The Bell Rings... First Round of Boxing in Zacatenco

The 1st Spring Boxing Tournament 2024 brought together 72 pugilists who fought in 36 matches in the ring set up in Plaza del Carillón

Faithful to the tradition of keeping boxing as one of the most popular sports in the country, 13 pugilists from various schools of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) showcased their best jabs and uppercuts in pursuit of victory in different categories during the 1st Spring Boxing Tournament 2024.

In a ring set up in Plaza del Carillón, Zacatenco, 36 amateur bouts were held, divided into three 2-minute rounds, in the Juniors, Youth, Elite Female, and Elite Male categories. A total of 72 boxers from IPN, the Technological Baccalaureate in Education and Sports Promotion, the Ponte Pila Program, the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), and the Mexico City Citizen Security Secretariat competed in this sporting event.

This event aimed to promote physical activity and sports development for recreational or competitive purposes, as a lifestyle for the Polytechnic community to cultivate better citizens and professionals.

The first official bout was contested between Monserrat Rubio Pintor from the Escuela Superior de Economía (ESE) and Ana Paola Franco from UNAM, in the Elite Female category, 60 kg division. During the match, both fighters displayed a head-on confrontation, with neither giving space for the opponent to land a blow.

In the center of the ring, they began dancing on their toes. Rubio probed Franco for a moment with quick movements, and when she found an opening in Franco's guard, she threw a powerful right punch toward the UNAM student's face but missed. Immediately, the referee's hand tapped the ring's canvas, signaling the last 10 seconds of the first round.

The fight continued with an exchange of blows, comprising jabs, uppercuts, hooks, and body shots, each fighter trying to dominate the other. Unfortunately, Franco's attack paid off; while evading a punch, she successfully landed a hit on Rubio's right shoulder, injuring her and surprising the audience. The referee stopped the match. Despite receiving medical attention, Rubio couldn't continue, resulting in Franco's victory.

Not all was lost for Rubio; when she stepped out of the ring, the Polytechnic crowd cheered her name in unison, shouting "Monse, Monse, Monse!" accompanied by the Polytechnic cheer.

It is worth noting that Monserrat is the niece of José Guadalupe Pintor Guzmán, better known as Lupe Pintor, a former Mexican boxer and ex-champion in the bantamweight and super bantamweight divisions, nicknamed "El grillo de Cuajimalpa."

The 13 champions representing IPN in the 1st Spring Boxing Tournament 2024 were: Joana Alexia Santos Pacheco from ESIME Zacatenco, Elite Female champion in the 51 kg division; Leonardo Ramírez Rocha from CECyT 6, Junior category champion in the 63 kg division; Alexis Samuel Berrios Cuevas from CECyT 11, Youth category champion in the 57 kg division; Abel Billar Pedraza from ENCB Santo Tomás, Elite Male champion in the 69 kg division.

Doménico Nimroth Carrillo Acevedo from ESIQIE, Elite Male champion in the 81 kg division; Miguel Alejandro Juárez Fernández from ESIME Zacatenco, Elite Male Classified champion in the 75 kg division; Gustavo Mejía Orozco from ESIME Zacatenco, Elite Male Classified champion in the 75 kg division; Jesús Valdés Flores from CECyT 12, Junior category champion in the 52 kg division; Leopoldo Santamaria Ojeda from CECyT 4, Youth category champion in the 60 kg division.

Saúl Corona Contreras from ESIME Ticomán, Elite Male champion in the 54 kg division; Gustavo Eduardo Jiménez Montaño from ESIME Zacatenco, Elite Male champion in the 66 kg division; Jhosseff Muciño Ramírez from CICS Santo Tomás, Elite Male champion in the 91 kg division; Isaac Marban Martínez from ESIME Zacatenco, Elite Male Classified champion in the 60 kg division.

Gaceta Politécnica #1792. (May 15th, 2024). IPN Imagen Institucional: Read the full magazine in Spanish here.