Modesto boxers bring home Golden Gloves titles

Modesto boxers have risen to a new level, thanks to a trio of fighters who claimed California Golden Gloves titles last weekend.

Marco Antonio Delgado, Nate Sharp and Larry Kloak all journeyed to Visalia and returned home with honors and renewed confidence.

Delgado and Sharp train at the Salvation Army Red Shield Boxing Club, and Kloak works out at the Modesto Boxing Club. All three won Northern California Golden Gloves titles earlier in the year, leading to their heroics at Visalia’s Wittman Center.

“It’s beautiful. It says boxing is still around in Modesto,” said Juan Barrera, a coach at Red Shield. “All three of them are leaders.”

Delgado, 23, a super-middleweight, annexed the open title in his weight class. That means he’ll advance to Las Vegas for the National Golden Gloves on May 11-16. The 2009 graduate of Turlock High School, trained by Andy Mariscal, won the state title with a unanimous decision over Jeron Doyle of Los Angeles.

“(Delgado) has put in so much work over the last year,” Barrera said. “He’s enthusiastic and he shows the kids that if he can do it, they can do it.”

Sharp, 24, won the light-heavyweight title via a walkover, but earlier in the year captured the NorCal title with two victories by knockout. Plans call for Sharp to fight several times before he turns pro late in the year.

Kloak, 28, earned his 123-pound state title by beating Southern California champion Robert Ochoa of Rancho Cucamonga in a three-round unanimous decision. He has boxed for six years and moved to the Modesto Boxing Club gym when it opened last summer.

“He was 4-4 but now he’s won his last three,” club owner Geno Hermosillo said. “This will lead to his pro debut. He had to win and he did it. A victory like this will launch his name and give him notoriety.”

This story was originally published April 16, 2015 at 5:47 PM with the headline "Modesto boxers bring home Golden Gloves titles."