Michael Chavez: Back to Boxing!

L.A. amateur star returns to his roots

While most six-year-olds were losing their front teeth, little Michael Chavez was winning match after match in the boxing ring, already a veteran before the first grade.

While most in L.A. were watching the Lakers on TV, an adolescent Michael was at the Fabulous Forum being interviewed in person by the legendary voice of the Purple and Gold, Chick Hearn himself.

While some sports fans dreamed of someday meeting an Olympic hero, young Michael was on the canvas sparring with one–the future “Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya.

And while most awkward teens were hoping for a date to their high school dance, a confident teenage Michael was already hobnobbing with the glamorous Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

Welcome to the “not-so-ordinary” life of one of the brightest amateur stars of Los Angeles boxing of the ’80s-90s era which featured an especially deep pool of talented pugilists who later went on to find fame and fortune.

Meet one of the top players in the game during this time: Michael Chavez, amateur standout, pro fighter and USA Boxing official.

After choosing a different path outside of the ropes, the South Bay native has now returned to his roots in the sport.

A resident of Las Vegas since 2003, Chavez has been training again and working at local events in the area. If you attended Saturday night’s amateur boxing show at the Silver Nugget, you saw the former pugilist in action–as a judge.

I caught up with Michael during one of his recent visits to L.A. Along with our “significant others,” we met at a nearby eatery before heading over to a local gym to catch some sparring.

His childhood memories are like a “Who’s Who” in boxing. His scrapbook bulges with clippings and mementos of his accomplishments, his walls are crowded with photos from past glory, but the clean-cut 32-year-old is easygoing and humble. He doesn’t dish dirt or name drop like anyone else with his background certainly could be guilty of doing.

Growing up in the Torrance area with his parents Ray and Kathy and brother Sean, Michael began boxing at the tender age of five. It is also worth mentioning that when he first laced up, it was with his uncle, the legendary coach Fabela Chavez. “I was in a couple of fights in my neighborhood,” Chavez admits with a chuckle. “So my dad took me to the gym…and that’s how we found my cousin Fabela Chavez.” Fabela passed away in 2003 but to this day is still is revered in the sport with a gym and boxing club bearing his name. And the love of boxing runs strong in his family, Michael’s father, Ray, is also a USA Boxing official at various L.A. shows.

As a youth, Michael trained and sparred at Fabela’s and other locations like Eddie Heredia, Hollenbeck, East L.A. and various PAL gyms–and can count over 150 bouts during his career in amateur boxing!

Mike reminisces about all the places he traveled to for fights, saying this was a highlight of his career. Colorado, Mississippi, Iowa, Milwaukee, Arizona, Georgia, Texas, and Michigan are just some of the places he visited as a boxer competing on an elite level. “The best part of the amateurs was all the traveling I got to do,” he states. “All the different places, all the different people. It was so interesting.”

As we chat, additional details slowly emerge about his years as a highly-decorated amateur star.

In his same age and/or weight division at the time were Fernando Vargas, Diego Corrales, Jeff Lacy, Augie Sanchez, among several others. The “big kids” back then were De La Hoya, Shane Mosley, Jeremy Williams, and John Bray. They were all coming up in the ranks at the same time and Michael traveled and trained with many of them.

Checking out some of his personal snapshots, there’s a fearless Chavez as a six-year-old tyke ready for battle on the canvas (with just three ring ropes and no passbooks at the time!).

There he is posing with a pal, a very young (and super skinny) “Ferocious” Fernando Vargas, before he became the beloved fan favorite “El Feroz.”

There’s a grinning Michael (after he won the National Silver Gloves tournament) with Laker announcer Chick Hearn, answering questions with ease in the hot glare of the spotlight.

And one last pic is of a nonchalant Mikey meeting the infamous Dallas Cowboy pom pom girls.

To put things in current perspective, another photo from the past is of Michael with Charles Huerta, who is now a 23-year-old featherweight and talented up-and-comer with 12 pro victories. But in this grainy photograph, cute little Charlie is just a tot, barely in kindergarten, as he puts up his tiny dukes alongside Michael and his first-place trophy.

It appears that Chavez was around everyone and anyone who was involved in the L.A. boxing landscape at the time. Talk about six degrees of separation, Mike was right there in the mix!

Back then, he seemingly took it all in stride and now, as an adult he carries that same humble and relaxed persona with him.

During our meal, the waiter overhears us speak at length about boxing and he mentions that Oscar De La Hoya has been a patron at this restaurant. I tell the server that Michael has sparred with the pride of East L.A., and he’s thinking of climbing back up into the ring. While it’s unlikely anyone can reach the heights of fame that De La Hoya has achieved, Chavez does know firsthand what it’s like to be a winner.

Throughout his boyhood, he was groomed for the big time: He was a two-time National Silver Gloves Champion in 1989 and 1991, a National Junior Olympics Champ in 1993, a 1994 California State Golden Gloves Champ, and also a National PAL (Police Athletic League) Champ in 1994.

While several of his peers turned pro and continued on to global acclaim, Michael traveled down other avenues to success.

After three pro fights, he chose to protect and serve his country, spending three years in New Orleans as a U.S. Marine. From there, he was also involved with the Sheriff’s Department, worked in the mortgage business, embarked on an acting career and has worked for the State of Nevada as a corrections officer for the past six years.

But borrowing from a similar saying, “You can take the boy out of boxing, but you can’t take boxing out of the boy.”

So Chavez is now training again at Barry’s Boxing Center in Vegas. He hopes to get his license to return to the ring sometime this year. In his free time, Michael is also an official with USA Boxing and judges amateur bouts.

As we “carbo-loaded” at the Italian restaurant, Chavez says that about a year ago, busy with work and not much time for training, he tipped the scales at over 250 pounds. Boxing not only renewed his interest in the sweet science but also helped whittle away over 80 pounds. And his passion and love of pugilism came back. Although his last fight was a few years ago, the ex-light middleweight aims to fight again at 160, then seeing how his body reacts to that weight perhaps even going down to 147.

And while you may be wondering how he feels about the superstardom and millions of dollars that has been bestowed upon some of his fellow fighters from his amateur days, you won’t find any hint of regret or shades of bitterness here.

If you think he’ll trash talk about his former teammates, think again.

During our conversation, there was never ever even the slightest bit of envy of the huge success others have attained. The handsome ex-boxer remains modest about his own achievements, instead offering sincere praise for others whom he is proud to have stood toe to toe with. No fits of jealousy over “what could’ve been” from the earnest ex-boxer.

“So who was your toughest opponent?” I ask him, jumping right in.

“Fernando Vargas!” answers Chavez, shaking his head at the memory.

“We never fought in a real match but he was the toughest fighter I ever faced,” he admits. “We were 15 years old. I was 132 pounds, he was 125. When we sparred, he was stronger than I expected. I was kind of shocked!”

Michael says that Vargas was a cool dude, just a nice normal guy who trained hard. “We went to Mississippi for the Junior Olympic Nationals,” he explains. “Then Fernando went on to win at 132 at the Junior Box-Offs and Junior Olympics.”

“We also competed in USA vs. Ireland in the Junior Olympics,” Chavez says with pride. “We pretty much won all the matches.”

Only when pressed for more details does Chavez offer with a bit of a smile, “I also beat Jeff Lacy at the ’93 Junior Olympic Box-Offs!”

And during his “Wonder Bread” years, amateur boxing was on TV a lot more frequently than it is now. Michael talks about seeing his friend Jeremy “Half Man-Half Amazing” Williams in featured bouts. “I was a little kid when I met him. This was back when they would show amateurs on TV–I think it was an international tournament on NBC,” says Chavez. “I knew him from back then and I really liked him–he would knock guys out! I was shocked he didn’t make the Olympics.”

He also watched a future power puncher early in his career. “I saw Shane Mosley fight at the Blue and Golds,” he adds, in reference to the annual invitational amateur tournament.

While the glitz and glamour of pro boxing stardom may have somehow eluded him, Chavez does not complain; he is grateful and appreciative of all he experienced as a star on the amateur circuit. And as far as the ones who went on to become superstars, Michael has nothing but praise and admiration for them.

And he saves the highest praise for the “Golden Boy.” The two sparred four rounds when Michael was just 15.

“He was real quiet. Back then, he didn’t really talk that much,” Michael remembers about De La Hoya. “When he was standing in the ring, before the fights started he would just look like a quiet guy. So no one expected anything.”

But things changed quickly once the match began. “When the bell rang, he just changed. And he always finished the guys off in the first round!” Chavez marveled. “I think only one of his fights went to a decision and maybe one went to the second round. He was dropping guys at 15 years old!”

Of all the guys who he saw coming up, only one, De La Hoya, seemed like a sure thing. “Everyone already knew he’d be something, that he’d be on top one day,” affirms Chavez. “He was a natural.”

As he recalled fond memories from his boyhood days of fighting, there was no trace of “I coulda been a contenda” from this friendly and mellow ex-pug.

As we leave the dining room, we notice a lot of pictures of famous boxers lining the walls. I ask the good-natured Michael pose next to some of them. After exiting the restaurant, Chavez, his companion Rachel Cota, of Simply Fab Events Inc., and I decide to tag along with Coach Steve Harpst and the Burbank Boxing Club for a sparring session in downtown L.A.

We meet up at the L.A. Sands Boxing Club, owned by two loyal supporters of amateurs, Anthony and Sharon Sands. Mike and Sharon quickly recognize each other from boxing shows and she takes us on a tour of the building. Their old-school style of gym holds a lot of history–and more links to Michael’s past. The boxing ring was originally owned by Harry “Pops” Wilson and many young PAL fighters (like Chavez was) honed their skills inside these ropes. “Diego Corrales trained in this ring,” Sharon mentions. “And Oscar De La Hoya won the State Golden Glove Championship in this ring too.”

I glance at Michael as we chuckle over the coincidence.

The gym is packed with bodies. Chavez had been standing near the side of the ring, keeping a low profile. Coach Steve then asks if Michael wants to work the mitts with some of the young boxers he has brought down to work out with the Sands club.

The former amateur star jumps into action and was soon working with new fighter Vagharshak Grigoryan. Michael patiently showed the 12-year-old some classic moves and gave him a few pointers on the speed bag too.

After three rounds of mitt work, the boy asks Chavez about his own fighting style. “I always had somewhat of a pro style, but would fight both styles for the point system of the amateurs,” he replies. “Now I’m more of an inside fighter.”

As we watch some heavy sparring in the ring, I tell Michael maybe it’s a good thing he gave up boxing for a while since he kept his still-straight nose and non-cauliflower ears! Someone else comments that Fernando Vargas and Oscar De La Hoya have both also managed to keep their looks intact.

Chavez has remained friends with many of these boxers that he grew up around, including Fernando Vargas, Jeremy Williams, John Bray, Paul Gonzales, Richie Sandoval and Augie Sanchez.

Chavez also mentions Sanchez’s skills back in the amateur days. “He worked hard,” Michael notes. “And he was really good with great defense.” Now as fate would have it, the two are back in the gym together–the former bantamweight known as “Kid Vegas” is Chavez’s trainer. Which leads us to Michael’s next move: “My short-term goal is to fight again. I’m hoping to get my license this year,” he says. “I hope everything works out and I can fight this year.

Looking down the road, his long-term goals remain in the sweet science as he tells me with a positive outlook, “Hopefully within the next few years I can then work as a judge or even an inspector with the Athletic Commission.”

After this recent visit to L.A., Chavez is now back in Vegas.

And for now, he will focus on his work as a judge at amateur bouts as new boxers–just like he once was–strive for those championship medals and trophies.

But as he continues on his own journey in returning to boxing, you won’t have to wait for a “Where are they now?” update story. Once again, Michael hopes to be right back in the mix a second time. He plans to continue working as a corrections officer, training for a possible return to prizefighting and working with those amateurs boxers, something he really enjoys.

Seeing these hungry young kids–like he used to be–who all have their eye on the prize conjures up a lot of great memories.

“There were some pretty good fights,” he says of this weekend’s show. “It’s fun to see all the different kids who work hard for their goals in life.”

There’s a sentimental pause before he finally adds, “It brings back a lot of memories.”

Photos courtesy Michael Chavez and Michele Chong