Guillermo a national champ

Advertiser Staff

Samson Guillermo won the 119-pound division at the U.S. Amateur Boxing Championships in Colorado. Advertiser library photo • July 16, 1999

Guillermo, 20, is the fourth boxer from Hawai'i to win a national title, according to his coach Bruce Kawano of the Evolution Boxing Club in Pearl City.

"It feels great," said Guillermo, a freshman at Northern Michigan University.

"Winning this was the next accomplishment (I wanted to achieve). I'm looking forward to the U.S. Challenge and the Olympic trials."

In the tournament, Guillermo had one knockout and three lop-sided victories over his opponents.