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The Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs Activities League, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office and USA Boxing Northern California host the California Golden Gloves Region 1 qualifiers at DSAL Boxing Academy’s Hayward Adult School Gymnasium in Hayward.
Amateur boxers age 18 and older from the Northern California region – Sacramento to San Jose – compete for a spot in the California Golden Gloves State Championships to be held in Southern California in April 2019. The three-day event will benefit the nonprofit DSAL Boxing Academy and a memorial fund for Natalie Corona, a 22-year-old Davis police officer killed in the line of duty on January 10, 2019.
“I’m honored to be here, this is more than I expected,” says Natalie’s father, Merced Corona. “Being part of the show tonight in my daughter’s honor, I’m quite flattered by that and I do appreciate all their efforts,” he added before the start of the opening ceremony.
The DSAL Boxing Academy presented a bouquet of white and blue flowers to the Corona family seated in the front row of the boxing ring during the opening ceremony. Then, the Alameda County Sherif’s Office bagpiper and drummer followed by the Honor Guard began a procession around the gym with an estimated crowd of 300-400 spectators as Merced and his wife Lupe wipe tears away.
After the presentation of colors, the ring bell toll begun to conclude the opening ceremony.
A magnolia tree will be donated and planted in Arbuckle, at Pierce High School where she (Natalie) attended,” said Robert Rodriguez, president of the USA Boxing Northern California Association. “We would like for people to gather around the tree, sit there and remember her.”
“Natalie will be missed by her community,” Corona added, “as an officer and as a good person she was”.
22 boxers fought on Friday night and the winners will fight again on Saturday and a total of 32 bouts of 3 rounds are scheduled for the whole weekend.
The event also features food, entertainment and activities for kids. General admission is $15, and ringside seats are $25. Free admission for children age 5 and younger.
Founded in 2005, the nonprofit Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs’ Activities League has personnel from the sheriff’s office who work with local residents on programs to reduce crime and improve quality of life, including free boxing classes each week to 100 children and adults.
Peter Hegarty contributed to this report.