By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — National Golden Gloves champion and former world-ranked boxer Angel Martinez is set to return to the ring this weekend for the first time in four years.
The 2018 Auburn High School graduate’s return was announced Tuesday by Plus Seven Company in the lead up to Saturday’s Rockford Boxing Classic, which will be held outdoors under the Rockford City Market pavilion.
Martinez, whose image is depicted on a hometown heroes mural at West State and Winnebago streets, was named USA Boxing’s 2017 Under Armour Youth Male Boxer of the Year before he stepped away.
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The rest of the bout lineup features some of the top boxers from the Midwest and the Rockford Patriots Boxing Club. Contestants include three-time Silver Gloves national champion Gavin Bernal and top prospect and future pro Osiel Flores. USA Boxing national team member Braulio Arcos-Rodriguez of the Rockford Patriots Boxing Club will also be in attendance.
Rockford police officer Cory Magnuson, who has tallied a 2-1-1 amateur mixed martial arts record, will compete in one of the night’s featured bouts. Magnuson, who served as a Resident Officer Community Keeper House officer, has also trained area youth during program partnerships at Rockford Patriots Boxing Club.
Admission to the event is free, and you should bring your own lawn chair for seating. There are also tables of eight available for sale with the proceeds benefiting the Rockford Patriots Boxing Club. To reserve a table, email PatriotsBoxingClub@yahoo.com or Nick@PlusSevenCompany.com by 5 p.m. Wednesday.
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Food will be available to purchase at the event from Jaliscoast Rayo and Lulu’s Roasted Corn. There will be sweet treats from Quixotic Bakery and drinks from VeeDubs Mobile Cocktail Bar.
You can also ride a mechanical bull, and the Rockford Fire Department is brining its blow-up mist machine to keep guests cool.
Know before you go | Rockford Boxing Classic
Date: Saturday, Aug. 13
Time: 5 p.m. (gates open), 6 p.m. youth bouts begin, 8 p.m. police and fire bouts
Cost: Free
Location: Rockford City Market pavilion, State and Water streets in downtown Rockford
For more information: RockfordBoxingClassic.com
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas