Photo by Rhonda Apple Philip Wright and Olester ‘‘Little Joe” Benson, representing Henderson Hall Boxing Club, both won their matches July 17 at ‘‘July Justice,” a Marine Corps Community Services sponsored event at Smith Gym on Henderson Hall.

And that is exactly the sentiment from patrons, coaches, the Henderson Hall team and other winners last Saturday when Smith Gym on Henderson Hall hosted July Justice Amateur Boxing.

The event was sanctioned and officiated by USA Boxing.

Athletes competed in nine weight classes from 14 gyms across the nation.

According to MCCS representatives, over 200 people attended the event.

Doors opened to Smith Gym at 4 p.m. and in spite of the line, the people paying their $10 admission seemed excited to be there. Refreshments were available for purchase and throughout the gym as the event lasted until the final bell of the last match; people were cheering and shouting their personal coaching tips for their favorite boxers.

The first match was the Novice 132 weight class and Joseph Ilano of Vibe Boxing defeated James Montgomery from Peninsula Boxing.

The second match was the Novice 125 and Amber Blumenfeld of Claremont Boxing beat Talanee Tillory of Gary Russell’s Gym.

Matches three and four proved victorious for host club Henderson Hall.

In the third match, representing Sub-Novice 152, Olester ‘‘Little Joe” Benson from Henderson Hall won against Kadrin Brooks Moon from Supreme Defense in an exciting referee stopped contest bout.

It was Benson’s first amateur fight.

Growing up in what Benson described as a ‘‘rough” neighborhood in South Washington, D.C., the 19-year-old said, ‘‘The dean of my school recommended I get into boxing after he brought kids from my school to visit Henderson Hall.” Benson has been training for only five months with Henderson Hall coach Ted Hohney.

‘‘I gave it my all,” said Benson, who trains at the Marine Corps gym six days each week and considers boxing greats Roy Jones Jr. and Floyd Mayweather his favorite boxers. Benson, who is right-handed, said ‘‘I worked a lot on my left hook and my one-two.”

‘‘If Benson’s match was a professional one, it would’ve been a TKO since the referee stopped the action in the second round,” said Hohney.

The fourth match of the afternoon was the Novice 178 class with Philip Wright from Henderson Hall defeating George Neal of Richmond PAL. Wright, 24, has been boxing in the amateur league off and on since 2006.

‘‘Growing up, I’d get into neighborhood fights,” said Wright, a subcontract administrator for Lockheed Martin who graduated with a double major in math and Spanish from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga.

‘‘I used to work out at the Rockville, Md., gym where I’m from and my uncle and coach Hohney were friends through the Marine Corps,” Wright said.

This was Wright’s fifth fight and his record is now 3-2. ‘‘I feel I did well today.

My opponent got sloppy and kept dropping his hands,” Wright added.

He won by a decision after three 10-minute rounds. Wright works out at Smith Gym three times each week for one to two hours each visit.

Both Benson’s and Wright’s defeats kept a smile on Hohney’s face.

The retired Marine Corps master gunnery sergeant is a part-time boxing coach and also works at Smith Gym as a fitness attendant.

Hohney boxed as an amateur in the middle-weight class while on active duty in Okinawa, but said, ‘‘I wasn’t part of the Marine Corps boxing league.”

Retiring from boxing in 1972, Hohney said, ‘‘I just had enough.”

In the fifth match of ‘‘July Justice,” was the Novice 165 class with Chris Watson from Diamonds in the Rough defeating Maurico Vargas of Prestige Boxing.

After a brief intermission, Joseph Young from Gary Russell’s Gym defeated T.K. of Annandale Boxing in the Belt 132 class; In Open 165 class, Antwon Douglas of ABC defeated James Seamour of Team ILA. Lastly, for the title belt, the Super Heavy Weight Open Belt competition, Jerry Forrest of Motion Boxing defeated Brian Coullette from Team ILA.

The Henderson Hall team currently has 14 boxers in the club and six are actively fighting. No Marines or Soldiers were in matches for this event. ‘‘They’re all currently deployed,” Hohney said.

The next amateur boxing tournament to be hosted by Henderson Hall will be held at Smith Gym in October.