Hunter wins Golden Gloves title, wraps up berth in Olympic trials
Michael Hunter of Las Vegas won the national Golden Gloves championship at 201 pounds Saturday in Indianapolis, earning an automatic berth to the Olympic trials for the 2012 London Games.
Hunter defeated Chicago's Robert Jekobson by a 5-0 decision, sending him to the trials in late July at a site to be determined.
"This is big," said Hunter, who was given the Golden Boy Award, which goes to the tournament's best boxer. "To win a national title was real important to me."
The victory started Hunter down a new path to a possible Olympic berth. Four years ago as a heavyweight, he was defeated in the Olympics box-offs and failed to make the team for Beijing.
"I wanted this real bad," Hunter said. "That disappointment of missing the Olympics (in 2008) has been motivating me the entire time."
Hunter was one of two Nevada fighters to win gold. Santos Vasquez of Reno captured the 108-pound title, defeating Oscar Mojica of Texas, 5-0.
Hunter, who lives and trains in Colorado Springs, Colo., qualified for nationals through the Colorado-New Mexico regional instead of Nevada. Training at high altitude helped him get in shape to make the 201-pound limit.
"I think I'm back in my real weight class," he said. "I'm punching harder, and I'm having no problem making weight. I'll stay right here (at 201)."
A visit to Freddie Roach's Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles two weeks ago helped sharpen his skills for the Golden Gloves. Hunter went 5-0 in Indianapolis, with his first four wins coming by RSC (referee stops contest).
"That helped me a lot," Hunter said. "I didn't work with Freddie Roach directly, but his guys helped me with my jab, and being around those guys, you can only get better."
With his spot in the Olympic trials secured, Hunter said he'll compete in next month's USA Boxing Championships in Colorado Springs.
"I need the competition and the work," he said. "I'm going right back in the gym."
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.
