Friday, March 1
USAFA
6:00 p.m. MT
Air Force Academy
vs
Wing Open Championships
Photo by: Trevor Cokley
Four Three-Time Champions Headline Wing Open Finals
3/1/2024 9:23:00 PM | Boxing
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – Eleven boxers added their names to the program's 67-year history this evening (March 1) during a special edition of Friday Night Fights under the lights of Clune Arena. Highlighted by four three-time champions, the Air Force boxing team wrapped up another hard-hitting Wing Open Tournament at the Academy and solidified its lineup for the upcoming postseason.
Senior Leo Camacho captured his third-straight Wing Open title on Friday, as he forced a referee-stopped win over sophomore Duong Tran in the 125-pound final. In a rematch of last year's championship, Camacho kept the pressure on Tran and caused the referee to stop their bout with 30 seconds left. For his performance, Camacho – one of five Falcons to win before the final bell – was named the men's outstanding boxer, becoming the first 125-pound contender in 25 years to claim that honor.
Camacho's classmates Mack Lucas, Jacob Mendoza and Victor Benitez also claimed their third Wing Open titles before the final bell, while fellow senior Dylan West earned his first title in a referee-stopped bout. Lucas successfully defended her 147-pound title again, as she forced a second-round victory over newcomer Lindsay Oliver, while Mendoza – the reigning national champion at 175 pounds – claimed his second Wing Open title in that weight division (and third title overall) with a knockout win over freshman Ellison Taylor at the 1:23 mark of the first round. Benitez, winner of the last two national heavyweight championships, picked up his third Wing Open title with a second-round victory over freshman Justin Bonilla, and West secured his first championship after retiring freshman Sebastyan Correa Rios in the second-round of their 139-pound final.
Fellow senior Joe Wilson, a three-time finalist, earned his first Wing Open title with a split decision over classmate Nasir Rashid in the 195-pound championship. Wilson came on strong at the end, forcing two standing eights in the final minute to claim the 3-2 decision. Senior Andrew Ison also claimed his first title from a split decision, winning the 165-pound bout against sophomore Jonathon Watson, while sophomore Neo Takazawa used his six-inch height advantage to capture a unanimous decision in his 156-pound bout with classmate Jaxon Wardle. Fellow sophomore Carson Watkins picked up the first victory of the night in upset fashion, as he earned a unanimous victory over last year's Wing Open champion and NCBA All-American Andrew Lu in the 119-pound championship.
Back on the women's side, sophomore Chinonye Mbanugo earned a split decision victory over classmate Elise Bell for her second-straight 132-pound title, while junior Peyton Glenn swept the judges' votes for a unanimous win over classmate Billie Botes at 139 pounds. Following the finals, Glenn was awarded the women's outstanding boxer award.
In addition to tonight's winners, seven Falcons were honored for capturing Wing Open titles earlier in the tournament – freshman Naomi Brabham (women's 112 pounds), freshman Julianna Morris (women's 125 pounds), sophomore KJ Johnson (men's 132 pounds), freshman Geoffrey Kim (men's 147 pounds), senior Katie Bush (women's 156 pounds), sophomore Malaika Ndifang (women's 165 pounds) and freshman Nick Post (men's 185 pounds).
With the lineup complete, the Falcons will turn their attention to the postseason – which begins next week (March 7-9) at the National Collegiate Boxing Association (NCBA) Western Regional in Reno. The Falcons have claimed 39 of the last 42 regional men's titles, while the women have won the last two.
RESULTS
119-lbs.: Carson Watkins dec. Andrew Lu (UNAN)
125-lbs.: Leo Camacho RSC-3 Duong Tran
132-lbs. (w): Chinonye Mbanugo dec. Elise Bell (SPLIT)
139-lbs.: Dylan West RET-2 Sebastyan Correa Rios
147-lbs. (w): Mack Lucas RSC-2 Lindsay Oliver
156-lbs.: Neo Takazawa dec. Jaxon Wardle (UNAM)
165-lbs.: Andrew Ison dec. Jonathon Watson (SPLIT)
175-lbs.: Jacob Mendoza TKO Ellison Taylor
195-lbs.: Joe Wilson dec. Nasir Rashid (SPLIT)
HYWT.: Victor Benitez RSC-2 Justin Bonilla
Outstanding Boxers: - Leo Camacho, Peyton Glenn
Senior Leo Camacho captured his third-straight Wing Open title on Friday, as he forced a referee-stopped win over sophomore Duong Tran in the 125-pound final. In a rematch of last year's championship, Camacho kept the pressure on Tran and caused the referee to stop their bout with 30 seconds left. For his performance, Camacho – one of five Falcons to win before the final bell – was named the men's outstanding boxer, becoming the first 125-pound contender in 25 years to claim that honor.
