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Clearfield's Jon Bryant, a member of the Lights Out Boxing Club, turned to the sport to stay out of trouble.

Now he's one win away from representing Utah in the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions next month in Lafayette, La.

Bryant, 22, defeated Wyoming's Masai Rasheed in a semifinal bout at 152 pounds at the Golden Gloves Rocky Mountain Regional on Friday night at the Salt Palace Convention Center, and will face a boxer from Idaho in the regional final Saturday for the right to advance to nationals.

"I tried to use my jab, tried to throw more punches than I normally do, and just kept my distance, really," said Bryant, who has been boxing for five years but missed the chance to qualify last year because he had a falling out with his coach.

Having moved here from Washington, he's a relative newcomer to the Utah amateur boxing scene, but doesn't lack confidence.

"If I fight how I spar, I will win nationals," he said. "If I fight like I did tonight, I won't."

Still, it was enough to outpoint Rasheed in a close duel.

In the only other semifinal Friday involving a Utahn, Jacob Peneueta fought with no gym affiliation and lost to Idaho's Brant Kimbrough when the referee stopped the contest in the third round.

The shortest regional semifinal bout was the first, as Wyoming's Wrylee Padilla defeated Montana's Michael Duggan with a first-round knockdown. Having already given Duggan a standing eight count earlier in the round, the referee stopped the contest when Duggan hit the mat near his own corner moments later.

Padilla, from Rock Springs, said he nailed Duggan with a combination, followed by a big left hook.

Twelve junior exhibition bouts preceded the three regional semifinal bouts Friday night.

Winners of the boys bouts, their club, and their weight division: Kaden Robinette, Fractured, 95; Justice Hubley, Fullmer's, 60; Adrian Lopez, Louie's, 105; Elzar Rosales (by default), Idaho, 60; Erick Costanado, Fullmer's, 85; Collin Tuilevuka, Utah, 80; John Ortiz, Reyes, 110; Anthony Espino, Montana, 80; Yair Estrada, City Center, 100; Tanner Gurule, Fullmer's, 100.

Winners of the girls bouts, their club and their weight division: Jacqueline Garcia, Louie's, 115; Hanna Eckhart, Montana, 110.

Several other Utahns had byes Friday and are scheduled to box Saturday for the right to go to nationals. That group includes Matt Searle and Milo Gutierrez of Fullmer's and Salt Lake City's Gabriel Chairez, Halatoa Pintau, Skyler Jose Torres and Siala Siliga.

Before the bouts, 2016 National Golden Gloves champion Diego Alvarez of South Ogden and Daniel Butterfield of South Jordan received $2,000 scholarships from the Redmond Mineral company to use at the higher-education school of their choosing.

Alvarez will go unopposed at regionals at 114 lbs. and therefore is automatically qualified for nationals, which begin May 1 in Lafayette, La.

Alvarez's Los Gallitos Boxing Club of Ogden, directed by coach Lalo Lopez, also received a $1,000 cash award from Redmond Mineral.

Twitter: @drewjay