On night billed as "Celt Fight Night,'' 15 amateur bouts, including a featured a rematch between Shane Mosley Jr. and Thelsey Fuller, were staged to the fans' delight.
When the nearly four hour extravaganza on June 13 at Pierce Junior College in Woodland Hills, California, concluded, there were numerous high moments, as the card brought out boxing fans and a few world champions like "Sugar'' Shane Mosley, James "Lights Out'' Toney and Antonio Tarver.
After suffering a tough loss to Fuller in an earlier meeting, Mosley Jr., who weighed in at 153 pounds, wanted to set the record straight, and so did his father.
"I'm here to support and watch my son,'' the elder Mosley (44-5-0 and 37 knockouts) said before the main event. "I'm his father, and of course I'm partial, but I thought my son won. But he didn't get the decision."
Mosley, the only man to have beaten Oscar De La Hoya twice, added: "This is a great show. It's so much fun to watch these young men and women. This right here is where champions are made like Oscar, Fernando [Vargas] and myself."
All the bouts consisted of three rounds and lasted two minutes. The participants attend Crespi, Burbank, Crenshaw, Duke Ellington and Elsinore High Schools, and Emerson Middle School.
The main event started slowly but picked up steam about a minute into the round when Fuller, who entered the ring at 148 pounds and sported a knee wrap, floored Mosley Jr. with a short left hand.
Mosley Jr. rebounded to win the first half of the second round, but Fuller came on strong during the second half of the round.
Fuller knew he was taking somewhat of a risk accepting the challenge with an unsound knee, as the fight was stopped 23 seconds into the final round. "It was my knee,'' he said afterward. "I couldn't fight anymore."
Mosley Jr., who was given the Best Boxer Award, was pleased with the outcome. "It was really important for me to win this fight,'' he said. "I felt that I won the first fight, but I didn't get the decision. This time I won."
When asked if there is an added burden being Mosley's son, he said there is. "I feel a little pressure,'' he admitted.
Toney, Mosley and Tarver were introduced to the appreciative crowd early on, and they addressed the cheering throng.
"It's a great opportunity for these kids,'' said Toney, who resides in Southern California and helps the Crespi Boxing Club anyway he can. "It's a great thing for boxing."
An accomplished ring master, Toney (70-6-3 with 43 KO's) has defeated among others Evander Holyfield, John Ruiz, Iran Barkley, Hasim Rahman and Michael Nunn during his distinguished career.
Toney is scheduled to meet Rahman, July 16 at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California, and is proud of the Celt team. "It's not about me. It's all about them,'' he said.
The No. 3 ranked light heavyweight in the world, Tarver, who owns a 27-4-0 record with 19 KO's, was pleased with the turnout. "It's always a pleasure to see the kids,'' he said. "That's where the grass roots are. The city, state and the nation. I'm proud to say that's where I came from."
An Olympic bronze medal winner at the 1996 Games in Atlanta, Tarver has defeated Roy Jones Jr. in two of their three meetings, and lost a unanimous decision to Bernard Hopkins.
There were three other main events, with two worthy of the moniker. In the next fight, Jibreel King (177 pounds) won on points over Samuel Lopez (177 pounds).
The first two rounds were close, but Lopez seemed to be more aggressive. The third round was also tight, but the judges gave the decision to King.
Randell Reiner (170 pounds) delivered a quick straight right that floored Christoper Johnson (168 pounds) in the opening round, but he managed to get back on his feet.
After absorbing more solid blows by Reiner, Johnson's corner tossed in the towel 42 seconds into the first round.
The final main event was one that shouldn't have taken place because Michael Lester (379 pounds) was too heavy and out of shape. He had no answer for Karim Williams (309 pounds), who is heavy but with some skill.
The evening kicked off with Samantha Reyes (138 pounds) facing Whitney Withington (140 pounds).
Reyes came out swinging and landed four solid shots early in the first round, while Withington rallied and connected with two of her own.
Reyes again took the second round, with several blows finding Withington's face. The final round was close, but Reyes landed a big right hand, and won a unanimous decision.
When a pair of 9-year-olds entered the squared circle, the fans were slightly amused.
Brandon Lee (68 pounds) and Chase Jasmin (71 pounds) were full of energy and came out as such.
These boys started throwing punches like they were getting paid by the number tossed.
Lee had quicker hands and feet and won the first round, while Jasmin came back and took the second round.
The final round appeared to have been won by Jasmin, but the judges didn't see it this way, awarding Lee the split decision.
Robert Korenda (168 pounds) used his significant height advantage against Edgardo Garay (174 pounds), jabbing his way to the first round and cutting Garay's nose in the process.
It was more of the same in the next round, as Korenda continued to work his jab, until the bout was stopped 54 seconds into the round.
Height was also a factor when Andrew Adford (142 pounds) faced Juan Ponce (145 pounds), but the bout still went the distance.
Adford found the range and tagged the shorter Ponce in the face during the first round, and dominated the second round with more of the same. Adford used a two-fisted attack and earned a technical knockout with 31 seconds left in the third round.
The taller Marc Perales (125 pounds) knocked down Fred Romero (122 pounds) with a straight right early in the opening round, and saw the bout stopped late in the second round.
Duevone Broomfield (148 pounds) and Ethan Frank (149 pounds) waged a close three-round battle, with Broomfield taking the decision on points.
Johnny Booth (231 pounds) made quick work of Ruben Roacho (240 pounds), who injured his left shoulder.
"This was my first fight and it's an amazing feeling,'' said Booth, who had the fight halted with 36 seconds remaining in the first round. "I want to continue to fight."
Byron Gonzalez (131 pounds) edged Scott Haskell (130 pounds) on points, and the action-packed match could have gone either way.
Christoper Wagner (139 pounds) knocked down Alfredo Villalobos (140 pounds) with a solid right in the first round, and bloodied the face of Villalobos in the second round. Villalobos did the same to Wagner, who won on points.
Duke Bautista (214 pounds) floored Joel Rojas (212 pounds) with a powerful left hand late in the first round, and saw the fight end after 12 seconds had elapsed in the second round.
Hernan Chalco (152 pounds) was in charge from the outset against Jesus Vazquez (150 pounds).
After dominating the opening two rounds, the fight was concluded with 45 seconds left in the third round.
