TEAM FUNEZ: Trainer & Boxer Ready to Rock!

Ricky Funez & Juan Funez on Pro Debut

Ricky Funez has been involved in boxing since he was a youth. As a scrappy kid, boxing unexpectedly found its way into his life, offering him a way out of the gangbanging lifestyle he was immersed in while growing up in the San Fernando Valley.

Trainer Joe Goossen and the young juvenile delinquent crossed paths one day–and Funez’ life changed forever. Ricky said he was hanging out with cholos and was caught tagging the Goossen’s gym. After he got caught, a 12-year-old Ricky returned to clean up his mess and began a working relationship with his early mentor Joe Goossen, a California Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee. The acclaimed boxing trainer and the gangbanger were an unlikely pair, but the duo have been working together for over 20 years now.

And as a teen, Ricky learned the ins and outs of the business with the veteran trainer and his brother, boxing promoter Dan Goossen while getting on the straight and narrow path he’s stayed on ever since. The former pro fighter and current boxing trainer has been Joe Goossen’s assistant, his right-hand man starting at the tender age of 16. Working out of the famed Ten Goose Boxing Gym in Van Nuys, Funez has spent countless hours working with fighters and being in the corner with many champs and contenders along the way.

With his allegiance to the sweet science never waning through the years, he has taken his nephew, Juan Funez, under his wing. Juan is just 19 years old and has 67 amateur bouts to his name. The featherweight will be making his highly-anticipated pro debut soon. His opening bout is scheduled for March 9 on the Goossen Tutor undercard of the Chris Arreola-Bermane Stiverne fight in Southern California. Originally slated to debut on the since-cancelled Andre Ward-Kelly Pavlik bout on January 26, Team Funez is now looking ahead to this March 9 date.

I recently caught up with the uncle/nephew duo at Ten Goose. Their compadre Jesus Soto Karass was also at the gym where he has previously trained. Jesus will be fighting on January 26 in a clash with Selcuk Aydin at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas.

The brick-lined walls of the Ten Goose Boxing Gym has drawn countless familiar faces through the years. Many athletes and actors have worked out at the legendary venue including baseball superstar Pete Rose, actors Rob Schneider, Mike Epps, Tisha Campbell, fighters Andre Berto, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Victor Ortiz, rap mogul 50 Cent, among others.

This Van Nuys building is where Ricky and Juan find their second home. The trainer dedicates much of his time to making sure the fighters have the optimum hours and opportunity to train. Ricky was there on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and on weekends, dutifully opening up the doors for the gym rats who dream of becoming world champs.

“Yes, I’m here at the gym every day–even the holidays,” Funez laughs. During our catch-up call today, Ricky was busy working with former welterweight champ Andre Berto. And though boxing is his true passion, he is also a dedicated family man, a father to two daughters, ages 17 and 4.

Through the years with his long-running stint working side by side with Joe Goossen, Ricky has worked with a very long list of boxers including his close friend whom he considered a brother, the late Diego “Chico” Corrales, Michael Nunn, Gabe Ruelas, Rafael Ruelas, Jeremy Williams, Azumah Nelson, Edison Miranda, James Toney, Shane Mosley, Fernando Guerrero, Israel Vazquez, and many, many more.

And now his prized protégé is his very own family member, sobrino Juan Funez. Juan is the son of Ricky’s sister Evelyn and Team Funez has high hopes for the amateur standout getting ready to enter the professional ranks at 126.

I ask his trainer why the time is right for the teenager to go pro.

“He is just 19 years old but the reason I want him to turn pro is we have time to build him up,” Ricky explains. “I feel we have the right people behind him; we’re not gonna just ‘throw him to the lions.'”

The Honduran Funez has long been in the SoCal boxing circle and he is really looking forward to his nephew’s fight. Juan is a likable young pug and boxing fans will be drawn to him with his style and personality. “He’s half Mexican and half Honduran,” his proud uncle tells me, “but he’s also FULL American!”

Juan has earned many amateur titles and trophies including the Junior Olympics and the National PALS in Oxnard.

“He lost to Joseph Diaz, the Olympian, by just one point in the Junior Olympics in Baldwin Park,” his uncle recalls.

What are Juan’s best weapons in the ring?

“I’d say his best skills are his boxing and putting pressure on,” Ricky responds. “He’s great at countering too.”

And how does the teenager like working with his Uncle Ricky?

“I’ve been working with him for 10 years now,” Juan tells me. “I love it! He pushes me to the limit to train really hard; he motivates me.”

During the decade, there have been times when the busy trainer must go out of town to work the corners and during Ricky’s time away, Juan says he feels the effects.

“When he’s not here, it’s just not the same,” the young puncher states. “The other trainers are great but when my uncle’s here I train a lot harder with him. He really knows how to motivate me.”

Juan’s looked up to his uncle for a long time and also counts a fallen champ as one he admires.

“I got to meet Chico Corrales when I was a kid,” he remembers. “And after watching Corrales-Castillo, I got even more involved in boxing. He is my favorite fighter along with Floyd Mayweather.”

The slugger can’t wait till his pro debut and will have many family members and friends cheering for him.

And will his trainer and uncle be extra nervous for his fighter, his own nephew?

“Yes! I do get nervous but I’m starting to control myself,” Ricky admits with a laugh. “While I’m doing mitts or the wraps, I always feel nervous. But once I go in the ring, it goes away. I forget everything and just focus on the right. We are ready!”

March 9 will be the start of a new Funez family legacy, one which began many, many years ago thanks in part to Ricky Funez’s mentor, Joe Goossen. The two have worked together for over two decades now and are still going strong.

“I also wanna give a shout out to Joe, my mentor and teacher,” Ricky says as our conversation wraps up. “I love working with him–and I’m still learning from him. In boxing, you learn something new every day. I’m learning every day in the gym and when I go home I watch videos and fights on TV. You never stop learning in boxing!”

“You tend to fly under the radar; I never see you showboating or trash talking,” I mention. “You’ve stayed humble through the years…”

“Yes, I will always stay humble, just like Joe has done,” he confirms. “I’m not gonna be arrogant; I’m not in the position to act that way and even if I was, I always wanna be humble.”

And the loyal student of Joe Goossen now has his own apprentice to guide in his nephew Juan.

Boxing’s in their blood.

Be sure to keep an eye on Team Funez as the 19-year-old makes his debut this spring!

Photo by Michele Chong