Sports
Nuncio Advances to Golden Gloves Semifinals
Raul Nuncio wins via decision in the highlight bout of boxing card.
waited patiently to get in the ring Friday night, and fought with similar composure in earning a spot in the semifinals of boxing's most prestigious amateur tournament.
While Friday night's Golden Gloves tournament at showcased a diverse array of bouts in the 165 Men's Open, 141 Women's, and Heavyweight Open divisions, most had come to see hometown fighter Nuncio in his quarterfinal bout.
Faced with an awkward counter-puncher, Nuncio picked his skirmishes and pressed the action all three rounds, working behind an authoritative right jab and an accurate straight left. After two close rounds, Nuncio separated himself in the third, landing a series of combinations to close out the bout.
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After the final bell rang, as the crowd waited anxiously for the judges decision, Nuncio was all smiles, full of confidence in his performance. He said later, "A lot of my opponent's flashy potshots weren't landing, I slipped most of the right hands."
His confidence proved appropriate, as Nuncio was awarded a well-earned decision victory in Friday night's quarterfinals bout, and will advance to the semi-finals of the tournament.
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"My trainer, Eddie O'Boyle, said it was a close fight and that it could've went either way," Nuncio said. "I thought I won every round. The focus now will be to sharpen my skills up for the rest of the tournament."
O'Boyle touched on the fact that it was still only Nuncio's second fight in a year: "I thought it was a tough fight to get the rest of the rust off," he said. "We've got four guys left in the tournament, and now that we've got two weeks, we'll get more sharp, and work on better balance. At this level, it always comes down to the skill, which we have."
Nuncio's camp was notified on Monday that his next bout in the semi-finals will be March 23 at the K2 Boxing Club on 136-17 39th Avenue in Flushing, Queens.
In attendance for Friday night's bouts were Mayor Ralph Suozzi, Councilman Jiminez, Finley Middle School principal Anael Alston, and last year's contender for NYS Assemblyman and Iraq war veteran, Robert Germino, among others.
Friday night's bouts attracted a huge turnout. For boxing fans itching to see more live action, Glen Cove Boxing Club president Frank Pena said the city is actively pursuing a free amateur boxing show as part of .
