80.0°,
A Few Clouds Fisticuffs in the Five Towns
Fifth annual LI amateur boxing championships
Despite the cool air in the gymnasium of the Five Towns Community Center there was heat coming from the boxing ring as the fifth annual Long Island Amateur Boxing Championships were held in Lawrence from Aug. 18 to 21.
Organized by West Hempstead resident Michael Carryl, a former boxer, the yearly tournament is a showcase for established fighters and newcomers to boxing.
The 44-year-old former Golden Gloves boxer, who twice made it to the quarterfinals of that competition in 1989 and 1995, created the Long Island Amateur Boxing and Charities in 2006 to bring the combat sport to West Hempstead teenagers.
"The idea is expose them to Olympic-style boxing," said Carryl, who noted that the American system of boxing seeks to turn out professionals, while ignoring international competition.
"The reason the U.S. doesn't win gold medals is the kids are not prepared right," he added. "We expose to them to international rules and establish a relationship that helps these amateur boxers."
Carryl, who in spite of the many demands made of him as an organizer, he kept a cool demeanor throughout the night — a trick likely mastered during his years of competitive boxing. His organization also espouses doing well in school — Carryl has a master's degree in exercise physiology — and healthy eating.
As part of establishing an international relationship winners of this tournament will travel to the Dominican Republic in the fall to compete against a combined team from the Puerto Rican and Dominican federations. Domingo Solano, president of the Dominican Republic Federation and vice president of the International Boxing Federation, attended the competition.
Closer to home, Herve Duroseau, 27, a boxer in the 165-pound open class representing the Freeport PAL and a 2009 tournament champion, who took up boxing five years ago, said he enjoys the "sweet science" for the competition, exercise and keeping his brain sharp.
"That is the hardest part of the amateur game preparing for your opponent," said Duroseau, a Town of Hempstead sanitation worker. a couple hours before his bout. "It's good exercise and to have fun that's what it is."
