SAN DIEGO GOLDEN GLOVES : Oceanside Boxer Finds Winning is the Right Style

Ricardo Ponce’s plodding, no-nonsense style is somewhat out of place at a Golden Gloves competition.

His approach doesn’t quite mesh with amateur rules, which reward boxers for number of punches landed, defense and style.

But Saturday in the San Diego Golden Gloves 139-pound open finals at Coons Gym, Ponce’s crisp and powerful blows transcended all amateur guidelines.

Ponce of Shorty’s Gym in Oceanside was so effective with his straight right hand and stiff left jab that judges awarded him a close decision over Dan Jimenez of the United States Institute of Amateur Athletes.

“A lot of amateurs fight with speed,” Ponce said. “But I fight the pro style. I stepped back and put more of my weight into it than most amateurs.”

Jimenez (6-4) said Ponce is not like most amateurs.

“He had a lot of strength,” Jimenez said. “It took away a lot from my attack. I kept moving to his power hand. That didn’t help me, either.”

Ponce was in control for most of fight, but he seemed to tire in the third round. Jimenez took advantage by hitting Ponce with quick combinations to the head and body.

“He’s very quick,” Ponce said. “But a lot of his punches are push punches. They just made me a little clumsy.”

Ponce can be excused for trying to take a shortcut into professional boxing. He began boxing competitively less than a year ago and already he’s fighting in the open division. Most amateurs stay in the novice division until they’ve had five bouts.

But Ponce (3-0), 25, is trying to make up for lost time. He fooled around with boxing during his six years in the U.S. Marine Corps, but he didn’t get serious until last year.

“I always liked the sport because of all the discipline it gives you,” Ponce said. “Now, I’m focused on what I want to accomplish. I’m trying to make the Olympic team in 1992.”

Ponce took a step toward that goal Saturday. With his victory, Ponce advances to the Southern Regional championships in Los Angeles on April 20. If he wins, he’ll fight for the state title and a spot in the national Golden Gloves competition in Des Moines, Iowa, on May 11.

Brad Romero, 22, also a late starter, advanced to the 112-pound division Southern Regional championships in a walkover.

Romero of USIAA tuned up for the regionals with an exhibition bout against Alex Leon of Oceanside, who weighed seven pounds more than Romero.

“My punching power is not as good as his,” Romero said. “But this fight was good for me.”

Romero plans on making a good showing in the Golden Gloves and then fighting some internationally before turning pro.

Those are lofty goals for someone who was told by doctors that he would never box again.

Romero started boxing at age 5, but a head injury suffered in a car accident ended his career three years later.

Thirteen years later, Romero got the itch again and asked doctors if he could revive his career. They cooperated by telling him his head was fine.

Romero has taken care of the rest. He’s won 10 of his 16 fights, including the Western Region United States Boxing title.

In other bouts, Carlos Diaz of Fifth Avenue boxing club stopped Marcelo Valencia, who was unattached, in the third round of their 165-pound novice division fight. Richard Thiele of Primo Boxing won a unanimous decision in the 132-pound novice division over Rolando Pineda of USIAA.