Gun, Rueda heading toward roommate showdown
By KEBVIN BERCHOU
Sports Writer
For Tom Gun and Camillo Rueda, both senior participants in these 71st annual Bengal Bouts, there is extra motivation to emerge victorious from tonight's semifinals tussles. Gun and Rueda, fighting on opposites end of the brackets, are roommates and if each were to win they would fight each other in Friday's final.
"We've kind of stayed away from that all year," Gun said. "But I think it would be kind of a fun fight."
But make no mistake about it, neither Gun or Rueda is looking ahead. Both will have their hands full tonight. Gun, who won a bloody battle over Brian Kenney in the quarterfinals, will go toe to toe with junior Sean Newberg, the defending champion at the 125 lb. weight class.
Gun anticipates a tough fight.
"We're both about the same height," he said. "I think we match up well."
Gun, however, did admit he needed to do several things better if he is to beat Newberg and earn a shot at the possibility of brawling with his roommate.
"I need to defend much better than I did in my last fight," Gun said. "My nose is still kind of sore."
Rueda will also be involved in what shapes up as a great fight, as he prepares to lock horns with Derrick Bravo, who overcame a foot injury to score a second round technical knock out in the quarters.
135 lb.
In a clash of first year tacticians sophomore Ryan Duffey will attempt to out box freshman Tony Hollowell, who is himself fresh off a spectacular upset victory over defending champion Matt Fumagalli. Duffey was however equally impressive in his Bengal Bouts debut, scoring a second round TKO in his quarterfinal fight.
"I think it's going to be an intense fight," Duffey said. "I have a lot of respect him and I think that technique is going to have a lot to do with this fight."
The taller Duffey will have to take full advantage of his considerably longer reach in order to hold Hollowell, the better inside fighter, at bay.
Since both boxers are rookies, neither has much to lose and Duffey anticipates that playing a factor.
"Neither of us has anything to lose," he said. "I think we're both going to come out there and be aggressive."
Rounding out the bracket is an equally enticing bout between sophomore Joshua Coleman and junior Jason McMahon, both of whom won unanimous quarterfinal decisions.
The two pugilists both count quickness as a strong suit, making this fight likely to hinge on who is best able to sequence combinations.
145. lb.
Perhaps the night's best fight could be that which pits Michael "Mad Man" Waldo against Andrew "The Golden Arms" Harms. Both Waldo and Harms are sluggers, and neither is much a fan of the defensive style, making this a fun fight to watch.
Harms enters his semifinal bout on the heels of a grueling quarterfinal match that saw him take a split-decision from Anthony D'Agostino. Waldo had a much easier time of it, winning unanimously.
Jason Voss, the dark horse of the weight class, will take on Jemar Tisby in the other semifinal.
Tisby is an extremely quick, extremely skilled fighter who gets inside and works the body. Voss knows where his advantage lies.
"I'm taller so I have to use my reach," Voss said. "If I can keep him at an arm's length, I'll have a good shot."
Both Tisby, a junior from Keough Hall, and Voss, a Sorin sophomore, won by unanimous decision in their quarters.
final bouts.
All Sports Stories for Wednesday, February 28, 2001
