Black Jack's Best Box at Union III Smoker

Photo By Spc. Alexis Harrison | Spc. Jerrick Cruz from 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, part of Task Force 1-14 attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, lands a left on Spc. Jason Taylor from the 15th Support Battalion, during their championship bout in the Black Jack boxing smoker on Forward Operating Base Union III May 14. Cruz won the middle-heavyweight class.  

05.17.2007

Courtesy Story

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

By Spc. Alexis Harrison
2nd BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE UNION III, Iraq – For several nights, members of the 2nd "Black Jack" Brigade Combat Team and attached units punched it out to see who would come out victorious in the first-ever Black Jack Boxing Smoker.

Days and weeks of training and toughness turned out to be the main factors in the championship fight night May 14. Aside from the grudge matches that pitted friend upon friend or friendly rivals against one another, the championship night showcased the best of the best in the brigade.

The championship night proved to be one of the largest and loudest turn out so far, said 1st Lt. Garret Holt, the battalion adjutant with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment.

The dim lighting above the ring and the plume of cigar smoke by the dozens of connoisseurs in the audience brought you back to a time early last century when boxing smokers were popular, and fighting wasn't about fame of fortune but about the pride of winning.

Though all the Soldiers fighting had hopes of winning, only a handful would be crowned champion in their respective weight classes.

In the featherweight class, Spc. David Flores from 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment beat Sgt. Raymond Robinson, also of 5-20th Inf.

In the lightweight class, Sgt. David Murray from 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment beat Spc. Timothy Dunbar.

In the welterweight class, Spc. Chris Thomas was uncontested in the final bout because Capt. John Verdugo, 4-9th Cavalry's chaplain, went on leave the day of the fight.

Spc. Joseph Riqueros from 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment defeated Spc. Josh Hentbrook in three rounds for the middleweight crown.

Spc. Armondo Montemayor of 3-82nd FA, pummeled Spc. Sebastian Hentbrook into submission before the final bell rung to claim the light-heavyweight title.

In the mid-heavyweight division, Spc. Jerrick Cruz from 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment and Spc. Jason Taylor from the 15th Brigade Support Battalion lit up the crowd in a match that went all the way, with Cruz coming out on top.

Spc. Lance Taffa from Company C, 5-20th Inf., defeated fellow

• Date Taken: 05.17.2007
• Date Posted: 05.17.2007 13:11
• Story ID: 10435