On Saturday, October 9th, local hero Steve Geffrard, won the National PAL Championships to capture the triple crown of amateur boxing for the first time in history in the heavyweight division. The “triple crown,” is comprised of winning the largest three national amateur boxing events – the National Golden Gloves, U.S. Senior Nationals and National PAL Championships – in the same calendar year and has only been accomplished by two other amateur fighters prior to Geffrard in other weight classes than the heavyweight division.
En route to the finals at the National PAL Championships, 20-year-old Geffrard dismissed Danny Calhoun 9-4 in the opening round followed by Joe White 12-1 and then stopped Charles Blackwell in the second round of the semifinals to advance to the finals. In the championship bout, Geffrard faced Robert Jakebson who he was even with 5-5 after the second round before prevailing 10-6 in the third round to claim the National PAL Championship title.
“I am very happy that I won the Triple Crown, but that just means that I have to work even harder,” said an excited, but humble, Steve Geffrard. “Everyone is going to be gunning for me, and I can’t stop working until I have the gold medal around my neck.”
“Its all about hard work and dedication, there was a goal and he accomplished it,” said Steve Collazo, Geffrard’s coach who has been with Steve at every national event this year. “Winning three major national titles in the same year is a tough task, but Steve mentally felt he could do it. Going to Europe was a great experience for him and I think he did excellent boxing in his first international dual. He is getting closer to London, no excuses.”
Completing the Triple Crown by winning the National PAL Championships, Geffrard has now earned a direct entry into the 2011 U.S. Olympic Trials where he will fight to secure a spot on the 2012 U.S. Summer Olympic Boxing Team.