Bell Gardens Boxing Show

Amateur fighters face off at Sunday’s event

If you wanted to scout out L.A.’s future stars of the ring, the Bell Gardens Police Department Youth Boxing Show offered five hours of great action between youthful warriors from all across the surrounding cities of Los Angeles. A whopping 25 bouts were presented at the weekend event with fighters from Apple Valley, Bakersfield, Hesperia, Oxnard, Maywood, LAYAC, Wilmington, Maciel, Azteca, Commerce and more all competing for belts and medals.

The show was originally slated for 15-20 matchups, but due to the demand from participants at the weigh-in, a few more fights were added to accommodate the hopeful young boxers. “We jumped to 25 bouts because so many clubs showed up,” explained Josie Arrey-Mejia, Program Director for the organization. “We wanted to give them the opportunity to get their chance. Some came from so far away to fight. And that’s what it’s about–they’re there to fight.”

In the gym’s standing-room-only crowd, the kids fought in hopes of adding another victory to their records. Many amateur pugilists have dreams of going to the Olympics and someday going pro. Each win in these local amateur shows helps to move them up that ladder toward their main goal.

Cheering on the youngsters during the afternoon of close battles were several prominent faces in the boxing community who presented the victors with championship belts. One belt presenter was Martin “El Gallo” Castillo, who built an impressive amateur career (160-20, 90 KOs) and was a 1996 Mexican Olympian. The flyweight went on to a solid pro career, posting a 33-3, 17 KOs record before recently retiring. He is an inspiration to the children who see living proof of what they can achieve.

Castillo was there with his Maywood stablemates, both pro and amateur, including up-and-comer Charles Huerta and his father/trainer Mando Huerta. The unbeaten young prospect Charles (10-0, 6 KOs) will be fighting on the Club Nokia fight June 11 in downtown L.A. I ask the featherweight about the upcoming bout. “I’m coming to win!” says the likable boxer. “I’ve training hard–I’m ready.”

At Sunday’s show, the attendees were all buzzing about local favorite Alfredo “Perro” Angulo’s first loss the night before to Kermit Cintron. “El Perro” trains out of the Maywood gym, but the Maywood Boxing Club was stoic about the defeat. They are some of the toughest fighters you’ll ever see. And no doubt the popular Angulo will come back stronger than ever with the support of the L.A. fans behind him.

Also watching the boys duke it out on the canvas during the show were two-time World Champion Bobby “Schoolboy” Chacon (59-7-1,47 KOs), Rodolfo “Gato” Gonzalez (81-7-1, 71 KOs), Frankie Duarte (47-8-1, 34 KOs), Andy “The Kid” Heilman (42-7-3, 22 KOs), trainer Pepe Correa, and former fighters and current trainers Joey Olivo and Kevin Morgan. Ringside notables included Ray Owens, Phil Barba, Eddie Martinez, boxing photographer Carlos Baeza, World Boxing Hall of Fame Directors Alex Cornejo, Steve Harpst, and amateur standouts Denise Rico and Ryan Garcia.

Bell Gardens’ Lt. Fairfield was the emcee at the event where fans enjoyed carne asada tacos and took part in a fundraising raffle for the host club.

Arrey-Mejia, who is also the Treasurer of the World Boxing Hall of Fame, was proud of her young charges who celebrated four victories at the weekend show. She will now focus on the 2009 Ringside World Championships. In August, Arrey-Mejia will be taking a team to the national tournament held in Kansas City.

A day after her own sold-out show, there was some time to reflect on all the young boxers’ accomplishments and the support of the crowd. “I was excited about all the people, and seeing their expressions. Nothing compares to seeing their excitement and support for the boxers,” Arrey-Mejia tells me. “It made me happy to see the kids having a good time. They work so hard, they train hard for that belt!”

Photos by Michele Chong: Bell Gardens young boxers; Martin Castillo with Referee Danny; More winners at the show; Bobby Chacon greets Program Director Josie Arrey-Mejia; Frankie Duarte at ringside; “Gato” Gonzalez and wife, Barbara; The Maywood Boxing Club–Mando and Charles Huerta with “Gallo”