TULSA, Okla. \u2014 It was a fast-moving night of fights Monday, with more than 130 boxing champs from across the United States competing in one of the three rings at the 2026 National Golden Gloves prelims.<\/p>\n
Two Lancaster boxers were among three from Pennsylvania on the bout sheet at Arvest Convention Center.<\/p>\n
Jasiah \u201cMonster\u201d Ortiz (65-20), who trains at Lancaster City Boxing Academy, got the W at 154 pounds.<\/p>\n
Jaysonet Caleb \u201cBoogie Man\u201d Martinez (37-13) of Jinji Boxing Club in Lancaster lost by unanimous decision at 143 pounds, as did Paul \u201cP.J.\u201d Bryson, (14-5) of Rob\u2019s Fight Club in Horsham at 165 pounds.<\/p>\n
Ortiz\u2019s 154-pound division is stacked, with 31 athletes registered to compete, so he is set to fight in another preliminary bout Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Monday\u2019s win against Alexis Venancio-Bantres (30-14) of Nevada, via a 3-2 split, was close.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was tough, relentless,\u201d Ortiz said of Venancio-Bantres.<\/p>\n
That was clear from the start.<\/p>\n
Ortiz had the reach, but Venancio-Bantres closed in, landing body shots and denying Ortiz the advantage.<\/p>\n
Venancio-Bantres kept up the pressure, landing a straight right. Ortiz countered with solid defense, shelling up, weaving and looking for the distance he needed.<\/p>\n
In the second round, he found it, snapping out a straight right that planted solidly in Venancio-Bantres\u2019 face. Halfway through the round, Ortiz threw a combo and lost his mouthpiece.<\/p>\n
There was a moment of drama in the third round when Ortiz, against the ropes and just out of his opponent\u2019s reach, sprang out but, again, it was the mouthpiece that hit the mat. But his boxing was solid and it was clear he\u2019d found his footing.<\/p>\n
Ortiz said the match was a \u201cgood learning experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe couldn\u2019t match my skills,\u201d said Ortiz said in explaining why he played to those skills in the third round.<\/p>\n
Ortiz and his coach, Will Torres, said that refs in the Golden Gloves let boxers roughhouse more than they are used to in USA Boxing tournaments.<\/p>\n
The boxing is \u201ca different style \u2014 dirtier,\u201d Ortiz said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jaysonet Martinez, who has qualified for the National Golden Gloves Tournament in Oklahoma, poses for a photo ahead of his trip on Saturday, May 2, 2026.<\/p>\n
SUZETTE WENGER | Staff Photographer<\/p>\n
Martinez echoed Ortiz\u2019s opinion. \u201cThe reffing is different,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
But he didn\u2019t offer it as an excuse for his loss to Xavier Correa (55-7) of New Jersey in a prelim.<\/p>\n
Despite an explosive leap that cleared the top of the ropes before the first bell, Martinez just didn\u2019t find his groove Monday.<\/p>\n
In round one, he was steady, landing right uppers to Correa\u2019s body and deliberate combos that connected. Even the New Jersey team was yelling, \u201cGood fight!\u201d<\/p>\n
But in round two, Correa started headhunting \u2014 effectively.<\/p>\n
Correa nailed Martinez in the head with a solid right in the third round and got an eight on him.<\/p>\n
Martinez said there were a \u201cwhole lotta things\u201d that led to his loss.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat wasn\u2019t Caleb today all,\u201d said Jinji Martinez, Boogie Man\u2019s coach and father. \u201cHe just looked drained.\u201d<\/p>\n
The view from the blue corner was very different.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was the best fight!\u201d Correa said, adding that Caleb Martinez is \u201ca great fighter, great power!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt like I lost the first round,\u201d Correa said.<\/p>\n
But once he got a feel for what Martinez was doing, he picked up the pace, he said.<\/p>\n
Disappointed, but resolute, Martinez said: \u201cYou win some, you lose some. Whatever God has planned, I\u2019m grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bryson, by contrast, did not take his loss in stride.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m (upset),\u201d he said. \u201cI let him (Jacques Varner) land too many shots.\u201d<\/p>\n
Varner is \u201cvery good,\u201d Bryson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnybody who beats me is a good fighter,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Varner of Georgia trains at Champion Boxing Gym and said he thought it was a great fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a dog!\u201d Varner said of Bryson. \u201cHe made adjustments and I had to adjust to his adjustments.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Tuesday night, Bryson and Martinez will join teammates Jerimiah \u201cDrip\u201d Munoz of Lancaster City and Elyssa \u201cHeavy Hands\u201d Spring of Reading in the cheering section.<\/p>\n
Ortiz will square off against Jasson Lopez of Oklahoma.<\/p>\n
Reading\u2019s Saviel \u201cPretty Boy Tato\u201d Torres (29-10) faces Utah\u2019s Tanner Gurule in a 121-pound prelim.<\/p>\n
Dragan \u201cHawaiian Punch\u201d Radusewicz (8-3), who trains at G-Ford Athletic Club outside of Pittsburgh, is set for a 176-pound contest against Paulo Rodrigues of Maine.<\/p>\n