Dominican Today , Dominican Republic
May 23 2009

Dominican Republic attends World Junior Boxing Championship

Santo Domingo.` Dominican boxers and fighters from 41 national teams
are participating in the World Junior Boxing Championship which
started today in Yerevan, Armenia.

Eight national teams that previously applied to be included in the
tournament, did not attend: Venezuela, Tunis, Check Republic,
Slovakia, Nigeria, Mongolia, Ghana and Botswana.Other teams, such as
Mexico, Argentina, Wales, Turkmenistan refused to participate.

In other news, some Internet sites point out that over the past
decade, Dominican boxing has been immersed in a crisis that has seen
boxers immigrate to the Unites States, few attractive new figures and
scarce attendance to uninspiring boxing cards.

But the panorama may change as a slew of former amateur stars have
been allowed to turn pro and provide promoters with the new blood
needed to bring the fans back to boxing shows.

Last year 15 top amateur boxers have joined the pro ranks to the
delight of boxing Commissioner Franklin Nunez. `We have improved our
relations with the Amateur Federation and we are now working hand in
hand,’ says Nunez, `and we have provided incentives for our local
promoters.’

Among the prospects who are making a name for themselves, are exciting
welterweight Melvin Betancourt (8-0, 6 KOs), recently elected Novice
of Year 2008, explosive featherweight Jenifel Vicente (11-0-2, 7 KOs),
slick bantamweight Geysi Lorenzo (9-0, 2 KOs), former amateur
lightweight standout Javier Fortuna (2-0, 2 KOs), just to name a few.

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