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Teen boxer is 2010 National Silver
Glove February 18, 2010 LACEY &emdash; Teenager Bobby McCarthy is basking in his recent boxing win which earned him the title of 2010 National Silver Glove Super Heavyweight Champion. Team Gladiator's Bobby "The Bull" McCarthy, 16, defeated four-time national champion Billy Rice of Ohio in his quarterfinal bout by decision. He then met last year's runner up, Moses Rivera of Florida, in the semifinals and beat him by decision too. The tournament ran from Feb. 3 to Feb. 6. On Feb. 6, the teen stopped Deonte Lezine from Wisconsin in the third round of the championship bout to win the coveted national belt and title, his trainer Shawn Darling, owner and operator of Forked River's Gladiator Gym said. The 6-feet, 2-inch tall, 240-pound teenager is a sophomore at Lacey High School and started boxing three years ago. Darling said McCarthy qualified last year for the National Silver Glove tournament by winning a regional tournament, but was unable to raise the money to get out to Independence Missouri. "Thanks to generous donations during a Jan. 29 fundraiser held at Gladiator Gym, Bobby was able to "represent the state and bring home the national title this year," Darling said. McCarthy is now the top ranked 16-year-old super heavyweight in the country. He competed in the National Junior Olympic Tournament last June in Colorado and finished with the bronze. The young boxer said he would like to either make the 2012 US Olympic team or turn professional by his senior year. "I'd like to thank everyone who came out to the fundraiser. I couldn't have done it without your generous contributions. I would like to thank my coach, Shawn Darling, for taking a week off of work and driving me half way across the county," McCarthy said. "We had 12 boxers, seven coaches and about 10 other people from New Jersey out there. We all drove out together on a charter bus and were like a big family. We all helped and supported each other," Bobby said. "I have two more Junior Olympic tournaments in May and June that I am looking forward to and moving into the mens division this fall. I can't wait to start competing in Olympic trial qualifing tournaments and to try to make it to the 2012 London Olympics." McCarthy said he got his inspiration to start boxing from actor Sylvester Stallone. "I lived in Brooklyn before moving here four years ago. I didn't have a lot of friends when I got here and one day I was watching the film "Rocky" on TNT and my mom later let me know about Gladiator Boxing. I got very excited," the teen boxer said. He said he doesn't talk much about his hobby at school, but did say those who know about it supported his efforts to win the title earlier this month. Darling said McCarthy also is hoping to fight in the National PAL competition this October in San Antonio Texas because it is the first qualifying tournament for the Olympic trials. He now has his sights set on the National Junior Olympic Tournament in June at Camp Lejeune, NC. "Then we will focus on the qualifying tournaments for the 2012 Olympics," Darling said. |