Wadena boxer wins Upper Midwest title

Bruce Butler of Alexandria, who boxes for the Wadena Golden Gloves team, won the 119-pound title in the Upper Midwest Tournament last weekend at Grand Casino Hinckley.

Butler scored a second-round RSC against Jose Morales, Rochester, in the semifinals and beat Mike Haubrich, Minneapolis, with a first-round RSC for the title.

Brandon Hall, 141, Wadena, drew a bye in the semifinals and lost to Wilshawn Boxley, two-time Upper Midwest champion of Minneapolis, in the finals.

DeWayne Steward, 165, Wadena, decisioned Michael Walker of North Dakota in the semifinals. In the finals Steward lost to nationally ranked Cerreso Fort, St. Paul. Steward earned the tournament's fightingest fighter award.

Chris Holt, a pro boxer formerly from Wadena, will defend his Minnesota middleweight title against Troy Lowry, St. Paul, Saturday at the St. Paul River Centre. T.J. Steward, 150, Wadena, will also box.

Other matches

Michael Falk, St. Paul, def. Tyler Hultin, 152, Fergus Falls

Ryan Dew, Region 3, def. Dustin Comeau, 125, Detroit Lakes

Shawn Bjorndal, Grand Forks, Joe Atilano, Climax, Ramondo Papasodora, Leech Lake and Tyrone Thunder lost in finals.