved with the national elite squad at the beginning of the current year and he fought out the quota for the London 2012 Olympics at the AIBA American Olympic Qualifiers in Rio de Janeiro where he secured a valuable silver medal and only AIBA World Champion Roniel Iglesias Sotolongo was able to beat him. As expected he advanced to the final in Portoviejo where he triumphed over Ecuador's Golden Belt Junior Tournament winner Jose Benette.
Nestor Rivera, Puerto Rico's Cheo Aponte Tournament bronze medallist, had a quick battle against Dominican Republic's Jefferson Terrero in their Middleweight (75kg) semi-final which was stopped by the referee during the first round. Argentina's first victory in the AMBC's Youth Continental Championships was acquired by David Benitez who eliminated Ecuador's Samario Miranda by 23:9. The Argentinian boxer will now meet Nestor Rivera in the gold medal contest.
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