Two Houston female boxers going to Beijing

HOUSTON Marlen Esparza and Sylvia Villapondo returned to Houston last week from the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs, Colo., where they competed in the U.S. national championship.

Esparza won her third U.S. title in a row, defeating Melissa McMorow of San Francisco at 106 pounds by a score of 26-7.

Villapondo defeated Samantha Guzman, Oak Park, Ill., 29-27, for her first national title at 101 pounds.

Both Esparza and Villapondo train in Houston at the Elite Boxing Gym under coach Rudy Silva.

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