THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 19, 1995 TAG: 9508190211
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
Kanicia Eley is looking for a good fight.
The 13-year-old state Golden Gloves champion has found one in Ohio. Eley won the 13-14 Virginia girls' title in the 125-pound weight class earlier this year. She was the only competitor in the class and won by default.
Now, Eley is at the Junior Golden Gloves Tournament preparing to take on Ohio state champion Quianna Guyhard.
Guyhard, weighing in at 125, is the defending champion in the event and carries a 13-1 record.
The two meet today at the Americana Amusement Park in Middleton, Ohio. Fights start at 4 p.m. and continue throughout the evening. Eley and Guyhard are the only competitors in their class, so they are fighting for the championship.
Eley is calm entering the bout.
``I'm just waiting for it,'' Eley said. ``I'm ready. I can't be nervous. My coach (Dan Campbell) put me against two girls bigger than this girl, so I can't be nervous.''
Eley has defeated each of the four opponents she has faced in her amateur career. This could be her biggest match.
``She's supposed to be real good,'' Campbell said of Guyhard. ``It's an excellent opportunity to see where Kanicia is compared to others across the country. I think (Kanicia's) as good as the other girl. She's been running, she's sharp.''
Eley, a resident of Norfolk, trains at the Barraud Park Recreation Center. At the gym, she spars with boys.
When it comes to competition, Golden Gloves rules prohibit cross-gender fights. This has been a hindrance to Eley because there is a shortage of boxers in her weight class. She has gained six pounds in an effort to get more fights.
Now she is preparing for her biggest moment.
``I've been just working hard and sparring,'' she said of preparing for the event. ``It would mean everything to win.''
Another Norfolk resident, Timothy Davis, was eliminated by Ohio champion Kenneth Halderman in the 14-15 age group, 112-pound weight class Friday night. Davis, 14, lost by decision. by CNB