Air Force Academy
Friday Night Fights
Air Force Closes Fall Semester with Friday Night Fights
12/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Boxing
Dec. 4, 2009
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Senior Nathan Liptak closed out his collegiate career in style as the Air Force boxing team wrapped up the fall semester this evening (Dec. 4) with another round of Friday Night Fights at the Academy's Boxing Room. Liptak, who is 12 days away from graduation, was named the program's Boxer of the Week for the second time this season after claiming a victory at 157 pounds.
Junior Joe Silvio opened the night with a decision over sophomore Tyrus Korecki in a 162-pound bout, while junior Ryan Curry defeated sophomore Sam Rinaldi in a 169-pound contest when the referee stopped their bout in the first round.
Senior Bailey Ball won a hard-fought decision over freshman Benjamin Fox in the 152-pound bout. Using an aggressive presence in the ring, Ball slowed Fox down with shots to the body and earned the split decision from the judges.
Sophomore Nick Cataldo took a decision from classmate Casey Habluetzel in the 173-pound bout. The two classmates had faced off at the end of October, with Habluetzel taking the decision. But tonight, it was Cataldo who came away victorious. Using a new strategy against his tall and rangy opponent, Cataldo evened his Friday record to 2-2 with the win.
In the heaviest bout of the night, junior William Keuchler took a decision from classmate Reggie Howard at 190 pounds. In the words of the Falcons' coaching staff, the bout was "what the boxing world calls a throw down". The two newcomers, who both pack tremendous power in their hands, stood toe-to-toe for the majority of the six-minute bout.
In the final bout of the night, Liptak matched up with junior Michael Dunn at 157 pounds. The pairing was a rematch of the last two 147-pound Wing Open championships finals. Showing exceptional skill and throwing a lot of punches from different angles, Liptak improved to 3-1 on the season and concluded his career with a 17-6 overall record.
The Falcons will continue training for another week, before taking time off for exams and the holiday break. Air Force returns to the Academy's Upper Boxing Room on Jan. 15, when it hosts another round of Friday Night Fights.
RESULTS
162-lbs.: Joe Silvio (CS-21) dec. Tyrus Korecki (CS-24)
169-lbs.: Ryan Curry (CS-08) rsc-1 Sam Rinaldi (CS-04)
152-lbs.: Bailey Ball (CS-04) dec. Ben Fox (CS-30)
173-lbs.: Nick Cataldo (CS-08) dec. Casey Habluetzel (CS-32)
190-lbs.: William Keuchler (CS-30) dec. Reggie Howard (CS-12)
157-lbs.: Nathan Liptak (CS-40) dec. Michael Dunn (CS-01)
Players Mentioned
