Region 8 Championships FRIDAY in SoCal
The 2011 Silver Gloves Region 8 Championships begin Friday, January 7 in Pasadena, California. This is an advancing tournament in which only state winners can participate, so fans will see the elite of the sport with many future stars in the making. The winners from this SoCal event will move on to the Nationals held next month in Missouri.
And as the young combatants from several states get ready to lace up to prove who’s “Best in the West,” I’d like to bring attention to a former Silver Gloves Champ who went on to become not only a world titlist and superstar boxer–but an individual who became a role model and inspiration for other kids all around the globe.
There have been countless boxers who continued on to gain fame and fortune after competing in the amateurs. “The Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs) is just one shining example of how a boy from humble beginnings can elevate himself to a highly successful career through the sweet science.
But his road to world championships was more than rocky. It was filled with numerous potholes that Donaire, as a boy, had to face head on.
Why is he a role model and inspiration for other boys and girls hoping to become a champion someday?
In a previous chat with Nonito and his wife Rachel, in December, the duo told me all about the boxer’s hardscrabble childhood. Let’s just say he wasn’t exactly born with a silver spoon in his mouth. A scrawny kid with big ears and big teeth that he would eventually grow into, Donaire was teased and bullied and made to feel nothing as a child. Raised in a poverty-stricken environment, the couple told me Nonito went shoeless, wore clothes with holes in them and often went hungry with the meager supply of rationed food afforded to his family.
Not many people could rise to such a high level of success after a harsh beginning like this. Facing the cruel taunts of others, he somehow found the strength to overcome everything on his way to the top.
What was the one defining factor in turning his life around?
Boxing, of course.
Through his fists, through his heart, through his discipline and will, he overcame everything and is now a star–and a World Champion.
And it all began with amateur boxing. With almost 80 amateur bouts logged in his passbook, Nonito was a Silver Gloves sensation.
At last month’s final press conference in Los Angeles before Donaire’s match against Volodymyr Sydorenko, I witnessed a fun Silver Gloves reunion. While I was chatting with the fighter, who was born in the Philippines, Coach Rodrigo Mosquera came up and gave Nonito a big warm greeting as the two reconnected. The trainer’s two sons, Rodrigo Jr. and Anthony competed and traveled alongside the Donaires during their amateur days.
“Anthony’s here!” the gregarious coach from East L.A. told Nonito. As the younger (and heavily inked) Mosquera came over to say hello to our group, he heard Donaire exclaim, “Wow! This is Anthony? He didn’t have any tattoos when we were kids.” As everyone chuckled, the three men reunited and even broke into an impromptu chant together, “Region 8! Region 8! REGION 8! REGION 8!” As the the two sluggers continued to shout this blast-from-the-past chant, they pumped their fists in unison and laughed out loud.
Coach Mosquera explained that as youngsters, they all knew each other as they climbed the ranks of the amateurs toward pro careers in the ring. And they have many great memories from the Silver Gloves competition, which is for ages 10-15. They continued to reminisce about the fun travels, their matches and the many adventures along the way. I mentioned to Nonito that Joe Zanders is still the “main man” in the Region 8 division and he replied, “That’s cool! I really enjoyed being in the Silver Gloves with Joe and everyone else.”
“Nonito and Anthony both won the National Silver Gloves when they were young and they were team members together for Region 8 in the National Silver Gloves,” Mosquera elaborates. “Those were some good competitive years–I miss them!” Coach Mosquera has spent years developing young fighters and is trainer to both amateur and pros. The dedicated coach from Eddie Heredia Boxing Gym will have two youthful charges competing this weekend, “We have Harvey Collazo and Sergio Aldana in the tournament.”
His son Anthony Mosquera has three victories as a pro and has been training in Big Bear to fight again soon. He remembers Donaire’s skills and says he was a great competitor. His dad also recalls the star-making instincts that Donaire was blessed with early on.
Coach Mosquera adds that as a child, a tiny Nonito already showed signs of his natural gifts inside the ropes. “Even back then, we called him “Flash” because of lightning fast hands and feet!” Coach told me. “He and his brother Glenn and their dad and trainer Nonito Sr., we all went to Kansas City on the same plane. These were some of the toughest kids back then! And Nonito had such speed and power. He continued on and now he’s World Champ!”
