(APR 1)  Nafisa Umarova, Rustam’s Boxing Club, won the women’s 154-pound championship by throwing some heavy leather early and often causing a referee stoppage (RSC-4) over Alicia Napoleon, Mendez Boxing Club.

Umarova, a southpaw, routinely countered Napoleon’s jab with heavy straight left crosses that caused noticeable damage and led to the referee issuing Napoleon two standing eight counts. The end came midway through the fourth round when a hard counter punch from Umarova snapped back the head of Napoleon causing the referee to stop the contest.

Napoleon was the National Champion at 165-pounds and the Daily News Golden Gloves Champion at 176-pounds in 2011.

Storm Chandler, John’s Gym, pulled off a mild upset by winning the 132-pound championship over defending champion Bertha Aracil, Atlas Cops N Kids.  The bout was closely contested with Chandler asserting herself as the more aggressive and more awkward of the two. As Chandler moved forward and flailed away, Aracil attempted to slide to the outside and counter. More often than not, Chandler swarmed Aracil, landed very little, and a clinch would result. Both boxers lost a point for holding.
In the end, Chandler was awarded the victory, but the decision could have gone either way.

Bertha Aracil was the 2011 Daily News Golden Gloves Champion at 132-pounds. She also recently competed in the first-ever Women’s US Olympic Team Trials in the 132-pound class.

During the intermission, Christy Martin was presented the Inaugural Joe Frazier Champion Spirit Award."

2012 Daily News Golden Gloves Champions Women's Division
101-pounds Aly-Sha Dandridge, Heavy Hitters BC
106-pounds Neena Ajwani, John's Gym
112-pounds Christina Cruz, Atlas Cops N Kids
119-pounds Misato Kamegawa, Atlas Cops N Kids
125-pounds Heather Hardy, Gleason's Gym
132-pounds Storm Chandler, John's Gym
141-pounds Christella Cepeda, Yonkers YMCA
154-pounds Nafisa Umarova, Rustam's BC
176+pounds Krystal Graham-Dixon, Main Street BC