Jordan Simpson, Xavier Correa repeat as NJ Golden Gloves champs, Eric Orr wins first open title
There were five open class NJ Golden Gloves titles contested on Saturday, March 28, with two veterans earning repeat trips to the National Golden Gloves and three more winning their first in front of a sold out crowd La Neve’s Banquets in Haledon, N.J.
Jordan Simpson, 25, of Middlesex, N.J. won his third straight title at 165lbs, defeating Clementon’s Anthony Rodriguez by a 4-0 unanimous decision. The victory earns Simpson his third straight trip to the National Golden Gloves, with his previous best showing coming in 2024, when he made it to the quarterfinals.
Simpson was one of three boxers from True Warriors Boxing to earn open class titles, as Quazir McLeod earned the 121lbs open title with a unanimous decision over Hakim Gans-Ali, and 2024 bronze medalist Xavier Correa defeated Khadir Love by a 4-1 decision to win the 143lbs title.
Among the newcomers opening some eyes with a victory was Eric Orr, a 19-year-old from Roselle, N.J. The Park Elite Boxing boxer was fighting in his first open class tournament after struggling to make the 143lbs. Now settled in at 154lbs, the former Roselle High wide receiver and defensive back was in control throughout against his Trenton-based opponent. Orr entered the tournament with a crowded field at junior middleweight, but advanced with walkovers against Yoell Cooper and Jeremiah Robinson before winning a decision over frequent sparring partner Bradley Rossignol in the semifinals to earn a spot in the final.
“I’m next up,” said Orr. “Only person I fear is God.”
Rounding out the open finalists was 132lbs champion Ezekiel Suarez, 19, of Paterson, who took a unanimous decision over Erik Mendez to win his first title as an elite boxer. Suarez of Lou Costello Boxing is the grandson of legendary trainer Oscar Suarez Snr, who trained world champions “Prince” Naseem Hamed and Acelino Freitas.
Unopposed open class elite boxers include Ethan Fitzpatrick (198lbs), Erdis Lala (176lbs) and Daniel Mansfield (198+lbs).
Other contested finals carrying over from the novice division include the super heavyweight novice final, where Nathaniel James III won a 4-1 decision over Alexis Cantor to conclude their best-of-three rivalry, and Dominic Lombardi stopped Omotayo Fatiregun in the third round to win the heavyweight novice title.
The only bracket to not be completed as of yet is the novice 176lbs competition, with Kelvin Olivier tying Taheen Braswell-Brown at 1-1 with a 3-2 split decision win. Their tiebreaker will come at a later date.