Last Updated on February 17, 2014.
TSMMA Manhattan’s Blake Makes Boxing Debut
Malik Blake entered the NY Golden Gloves Boxing tournament looking to make yet another historic run to Madison Square Garden for Team Tiger Schulmann’s. Last night Blake made his boxing debut a memorable one. Blake would square off with Sy Lyles in the opening round of the novice division.
Lyles fights for Gleason’s Boxing Gym in Brooklyn. Blake’s performance highlighted the high level boxing training students receive at TSMMA. Blake is just the latest TSMMA fighter to prove they can compete with students who train exclusively in boxing, while learning the other aspects of a Mixed Martial Art at the same time. Lyles was no match for Blake as the TSMMA Manhattan fighter exerted his dominance from the very first round.
TSMMA Manhattan Student Displays Boxing Skill
Blake established his power early in the first two minute frame. He was technically superior to Lyle’s and matched the Gleason’s fighter’s grit when things got tough. Blake forced the referee to step in to give Lyles a standing eight count in the second round, a rare occurrence in amateur boxing even at the most elite levels.
Lyles may have been better off if the referee had simply called the fight then. The Gleason’s fighter showed his heart coming out for the third round, but again Blake unleashed his rare power by forcing a second standing eight count. The referee let Lyles continue, but that didn’t last long as the fight was called at 1:02 of the third round.
Manhattan’s Blake Finishes Debut Boxing Match With Stoppage
TSMMA Manhattan Student Disqualified From Boxing Tourney
Sadly, Blake will not be allowed to continue in the Golden Gloves novice division. In a previously unheard of rule, they do not allow fighters with any amateur kickboxing or MMA experience to enter the novice division.
You may have up to ten amateur boxing matches and still be considered a novice, so the rule seems tilted to protect boxers. Blake only has a couple of Kickboxing matches under his belt. Still don’t expect it to slow down the freight train of momentum the young Blake has built up in his competitive career.
His instructor Shihan Ron Schulmann says very simply, “We will get him some more experience in the coming year and enter him in the open division in 2014.”
Blake will look to join the likes of Mike Fischetti, Nissim Levy, Kat Diaz, and Sofia Gegovic. All those Tiger Schulmann’s fighters have reached the finals of the Gloves. Don’t be surprised if he joins Anthony Karperis, Julio Arce and Munah Holland as Team TSMMA representatives to take home the Golden Gloves title.
Congratulations to Blake on his impressive boxing performance last night and stay tuned for information as the young TSMMA Manhattan student looks to build on his successful amateur career.
By: Sensei Thad Campbell
