Kevin Johnston

IndyStar correspondent

INDIANAPOLIS – Team Achieve 123-pound boxer Austin Manning defended his state Golden Gloves title Thursday night at Tyndall Armory with a convincing 5-0 win over opponent Jeff Clancy.

Oddly enough, coach James Curles wouldn’t have cared if Manning had lost. When one of his fighters recently got a job at UPS, that was a needle-mover in Curles’ eyes.

“The goal is to get them working and then pursue some type of post-secondary education,” Curles said. “Not to have returning champions, but that these guys are succeeding out of the ring.”

And what if fighters at Team Achieve don’t have transportation to the gym or a warm meal at home? No problem.

“We run two van routes every day — pick kids up, drop them off,” Curles said. “An organization called Second Helpings brings food out to us.”

It’s all part of Team Achieve’s plan to build successful adults. But they’ll gladly take the championship belts, too. Another Team Achieve fighter, Almonte Washington, also left Tyndall Armory with a state title.

“I have more of a bond with Team Achieve than I do with my real family,” Manning said, only half-jokingly. “I go there four days a week.”

In the ring, Manning used his excellent footwork to dance in and out of range while peppering Clancy with his superb hand speed. He also scored with several short, compact hooks, and even switched to southpaw briefly to befuddle Clancy.

“I knew I had to push the pace to win the fight,” Manning said. “I knew I had to show the judges I wanted to win and outwork him.”

Southpaw Frank Martin also was victorious, a feeling that’s nothing new for the decorated 141-pounder.

Last year, Martin became the first pugilist from the Hoosier state to win a national Golden Gloves title since 1993. Among his notable performances: a victory over now-rising professional prospect Virgil Ortiz Jr., who’s signed to Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.

Martin frequently cut off the ring against his opponent, Terrell Hargrove, then landed devastating straight lefts upstairs and hooks to the body. He easily earned a 5-0 win.

The fight of the night was produced by 132-pounders Carlos Dixon and Andronicus Trigg, in which the final 5-0 Dixon victory didn’t reflect how close it was. Both fighters received standing eight counts while trading haymakers all over the ring throughout.

The winners of the open division bouts will head to the Golden Gloves National Tournament of Champions in two weeks in Lafayette, La.

But as close a group as Team Achieve is, the whole team won’t be making the journey south to support their fighters. You can probably guess why.

“Our kids have school,” Curles said.

With 1,473 people in attendance, this was the biggest crowd in 20 years, according to Indiana Golden Gloves board member George DeFabis.

Results:

Youth – 145 pounds

Demetricus Duncan (Louisville Select) def. Nick Weckenmann (Indy Boxing and Grappling) 5-0

Youth – 165 pounds

Karon Spivey (J Boxing) def. DeAngelo Mason (Sims Boxing) 3-2

Junior Open – 165 pounds

Courtney McFarland (Sarge Johnson Boxing) def. Ubaldo Lara (Indy Boxing and Grappling) 5-0

Novice – 123 pounds

Demarcus Dabney (Spearman Boxing) def. Alberto Sostre (B-Town Boxing) 5-0

Novice – 132 pounds

Jared McKinley (Indy Boxing and Grappling) walkover

Novice – 141 pounds

Adrian Lara (Indy Boxing and Grappling) def. DeAngelo Rascon (Top Notch Boxing) TKO

Novice – 152 pounds

Almonte Washington (Team Achieve) def. Jaylin McClung (Badd Boys) 5-0

Novice – 165 pounds

Yorman Guerrero (Indy Boxing and Grappling) def. Matt Burk (DeMotte Boxing) TKO

Open – 108 pounds

Humberto Calderon (Indy Boxing and Grappling) walkover

Open – 114 pounds

Saleto Henderson (Sarge Johnson Boxing) walkover

Open – 123 pounds

Austin Manning (Team Achieve) def. Jeff Clancy (Top Notch Boxing) 5-0

Open – 132 pounds

Carlos Dixon (Top Notch Boxing) def. Andronicus Trigg (Sarge Johnson Boxing) 5-0

Open – 141 pounds

Frank Martin (Indy Boxing and Grappling) def. Terrell Hargrove (Top Notch Boxing) 5-0

Open – 178 pounds

Joe Broys (DeMotte Boxing) walkover

Note: Some bouts finished too late to make Friday’s edition of the paper. For the full list of results, visit Indiana Golden Gloves’ Facebook page.