Boxer Jaden Jimenez poses for a photo Dec. 18, 2023, at the PAL Boxing gym in Columbus. Jimenez has qualified for the Silver Gloves Nationals in Kansas City.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Two local boxers have qualified for the Silver Gloves Nationals in Kansas City after winning bouts at last weekend’s regional in Philadelphia.
Jaden Jimenez won by decision in the girls 15-16-year-old 132-pound division. The 15-year-old Columbus North freshman won all three rounds and gave her opponent — a former national champion — a standing 8-count in the second round.
“It was very intense, action packed,” Columbus PAL Boxing coach Peter Soler said. “It was a great fight. This was her second fight, and the girl that she fought was really seasoned. It definitely caught them by surprise.”
Boxer Yadiel Castillo poses for a photo Dec. 18, 2023, at the PAL Boxing gym in Columbus. Castillo has qualified for the Silver Gloves Nationals in Kansas City.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Yadiel Castillo won by walkover in his boys 13-14-year-old 119-pound match after his opponent did not show. Castillo, 14, is an eighth-grader at Central Middle School.
Two other boxers from Columbus PAL had qualified for regional after winning Silver Gloves State championships at Crump Theatre in December. Aliyah Meza, 14, a freshman at North, did not make the trip to Philadelphia.
Soler’s son, Joel, lost by decision in his boys 15-16-year-old 119-pound bout. The 15-year-old North sophomore lost the first two rounds before winning the final round.
“Sometimes, it takes the nerves a while to kick off, and he got started too late,” Peter Soler said.
Jimenez and Castillo will leave Jan. 31 for Kansas City, where the Silver Gloves Nationals will take place from Feb. 1-3. They will try to join Meadow Vetitoe, who won a title last year, as national champions.