Region VIII Silver Gloves Director Joe Zanders remembers Donaire as an amateur standout. “Please tell Nonito I am SO proud of him!” raves the California State USA Boxing Director and new National Coach. “Many of the pro champs, like Nonito, were part of our Silver Gloves champions. I remember Nonito from the JOs (Junior Olympics) too. It’s wonderful that he’s doing his thing–representing well, becoming such a good citizen and a GREAT champ!”
In boxing, as in life, not all of the boys go on to a life of wealth and recognition. Some fall prey to drugs, gangs, or perhaps a life of crime while others can’t seem to make the transition from the amateur-style of judging to the pro style of fighting. But many youngsters do become Olympians and pro fighters.
As I chat with Zanders, whose champs are the reigning “Team Title” winners from last year, he begins to relay memories about some of the kids who have gone on to the prestigious level. “As a matter of fact, Michele, I’m wearing a shirt from 1999 with the Silver Gloves names on it!” he chuckles. “Let me look at it…Yeah, this is great. Tim Bradley and Andre Ward are listed on it in the senior division!” He adds that many of the SG champs went on to the Olympics or went pro. “We had Bradley, Ward, Oscar De La Hoya, Andre Dirrell (from back east), Jose Navarro, Jose Estrada, Jose Soto…” he states. “Looking at this white and green shirt brings back a lot of memories. I’m really proud of these boxers. And to see these guys grow up–it’s been awesome.”
His western region combines seven states. “California, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah,” the good-natured USAB director says with pride. “And can you guess the last one? It’s Hawaii!”
And California, especially, has long been a hotbed of boxing in the amateurs. Another pro fighter, now residing in SoCal also remembers Nonito while they were both young athletes fighting for a shot, just like all the other scrappy sweaty kids in headgear and tank tops.
Stan Martyniouk, now a professional boxer under Goossen Tutor Promotions, has 10 victories as a pro and will be fighting at the end of this month. The Estonian-born lightweight has fond memories of his amateur days and of bonding with many boxers while competing in California.
While also traveling for the National Golden Gloves and part of the World Cup Team, Stan has mentioned all the faces back then that are now all making the mark in the sport. “We were all so young then,” he laughs. “But I remember everyone then and now I’m seeing the same guys all reaching success at the same time! California has turned out some great boxers.” Some of the other pugilists that Martyniouk competed with over either in the U.S. or internationally were Edwin Rodriguez, Danny Jacobs, Demetrius Andrade, Shawn Estrada, Javier Molina, Brandon Gonzales and Gary Russell Jr. and of course, Nonito Donaire.
As current WBC Continental Americas Bantam Champ, Donaire will be stepping inside the ropes on February 19 as he faces the tough Fernando Montiel (44-2-2, 34 KOs) for the WBC and WBO Bantamweight titles.
Coach Mosquera, who first met the superstar Pinoy almost two decades ago, remains impressed with Donaire and is looking forward to next month’s matchup in Vegas. “I love this style matchup. Fernando Montiel is a well-seasoned professional from Sinaloa. I like him; he’s humble and well-educated,” he nods. “And I think Nonito’s a hell of a good fighter with good hand speed. I like his hand speed with power and ring generalship, plus Nonito fights off his momentum. If you throw at him, he’s gonna counter. He can fight moving and coming at you!”
The veteran trainer plans to be there in person for this exciting bout. “Montiel better be careful,” Mosquera warns. “If he falls asleep, Nonito will knock him out! It will be a tough fight; I know them both. May the best man win!”
And starting Friday, may the best little men win during the Silver Gloves Regionals. The three-day event will be held this year at Victory Park and will no doubt feature some good action on the canvas. Coach Zanders says before he heads off to tonight’s competition, “There will be 20-25 bouts in each session; Saturday is a double session. We’ve got about a couple hundred boxers competing.”
Just like Nonito Donaire, all these kids have a shot at greatness. You never know which “diamond in the rough” it’s gonna be. So if you want to catch boxing’s next superstars, be sure to check out some of the Silver Gloves action this weekend.
See you at the fights!
2011 Silver Gloves Regional Championships
Friday, January 7–Sunday, January 9
Friday 6 PM, Saturday 12 Noon/ 6 PM
Finals Sunday 11 AM
Victory Park
2575 Paloma Street
Pasadena, California
(626) 744-7500
Photos by Michele Chong