Fort Carson senior airman wins Armed Forces Boxing gold

Brinson boxing 13th ASOS

Kent Brinson, a radio frequency transmission systems journeyman with the 13th Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Carson, lands a left Feb. 3 at the Armed Forces Boxing championships. Brinson won a gold medal at the event, and went on to a top-eight finish at the USA Boxing Nationals. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. James Baumgartner)

Published March 19, 2012
By Tech. Sgt. Ronald Hill
13th Air Support Operations Squadron

FORT CARSON, Colo. -- On Feb. 3, Senior Airman Kent Brinson accomplished one of his personal goals. After four years of hard work and training, he became an Armed Forces Boxing gold medalist.

Brinson is a radio frequency transmission systems journeyman and part of the 13th Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Carson. He has also seen his fair share of sparring in the ring.

A silver-medalist from last year's Armed Forces Championship, Brinson faced a rematch with Army Sgt. Charles Blackwell in the finals of the 201-pound heavyweight category. Last year, Brinson tired in the third round and fell short, losing 18-13. This year, showing improved conditioning, Brinson held an impressive defense against Blackwell's punches, controlling the fight with powerful hooks to dethrone Blackwell in a 35-13 victory.

"I know if I do what I can to be the best fighter I can be, I'm going to be alright and that's what I did tonight," he said after the fight. Brinson hopes to continue his Olympic dream by representing the United States at the Summer Olympics one day.

"Kent is an awesome example of a top-notch battlefield Airman, professional and smart with a modern warrior ethos," said Lt. Col. Thomas Moore, 13th ASOS commander. "He has the entire (tactical air control party) community in his corner and we are all very proud of his accomplishments, both in and out of the ring."

Brinson fought in the USA Boxing Nationals at Fort Carson, Feb. 27-March 3, a qualifier event for the 2012 Olympics. Brinson emphatically won his opening two matches, making it to the quarterfinal round. In the quarterfinal match he was narrowly defeated 11-8 by top-seeded Joseph Williams, securing a top-eight national finish and plenty of confidence going forward.