Gilbert Kabamba of Dorchester came oh so close to becoming a back-to-back national champion.
But the Dorchester fighter was edged in a split decision during the final bout of the Golden Gloves of America Tournament of Champions on Saturday night in Tulsa, Okla.
Last year Kabamba earned his title with a victory over Sardius Simmons of Flint, Mich. Simmons, a left-handed boxer, got his revenge Saturday with a 3-2 victory in their 198+ pound fight.
“He’s definitely disappointed,” New England Golden Gloves executive director Bob Russo said. “He had a real good tournament. It was close. It was kind of a flip of the coin type thing.”
It was a terrific showing for Team New England as the team finished fourth out of 30 franchises. The team was put together following action this past winter at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium.
“It was a pretty good finish,” Russo said. “We haven’t finished that highly in quite awhile.”
Kabamba was the only New England fighter to make the finals. Two others lost in the semifinals.
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