The Baraka Bouts finals took place on Thursday night, featuring nine matchups. As each match ended, both boxers were presented with trophies.
Kiska “The Hitwoman” Porter (Gold) def. Erika “Tortilla-Slayer” Cucala (Blue)
Senior Cucala from Barcelona, Spain, made her way back to the ring for the third time in this tournament to face off against Porter, a Columbus, Ohio, native and representative of Breen-Phillips Hall. Cucala, utilizing her height advantage throughout the match, used a defensive strategy as she threw a combination of punches and backed away while Porter used a more offensive strategy, getting as many hits in as possible. By unanimous decision, Porter became the first champion of the night.
Caroline “Waisan Persuasion” Landry (Blue) def. Katie “Beast” Sullivan (Gold)
The senior California native and Lewis Hall representative, Landry entered the ring for the second time, facing off against the Michigan native Sullivan. The two moved around the ring at a quick pace, throwing punches back and forth. The match came to a quick end, with Landry taking the win due to the referee stopping the competition.
Rosie “The Riveter” Binette (Gold) def. Luisa “Karma” Capobianco (Blue)
Senior Welsh Family resident Capobianco from Pennsylvania entered the ring again to face off against New Yorker sophomore Binette, who represents Johnson Family Hall. Light on their feet the entire time, both fighters used a method of defensive and offensive strategies, but Binette leaned towards the offensive technique, landing multiple punches to the head. The two went back and forth, and it was hard to tell the winner, but by split decision Binette took the win becoming the third champion of the night.
Riley “No Smiley” Vandevelde (Blue) def. Kaitlin “Mo Pain” Mohlenkamp (Gold)
Vandevelde, the Sierra Madre, California, native and Pasquerilla East resident faced off against senior Mohlenkamp, who hails from Ohio. This fight featured veteran fighters, the two having opposing fighting stances as Vandevelde is right-handed while Mohlenkamp is left handed. Both fighters were landing punches, but Vandevelde took a more defensive route while Mohlenkamp took a more offensive route and landed more punches. As the two veterans kept the offensive energy up, Vandevelde took the win by split decision for the fourth championship of the night.
Mary “Red Sky” Quirk (Gold) def. Hope “The Wonder” Wanken (Blue)
With the energy in the ballroom high, the Lewis Hall resident from Minnesota, Wanken, entered the ring after her win last week to face off against neighbor Lewis Hall resident Quirk. This would be the third fight featuring two veteran fighters, and the two started off with high energy, throwing punches back and forth. As the two danced around the ring, the boxers changed to more of a defensive and offensive technique, but Quirk leaned towards an offensive approach to take control of the bout. As the ballroom energy quickly rose, Quirk took the championship by unanimous decision.
Lynley “Houston’s Problem” Pace (Blue) def. Lauren “Blondie” Buetow (Gold)
Pace the first-year from Houston, Texas, and a representative of Ryan Hall, faced off against senior Wisconsin native Buetow. Both boxers were strong as they went with the defensive and offensive approach, but Pace took a more offensive approach, throwing in a lot of punches and hooks. The two continued to go back and forth as they took turns throwing punches. While Pace aimed more towards the stomach, Buetow aimed more towards the head. Pace took the win by split decision to become the sixth champion.
Ocean “The Matador” Leto (Gold) def. Layann “Simbah” Wardeh (Blue)
The junior captain Wardeh, who represents Lewis Hall, faced off against Leto, who hails from Florida and represents Welsh Family Hall. The two veteran fighters used a lot of technical approaches as both landed punches back and forth, and while Leto chose a more offensive approach using multiple combinations, Wardeh was strong on defense, blocking Leto’s jabs. By unanimous decision, Leto took the win and the seventh championship title.
Elle “The Greek Freak” Strogilos (Blue) def. Tess “Slippin Jimmy” Kesler (Gold)
From the home state of Indiana and a representative of Flaherty, Strogilos entered the ring to face off against New Jersey native, Kesler, who represents Walsh Hall. Another veteran matchup showed the emotion in the bout as both boxers showed energy throughout. Both boxers, as they were bouncing around the ring, chose the offensive route as punches were thrown back and forth. Strogilos continued to use the offensive method while Kesler resorted to more of a defensive method throughout the rest of the bought, but in the end, Strogilos took the win by unanimous decision and became the eighth champion of the night.
Katherine “Bend it Like” Beckman (Blue) def. Lauren “Half-pint” Hubert (Gold)
As a result of a reported injury from one of the original boxers in this match, Hubert, a senior from Nebraska and a representative of Farley Hall who lost in the quarterfinals, came back to face off against senior Beckman, representing Howard Hall, in the final fight. With the energy still high in the ballroom, both boxers started out with equal, elevated energy. Despite Hubert’s height disadvantage, she actually used it to her advantage by avoiding Beckham’s punches with a duck to land punches to Beckman’s stomach. Beckham took the high route and land her punches to the head. The final champion of the night was Beckman by unanimous decision.
(Writer’s Note: Congratulations to all of the boxers who competed in the 22nd Annual Baraka Bouts. I am so blessed to have covered the junior captains interviews, the semifinals and the finals and learn about what the bouts mean. It was truly an amazing experience. Congratulations!)
