| |
|
CARLOS BALDERAS GETS FIRST BOXING WIN FOR THE USA
By Ed de la Vega, DDS PhilBoxing.com Sun, 07 Aug 2016

Several weeks ago when Carlos Balderas came to our offices to get his mouthguard for the Rio2016 Olympics, he did not guarantee us that he will win the gold medal. However, he promised us that he will leave it all in the ring and give the performance of his life every time he steps in to fight.
On the opening day of the boxing events, Balderas fought his first Olympic match. The luck of the draw fitted him against a wily veteran from Kazakhstan, Berik Abrakhmanov.
In spite of being an Eastern European for some quirky reason, the predominantly Brazilian crowd favored the Kazak against the young Balderas.
But Balderas was not about to disappoint the almost two dozen supporters from the bucolic city of Santa Maria, CA.
Balderas gave it his all and ended beating the Kazak and in the process gave the young US Boxing Team an inspiration and an example to follow. He also gave himself an early birthday present. Balderas turns 20 on August 24th.
Yahoo sports quoted US coach, Billy Walsh as saying ?That was impressive?, in reference to Balderas? performance against the much experienced Kazak.
No one knows if Balderas will get his second win on Tuesday and go all the way to center podium with a gold medal in his neck.
But like he promised us, he will leave it all in the ring.
Top photo: Carlos Balderas (L) of the United States and Berik Abdrakhmanov of Kazakhstan meet on the opening day of the Olympics in Rio.

Balderas poses with the author.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Polkinghorn, Pagara at the Scales in Perth, Australia By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026Young Briton Rising Star: Callum Dan's Quest for Boxing Glory By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026Chua rules Pattaya Open; pockets $22,500 By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026All Star Boxing live on ESPN DEPORTES Weights from Nicaragua , Fri, 06 Mar 2026Ryan Rozicki’s Return: Presser Quotes from Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada , Fri, 06 Mar 2026Undefeated Heavyweight Gustavo “The Cuban Assassin” Trujillo Returns to Headline “Havoc at the Hilton 3” March 7 in Florida , Fri, 06 Mar 2026AQ Prime Chess bet Marius Zabanal Constante of Pasig City rules Elementary Division of NCR Palarong Pambansa Standard chess elims By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 06 Mar 2026World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Battles Mexican Strongman Manuel Gallegos , Fri, 06 Mar 2026USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Travels to Thailand for 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup , Fri, 06 Mar 2026Eddie Hearn Signs UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall for New Matchroom Talent Agency , Fri, 06 Mar 2026Wise Owl Boxing Signs Undefeated Super Welterweight Prospect Ebenezer “The Stuntman” Griffith , Fri, 06 Mar 2026International Boxing Association Strengthens Strategic Presence in Cape Verde Following High-Level Official Visit , Thu, 05 Mar 2026Asia's First GM Eugene Torre 2nd in Russia chess By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Mar 2026Unified WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Champion Oscar "El Pupilo" Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of March 14 Fight , Thu, 05 Mar 20262026 USA Boxing Men's Youth High Performance Team Announced , Thu, 05 Mar 20262026 USA Boxing Women’s Youth High Performance Team Announced , Thu, 05 Mar 2026Michael Linde rules Pangasinan chessfest By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Mar 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 MARCH 2026: Navarrete Stops Nunez; Parra Jnr Outpoints Pierce; Wins by Emiliano Vargas and Abel Ramos By Eric Armit, , Wed, 04 Mar 2026Team Philippines Crowned Champions of the 2026 Predator WPA Teams World Championship , Wed, 04 Mar 2026IBA President Umar Kremlev calls for radical reform of the Olympic Movement and equal rights for athletes , Wed, 04 Mar 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Boxing—A Spectacle of Masses and Millennial Stages By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Tue, 03 Mar 2026Golden Boy Promotions Vs Virgil Ortiz Jr going to arbitration? By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 03 Mar 2026Boxlab Promotions Signs Undefeated Nicaraguan Knockout Artist Jordan “La Cobrita” Orozco , Tue, 03 Mar 2026STACKED MARCH 14 UNDERCARD SHOWCASES GOLDEN BOY’S NEXT GENERATION OF CHAMPIONS , Tue, 03 Mar 2026The Perfect Boxing Prospect 12-0 Marco Romero , Tue, 03 Mar 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|