Rockford Patriots sweep 9 bouts in Rockford Boxing Classic
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Rockford Patriots Boxing Club swept its matches in the Rockford Boxing Classic, going 9-0 including a powerful stoppage win from Julian Lugo, who stepped up in weight class to headline this year’s event.
Lugo, who is planning to enter the pro ranks within the next year, usually fights in tournaments at 154 pounds, said coach Jimmy Goodman, who runs Rockford Patriots Boxing Club. Lugo fought at approximately 170 on Saturday.
“You gotta do what you gotta do to fight for your community,” Lugo said. “That’s what I’m here for is to put on a show. I’m glad I got to do that today.”
The nine Rockford Patriots boxers earned five unanimous decisions, one split decision and three referee stoppages. The club was nine of the 14 total matches held under the Rockford City Market pavilion in downtown.
“We’ve went undefeated before in other fights,” Goodman said. “But boy, to do it here at this event, here in Rockford. That’s the cherry on top of the sundae.”
He said Saturday’s matches were a turnaround for several fighters in rematches from losses to the same opponents a few weeks ago.
“All of our fighters are tough. They come out and they put out 100%,” Goodman said. “We had guys that just beat us a few weeks ago, and we had rematches today against guys that just whooped us. … Today the tide changed.”
Brian Javier was among those who rebounded Saturday to win in a rematch. He had taken a 10-year layoff from boxing, but has been back fighting since February. He won in a split decision over Dyelon Latimore, who is a friend outside of the ring that he got to know during national competitions.
“The crowd pushed me to get the victory,” said Javier, who plans to transition into coaching. “They motivated me to keep pushing forward.”
The night’s featured matches both ended with referee stoppages in favor of Rockford Patriots Boxing Club. Gus Wampfler defeated Damian Giczewski with the referee stopping the fight at 2:48 in the second round.
“I kept the pressure on him. I knew if I kept coming forward, kept the pressure and kept ripping his body, I was going to wear him out, and that’s what happened,” Wampfler said.
It was the second Rockford Boxing Classic for Wampfler, who also won in his match last year.
“This is my favorite fight of the year for sure, this is a great event,” he said. “It’s free for the people. It can’t get any better than this.”
Goodman said the club’s success and the energy of the crowd was something his late father would have appreciated. Jim Goodman, who had an enormous influence on local amateur boxing and founded Patriots Boxing Club, died in October 2020 at age 78.
“I wish my dad would’ve seen it,” Goodman said. “He always had a big smile on his face when he would come to these fights. Especially winning, he would’ve smiled.”
The energy from the hometown crowd is something local boxers relish at the event, which is now in its fourth year.
“It’s bigger and bigger every year. I’m so happy to see it,” Lugo said. “It makes me excited to fight every year. It’s too bad I’m going to go pro soon, but I’m always going to come out just for community just to show out, show my face.”
Lugo landed several heavy blows on the taller Tyrone Johnson in the headline match. Then, in the third round, the crowd sensed Lugo was on the verge of victory and started chanting his name as he closed in for more combos. The referee stopped the match at 1:31 in the third.
“It was like I had a community behind me,” Lugo said. “I appreciate everybody that supported me and my team. We all came out victorious. That shows that Rockford Boxing is doing something right.”
2025 Rockford Boxing Classic results
- Kai Wayka (Menominee) defeats Nate Flores (Charley Co.) in split decision
- My’Aire King (Rockford) defeats Sam Medina (Tallon’s) in unanimous decision
- Brendan Murphy (Rockford) defeats Owen Fosdick (Peoria) in unanimous decision
- Jarrelle Graves (Ramon V) defeats Johnny Baldwin (Punch Out) in unanimous decision
- Antonio Lopez Diaz (Punch Out) defeats Isaac Rodriguez (Ziggy) in unanimous decision
- Maurice Baker Jr. (Kingdom City) defeats Jordan Villanueva (Aurora) with RSC (1:38 third round)
- Ali Khusenov (Punch out) defeats Makai Baker (Kingdom City) with RSC (1:14 first round)
- Maria Wampfler (Rockford) defeats Tahiry Rowry (Kingdom City) with RTO (0:37 in third round)
- Kaleb Chambers (Rockford) defeats Elias Reiter (Menominee) in unanimous decision
- Romeo Moralez (Rockford) defeats Zion Jackson (Aurora) in unanimous decision
- Sam Ryall (Rockford) defeats Gidean Sauzo (Aurora) in unanimous decision
- Brian Javier (Rockford) defeats Dyelon Latimore (Sam Colonna) in split decision
- Gus Wampfler (Rockford) defeats Damian Giczewski (Hyper) with RSC (2:48 in second)
- Julian Lugo (Rockford) defeats Tyrone Johnson (Taylor) with RSC (1:31 in third round)
(RSC = referee stopped contest; RTO = referee technical decision)
Additional photos
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
