2
E-4 THE STATE JOURNAL Sun., Jan. 21, 1973 Young Lansing Glovers Talented By FRED STABLEY JR. State Journal Sports Writer Take five experienced and talented open class fighters, add a promising crop of novice and sub novice boxers, and what do you have? The ingredients of a mighty fine Golden Gloves boxing team. AND, THAT'S what veteran Lansing trainer Dave Shaw has in his 1973 Caravan Youth Center team. "We have one of the bigger teams that I can remember, and it could prove to be one of the more talented ones, also," Shaw said, watching his glov- ers train in their new facility at 515 Filley St. "I think the outstanding thing about this team is its youth," Shaw continued. "We do have some fine open fight- ers, but I can't remember when we've had as many good first-year boys." THE GOLDEN Gloves opens this Wednesday at the Civic Center (7:30 p.m.), while other fight nights are Jan. 31, Feb. 7 and Feb. 14. More than 30 fighters are signed up for the district show, although Shaw figures the Car- avan Club with come in with about 25 boys. Shaw is in his 14th year as Lansing's trainer, while assisting him for the sixth season is Roger Goed- dert. Three open class boxers are defending district champions, while one is a defending state champion. JESSE GALLEGOS, former Waverly High football and baseball standout currently at- tending Michigan State, is looking better than ever at 156 pounds. He'll be competing in the open division this year after claiming the novice state title at 147 pounds in 72. Jesse will be one of three Gallegos' fighting for Lansing this season. His brothers, Rob- ert (novice 139) and Rick (sub novice 139) are a pair of out- standing young fighters. Three-time state champion Cleo Franco returns in at- tempt to win his fourth crown. Franco, who won the novice 112 title in 1966, the open 112 in '67 and the open 118 in '68, will compete in the open 118-pound division. BOB PIKE, district champ the past two years at open 147 and open 139, will be gunning for a state championship this year at 139 pounds, while de- fending 156-pound district nov- ice winner, Mike Dennis, will be in the open division at 165 pounds. Many fight fans will remem- ber the classic battle between Dimondale's Rick Abel and Jackie Spruill of Battle Creek for the novice light-heavy- weight title in 1971. Well, Spruill, who lost the controver- sial decision, has moved to Lansing and will fight in the open 178-pound class for the Caravan Center. "He has a tremendous amount of natural ability, and it'll take a top-notch figher to beat him," Shaw said. ALSO FIGHTING in the open class will be Bud Holling- sworth (125), Bob Mosher (125), Larry Byrd (132) and Cardell Crampton (156). Shaw rates Dario Medrano, a novice 106-pounder, as one of the three most natural boxers he has ever worked with. "He's blessed with loads of talent, plus he's a hard worker," Shaw «aid. "He's quick and a hard-hitter, and I'd say he's the best of our young fighters." SHAW SAID that only Jesse Gallegos and Rudy Gurerro ever came to the Caravan Center as a beginner with as much talent. \ Jeff Messenger, brother of last year's novice 132-pound champ, Greg, is greatly im- proved and figures to be a con- tender this season at 147 pounds in the novice class. Carlos Hernandez (112), Tom Engel (156), Jack Fink (147), Jorge Asturias (112) and heavyweights Dan Ryan also rank as better-than-average novice fighters, according to Shaw. Other novice hopefuls for Lansing will be Ed Rodriguez (112), Cuy Hernandez (119), Rudy Escobar (119), Dan Vil- larreal (125), Bob Middaugh (125), Rick Gleason (147) and Larry Nixon (147). Top sub novice candidates are 125-pound Doug Speight, 132-pound Mike Finnerty, 139- pound Jesse Guillen, 156-pound Don Dennis (brother of Mike) and 132-pound Albert Gutier- r e z while Tony Villarreal (125), Wayne Wilcox (139) and Kirk Myers (139) also have looked sharp in early drills. Gallegos Brothers Ready for Action —State Journal Photo by JIM MARTINSEN Only our seivice is old-fashioned. ReàuiooàëRoss Redwoods Ross, 1 15 South Washington, Lansing 205 I'ast {¡rand River. Kast Lansing Defending state champion Jesse Gallegos (center) will be joined this year by his two brothers, Rick (left) and Robert on the 1973 Caravan Youth Center boxing team. The Golden Gloves district tournament gets underway Wednesday at the Civic Center. Jesse will fight at 156 pounds in the open class, Robert 139 in the novice and Rick 139 in sub novice.
