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2007 Air Force Boxing Championships

  • Published
  • By Raymond V. Whelan
  • 37th Training Wing Public Affairs Office
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  A feisty group of Airmen battled during the 2007 Air Force Boxing Championships hosted by Lackland Air Force Base's 37th Services Division during President's Day weekend at the Bennett Fitness Center.

Services held the preliminary competition on Feb. 23, and the championship fights on Feb. 24. 

Thirteen Air Force fighters fought to win their bouts in the "Box-Offs" and prepare for the U.S. Armed Forces Boxing Championships set for March 6-9 at Lackland AFB. 

Also on Feb. 24, Chief Master Sgt. Rodney Ellison Sr., Air Education and Training Command command chief, entered the ring, hugged his son Rodney Jr. and presented him with the gold medal for the light heavyweight class (178 pounds). The younger Ellison represented Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyo., and he won gold after he defeated Gerald Lamour from RAF Lakenheath, England.

Other Air Force Box-Offs gold medal winners included Matthew McCoy, Lackland AFB, Texas, who bested Pete Villarreal, Air Force News Agency, San Antonio in the lightweight class (141 pounds) category. Rosey Summerville, Shaw AFB, S.C., who beat Eugene Marquez, RAF Mildenhall, England, in the lightweight (132 pounds) class. Andrew Penn, Ellsworth, AFB, S.D., retired Thomas Jacobs, Robins AFB, Ga., in the welterweight (152 pounds) category. Ray Sandoval, Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal, defeated civilian Steve Moreno from Lackland Boxing Club in the Super Heavyweight (201-pounds-and-up) division.

The most emotional moment of the Box-Offs occurred on Friday during intermission, when Air Force Boxing head coach, Edward Rivas presented Mark Lewis with a gift pair of boxing gloves autographed by the Air Force fighters.

Lewis has been battling cancer for several months. Months before the technical sergeant starting fighting the disease, he did much to help Services produce Air Force boxing programs.

"We would like to thank him for all of his hard work and dedication," Rivas told a cheering audience.