Camacho's classmates Mack Lucas, Jacob Mendoza and Victor Benitez also claimed their third Wing Open titles before the final bell, while fellow senior Dylan West earned his first title in a referee-stopped bout. Lucas successfully defended her 147-pound title again, as she forced a second-round victory over newcomer Lindsay Oliver, while Mendoza – the reigning national champion at 175 pounds – claimed his second Wing Open title in that weight division (and third title overall) with a knockout win over freshman Ellison Taylor at the 1:23 mark of the first round. Benitez, winner of the last two national heavyweight championships, picked up his third Wing Open title with a second-round victory over freshman Justin Bonilla, and West secured his first championship after retiring freshman Sebastyan Correa Rios in the second-round of their 139-pound final.
Fellow senior Joe Wilson, a three-time finalist, earned his first Wing Open title with a split decision over classmate Nasir Rashid in the 195-pound championship. Wilson came on strong at the end, forcing two standing eights in the final minute to claim the 3-2 decision. Senior Andrew Ison also claimed his first title from a split decision, winning the 165-pound bout against sophomore Jonathon Watson, while sophomore Neo Takazawa used his six-inch height advantage to capture a unanimous decision in his 156-pound bout with classmate Jaxon Wardle. Fellow sophomore Carson Watkins picked up the first victory of the night in upset fashion, as he earned a unanimous victory over last year's Wing Open champion and NCBA All-American Andrew Lu in the 119-pound championship.
Back on the women's side, sophomore Chinonye Mbanugo earned a split decision victory over classmate Elise Bell for her second-straight 132-pound title, while junior Peyton Glenn swept the judges' votes for a unanimous win over classmate Billie Botes at 139 pounds. Following the finals, Glenn was awarded the women's outstanding boxer award.
In addition to tonight's winners, seven Falcons were honored for capturing Wing Open titles earlier in the tournament – freshman Naomi Brabham (women's 112 pounds), freshman Julianna Morris (women's 125 pounds), sophomore KJ Johnson (men's 132 pounds), freshman Geoffrey Kim (men's 147 pounds), senior Katie Bush (women's 156 pounds), sophomore Malaika Ndifang (women's 165 pounds) and freshman Nick Post (men's 185 pounds).
With the lineup complete, the Falcons will turn their attention to the postseason – which begins next week (March 7-9) at the National Collegiate Boxing Association (NCBA) Western Regional in Reno. The Falcons have claimed 39 of the last 42 regional men's titles, while the women have won the last two.
RESULTS
119-lbs.: Carson Watkins dec. Andrew Lu (UNAN)
125-lbs.: Leo Camacho RSC-3 Duong Tran
132-lbs. (w): Chinonye Mbanugo dec. Elise Bell (SPLIT)
139-lbs.: Dylan West RET-2 Sebastyan Correa Rios
147-lbs. (w): Mack Lucas RSC-2 Lindsay Oliver
156-lbs.: Neo Takazawa dec. Jaxon Wardle (UNAM)
165-lbs.: Andrew Ison dec. Jonathon Watson (SPLIT)
175-lbs.: Jacob Mendoza TKO Ellison Taylor
195-lbs.: Joe Wilson dec. Nasir Rashid (SPLIT)
HYWT.: Victor Benitez RSC-2 Justin Bonilla
Outstanding Boxers: - Leo Camacho, Peyton Glenn
Players Mentioned
132 lbs.
/ Boxing
HYWT
/ Boxing
HWT
/ Boxing
139 lbs.
/ Boxing
112 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
125 lbs.
/ Boxing
139 lbs.
/ Boxing
139 lbs.
/ Boxing
165 lbs.
/ Boxing
132 lbs.
/ Boxing
147 lbs.
/ Boxing
119 lbs
/ Boxing
147 lbs.
/ Boxing
132 lbs.
/ Boxing
175 lbs.
/ Boxing
132 lbs.
/ Boxing
165 lbs.
/ Boxing
185 lbs.
/ Boxing
195 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
185 lbs.
/ Boxing
125 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
119 lbs.
/ Boxing
165 lbs.
/ Boxing
139 lbs.
/ Boxing
195 lbs.
/ BoxingMark Clifford Interview August 26, 2025
Tuesday, August 26
Dr. Mark Clifford Interview March 11, 2025
Tuesday, March 11
Dr. Mark Clifford Interview March 4, 2025
Tuesday, March 04
2025 Wing Open Semifinals Highlights
Tuesday, February 25
