FORT WORTH – Much of the first day of the Fort Worth Regional Golden Gloves Tournament was spent perturbed over who wasn’t there.
For the first time in the 83-year history of the tournament, the local daily is skipping it.
That’s what happens when you put interlopers in charge.
The parent company of the Star-Telegram can dole out millions in salary and bonuses, plus a $35,000-per-month housing stipend, for its CEO, but the paper can’t get a reporter to Will Rogers Memorial Center, a mere two miles west of downtown.
That works for PressBox DFW. As this year’s media sponsor, we are more than pleased to fill the void at one of the city’s most treasured events since 1936, the likes of Dutch Meyer, E.S Farrington, Flem Hall and Sully Montgomery, not to mention the Star-Telegram, were behind its founding all those years ago.
Some of those first boxers hitchhiked more than 200 miles to get to the first tournament that began a glorious tradition and history.
The real story on Tuesday night was who was there.
A certain name on the fight card sure looked awfully familiar.
Couldn’t be, could it?
Sure enough it was indeed Desmon White, the former TCU wide receiver from DeSoto, walking into the ring at the Watt Arena, poised to feed the new hobby he took up in June.
In his first amateur bout, the 23-year-old White scored a victory over Levesque Jherion in a 141-pound Novice Division decision, displaying a strong right overhand and the same quickness that made him a valuable option for quarterback Kenny Hill in 2016 and ’17.
“Yeah … that’s me,” he said afterward smiling. “I like to compete. It’s just in me. I was done playing football … I figured why not go into boxing and compete.”
White isn’t the only former TCU football player at the tournament.
Aaron Curry, a former defensive tackle from Keller Fossil Ridge, is fighting in the 201-plus division. He will make his tournament debut on Wednesday in the semifinals against Dustin Apodaca.
That both former Horned Frogs found themselves at Hope, Faith and Gloves gym was purely coincidental. They each made their own ways there, White said. Curry has about a year’s head start on White as a student of the sweet science.
“I’ve been a fan of boxing my whole life,” White said. “I always watched Roy Jones, Floyd [Mayweather]. So, I decided … why not box myself?”
White was a lightly recruited, but highly talented quarterback from DeSoto. As a senior in 2013, he was selected the AP Texas Class 5A player of the year and honorable mention Parade All-American after passing for more than 2,800 yards and almost 2,000 yards rushing and 43 combined touchdowns.
Yet, recruited as an athlete, only TCU and North Texas offered him a scholarship.
Recruiters were turned off by his size. At TCU, he was listed at 5-foot-7, 160 pounds.
On Tuesday, he weighed in at 138 pounds.
“It was tougher than I expected,” White said of his boxing debut. “When I spar, I usually go two minutes, four rounds. It was great work.
“I’m going to get better.”
White hasn’t left his old life behind. In fact, the game is his future.
He is on the staff of head football coach Todd Peterman, his former coach at DeSoto, at Brewer High School in White Settlement. White, presently working with the Bears track team, will coach the receivers.
White is working in security at the school while he works toward his teaching certification.
White fights again on Wednesday, squaring off with Frank McCray in the semifinals of the 141. Bryan Rios and Keinon Douglas are set for the other side of the bracket.
“The training is tough,” White said of this sweet science. “Constantly running miles every day, sit-ups every day … getting your form right. It takes time, but it’s coming along really well.”
White’s tentative plan is to kindly request a move up to the Open Division next year, the top competitive level here. Regional fighters each year vie to represent Fort Worth at the state tournament, which this year will take place next week.
“I’ll go home, get some rest and get ready for” Wednesday.
PressBox DFW will be there, too.
Bouts begin at 7 p.m.
TUESDAY’S RESULTS
Bantam open
75 pounds: Isaiah Blanco d. Prince Nimo, decision.
Junior novice
80 pounds: Elizjah Henderson vs. Jose Ortiz, scratch; Jaylon Rodriguez vs. Christian Giron, scratch.
Junior open
85 pounds: Ezekiel Mares d. Mesiah Nimo, dec.
Intermediate novice
90 pounds: Donavyn Walton vs. Carlos Rojas, scratch; Kevin Segovia d. Abdallah Mohammed, dec. (Segovia champion).
132 pounds: Francisco Ramirez d. Joseph Maldonado, RSF (referee stopped fight).
Men’s novice
132 pounds: Jonathan Heckart d. Jacquez Polk, dec.; Dearon Bursey vs. Ivan Fraire, dec. Isaac Mateo d. Alex Castenda, dec.; Brandon Martinez d. Joseph Dahquist-Baur, dec.
141 pounds: Desmon White d. Levesque Jherion, dec.; Bryan Rios d. Trenton Johnson, dec.
165 pounds: Edward Tanguma d. Bryce Gentry, RSF, third round; Levi Stevens d. Vahan Lee, RSF, second round; John Santos d. Tristian Mullin, RSF, third round.
201 pounds: Christopher Todaro d. Colin Jones, RSF.
Men’s open
141 pounds quarterfinals: Brandon Despain d. Nathan Vincent, dec.; Gabriel Aguilar d. Christian Raney, disqualification (mouthpiece).
152 pounds first round: Adam Salgado d. Christopher Morris, dec.
201 pounds semifinals: Justin Prince d. Rodrique Ibanda, RSF, second round;
WEDNESDAY’S BOUTS
Intermediate novice (13-14)
154 pounds: Angel Jaquez vs. Adolfo Nava.
Senior novice (15-16)
106 pounds: Jesus Rojas vs. Devin Young.
114 pounds: Daniel Perez vs. Adrian Barrera.
132 pounds: Gabriel Gonzales vs. Jeewlian Martinez.
Bantam female novice (9-10)
80 pounds: Sindy Segovia vs. Elianna Nunez.
Men’s novice
132 pounds semifinals: Jonathan Heckart vs. Dearon Bursey; Isacc Mateo vs. Brandon Martinez.
141 pounds semifinals: Frank McCray vs. Desmon White; Bryan Rios vs. Keinon Douglas.
152 pounds first round: James Sheriff vs. Isaiah Hannie; James Moss vs. Jose Alvarez; Dakendrick Wallace vs. Brandon Martinez; Mathew Gray vs. Luis Pastrana; Trystan Hulsey vs. Adam Luck; James Henderson vs. Rinaldo Hardeman; Jose Guzman vs. Jama Mberwa.
178 pounds quarterfinals: Anthony Hernandez vs. Taylor Kervaugh; Rogers Braxton vs. Nestor Frayre.
201-plus pounds semifinals: Aaron Curry vs. Dustin Apodaca; Cyril Ogbeide vs. Joseph Bokor.
Men’s open
123 pounds quarterfinals: Christopher Martinez vs. Jmaure Booth.
141 pounds semifinals: Hector Cruz vs. Brandon Despain; Gabriel Aguilar vs. Jarmonte Barnes.
152 pounds quarterfinals: Benjamin Gurment vs. Juan Gomez; Edgar Hernandez vs. Abass Fofanahm; Levi Pena vs. Adam Salgado; Tyree Murphy vs. Emmanuel Tennison.
