Dickinson shows he’s the Maine man
Lewiston boxer earns decision in a 147-pound semifinal
LOWELL >> Hunter Dickinson refused to take the bait.
A Lewiston, Maine native and Northern New England champ, Dickinson defeated Milford’s Jonathan Delgado by split decision in the 147-pound male novice semifinal at the 76th annual New England Golden Gloves at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium.
“It feels great,” said Dickinson, who ensured his spot in the finals. “I can’t wait till next week.”
Presented by Lowell Sun Charities, the nine-week boxing tourney shifted into week seven with 11 bouts in the All-new England open and novice quarterfinals.
Utilizing an open stance and dropping his left guard, Delgado almost seemed to dare Dickinson to make his approach before firing a big right in the first round.
“He wanted me to come in and counter with that overhand right,” said Dickinson. “He hit me a couple of times with it, but I caught on.”
Learning from his mistakes, Dickinson made up for lost ground over the next two rounds. The 6-foot, 147-pound righty caught a secondround wind with a dizzying combination that left Delgado back-peddling. He followed with a potent left hook that rocked the Punishment Striking Systems fighter.
“I think I caught him there,” said Dickinson, who has been boxing the past eight months. “I wanted to keep moving him backwards. Keep him on his bike and that was it.”
A strong flurry in the third round kept Delgado on the defensive, as Dickinson walked away with the win.
“This means a lot to me,” said Dickinson, a Bath Iron Works worker. “I’m excited. I can’t wait for next week. Hopefully I can bring home the Golden Gloves championship.”
According to Joseph, the biggest asset in this tourney is experience.
“The only way to get better under pressure is by being under pressure,” said Joseph, 28. “I felt by being here I got that much better. Now I know what works for me going into the finals.”
In earlier action, Portland, Maine’s Xavier Diaz (125) defeated New Haven, Conn.’s Pedro D Luna Sanchez by unanimous decision in a male novice tilt.
Diaz threw several stingers in the second, including a pair of roundhouse rights that caught his opponent flush. Sanchez bounced back with a quick flurry, scoring the first standing eight of the night, but to no avail.
Southern New England champ Kevin Mojica (156) earned a split decision over Ryan Antonovich in the male novice battle. Western New England champ Carlos Lopez (165) also earned the first unanimous decision in the bracket, ousting Ashland’s Christopher Rivera.
In the male open division, Worcester’s Keno Luna earned a unanimous decision over Michael Didino.
Anthony Rodriguez (165) also earned a unanimous decision over Giovanni Daley.
“This feels amazing,” said Rodriguez, 19. “I was here last year, but fell short in the finals. I was going against a good opponent, but I stuck to the game plan, listened to my coaches and won.”
A 6-foot-1 electrician, Rodriguez peppered Daley, scoring a standing eight in the second round, giving him all the momentum.
“I stuck the jab out there baiting him,” said Rodriguez, 19. “I knew if we countered off that jab, we could catch him.”
According to Daley, it was all a matter of timing.
“I didn’t catch my rhythm and he caught me with some shots,” said Daley, a driver for AAA. “I was chasing him, but thought it should have been split, but it happens.”
A Methuen native and three-time Golden Glove veteran, Daley took it all in stride.
“This is regular to me now,” said Daley, 25. “It’s like sparring. I don’t feel the pressure anymore.”