Caledonia Argus

Chad Tostenson upsets five-time champ, claims Golden Gloves title

Posted: 4/29/03

by Andrew Miller
Argus Sports Writer

Caledonia boxer Chad Tostenson was dreading his Saturday night fight with James Taylor. That is, until he landed a right hook that turned Taylor into a half-conscious human hamburger.

The knockout made Chad Tostenson the 2003 Upper Midwest Golden Glove light heavyweight champion, and qualified him for the National Golden Gloves Tournament in Las Vegas this May.

Tostensonís victory over Taylor at Grand Casino Hinckley on April 19 sent shockwaves through the crowd, who just assumed that Taylorñ a 19-year boxing veteran with a record of 205-15 and five Golden Gloves titles under his beltñ would cruise to another easy win. And none, it seemed, were more surprised by the outcome than the victor himself.

Tostenson was feeling a tad under the weather that night, and a bout the night before, in which he received his fair share of headshots, left him exhausted. Full knowledge of Taylorís reputation as a fighter didnít help the matter, either.

ìIíd heard he was a good fighter, and that heíd won it five times,î Tostenson said after the match. ìAnd I wasnít feeling too good myself. So it was kind of a shock when I won. Iíd hoped to win the first night (Friday), but I didnít expect to beat Taylor.î

The first round did little to quell Tostensonís doubts. A barrage of blows to the head left him backed against the ropes, dazed, entirely on the defensive. It looked like Taylor would be adding a sixth championship trophy to his collection, and Tostenson would be seeking medical attention.

But the second round told a very different tale. The opening bell sounded, and Tostenson looked like a new fighter. The first 20 seconds saw Taylor take right hooks to the head and body, sending him to the mat like a discarded deer carcass. He got up in short time, but Tostenson was quick to throw down the gauntlet and claim his ticket to Las Vegas.

After Taylorís first fall, Tostenson welcomed him back to verticality with a burst of crosses and hooks that, were it not for the inherent sensitivity of the human nervous system, might not have hurt a bit. As it stands, though, unimpeded blows to the head trigger intense sensations of pain, and Taylor reacted in the only way he knew howñ falling flat on his back, eyes rolling to the top of his head, showing no signs of life.

ìI knew once I had him down, I didnít want him to get back and recover,î Tostenson said of the second round carnage. ìI just came straight at him and took him out of his game. I caught him with a right cross that snapped his head around and he went down.î

Taylor went down all right, out cold for a good three minutes. The crowd, consisting mainly of Taylor well-wishers, was in utter disbelief. Chuck Hales, executive director of Upper Midwest Golden Gloves, told Caledonia Boxing Coach Matt Schellsmidt afterwards, ìYour boxer sent the Upper Midwest into shock and awe.î

So enamored were officials with Tostensonís performance that, in addition to presenting him with the Bill Rhodes Memorial Golden Glove s championship necklace, given to all Upper Midwest first place finishers, they honored him with the 2003 Fightingest Fighter award.

Coach Schellsmidt was ecstatic after the fight, noting that a Caledonia boxer hadnít advanced to the Golden Gloves national tourney since Bill Leary won the Upper Midwest title in 1941. ìThis is something that hasnít happened in Caledonia in 62 years,î he said. ìFor a gym to be open two and a half years and have a Golden Gloves champ, thatís virtually unheard of in the boxing world.î

To prepare for the eight-day tournament, held May 26 to June 1 at The Riviera in Las Vegas, Tostenson has intensified his training regimen, which now includes sparring with other of this yearís Upper Midwest champs in Rochester, in addition to regular practices at the Caledonia Boxing Club.

With the air of stoic calm he brought to the Upper Midwest tourney, Tostenson was reluctant to predict how heíd do in Vegas, saying only that ìitíll be an interesting thing.î

If itís anything like his performance against James Taylor on April 19, interesting it will be indeed.

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