TODAY’S matchups feature more young hopefuls
For all you SoCal fight fans, if you want to take a break from the NFL playoffs, I’ve got a perfect solution for you!
Come out and support the young amateur boxers at TODAY’s outdoor show at the Fight Academy in Pasadena.
The USA Boxing-sanctioned event, hosted by former fighter Jimmy Jackson and his Westminster’s Boxing Club, is scheduled for 25 bouts from ages 8-34, both novice and open divisions.
At yesterday’s show I had a chance to talk to Jackson during a break in the action.
A former stablemate of Carlos Palomino, Jackson fought to 24 pro victories without EVER having 
an amateur fight. And that’s the reason why he became involved with his own amateur boxing club and promoting shows for the area’s youngsters–to make sure they get the experience they need in the ring.
“I was training for a couple of months, didn’t have any amateur fights at all!” the ex-welterweight tells me. “I lost my first six fights when I turned pro.”
Jimmy recalls what it was like as a fighter in the ’70s–with no one really looking out for young prospects. “I fought EIGHT times in 53 days,” Jackson remembers.
“They paid me $65 for four rounds,” he says, shaking his head. He fought the likes of Pete Ranzany, Bruce Curry, Andy Price, Kevin Morgan and many others. Years later, he’s still in disbelief at the paltry sums offered to ring warriors back then. “Ten rounds were $500…And the most I ever made during my career was $37,000.”
Then a powerful player in the fight game stepped in to lend support and assistance. “If it wasn’t for Bob Arum,” states Jackson. “I would’ve never made any money at all!”
But instead of being bitter, Jackson has now taken a stance to encourage, train and protect young amateur fighters.
“I don’t want young boxers going through what I went through,” he states.
At yesterday’s show, youths from boxing clubs The Rock, Wild Card, Refuse to Lose, Burbank Boxing Club, No Limits, Teamsters, Tarzana and Stockton all aced up in the mandatory blue or red gloves to face off against their foes.
And if you were to hold an impromptu “Coaches’ Clinic” at the show, you’d have some of the very best trainers at the pow wow. I ran into a lot of former fighters, current pro boxers and respected veterans of the fight game during Saturday’s event.
Former sluggers/current trainers John Bray, Simon Brown, Kevin Morgan were there to watch over their charges, along with other familiar trainers from the area including Flip Johnson, Chuck Washington, Troy Bodean, Shane Langford, and Fausto De La Torre.
New pro fighters Lionel Davis and Eder Peralta were also in attendance.
Well-regarded manager/trainer/promoter Prentiss Byrd was at the show too. I caught up with the legendary Kronk Gym manager who has a talent-rich stable of heavyweights right now, both 
amateur and pro. For all you “shorties,” you better eat your Wheaties if you want a shot at this gym. Only if you’re 6′ 3″ or taller do you have a chance of joining The Rock stable. And with 14 up-and-comers, chances are good that America’s next great heavyweight may just come out of this gym.
And before all the action began, Savant Young from the Fight Academy gym gave me a tour of his facility. An MMA fighter and trainer himself, Young showed me his gym’s boxing rings and octagon cage. And for the littlest ones, there was even a tiny, miniature-sized ring they use as a “play pen” for some of the kids to bounce around in.
A believer in bringing up amateurs through the ranks, Young is excited about hosting an amateur MMA show on January 29 with the new California Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Organization, Inc. 
(CAMO).
While chatting with Savant, after hearing the opening bell, I then went back outside to watch the bouts. With a live DJ and taco bar, the crowd cheered for their own heroes during many close battles. A few standing eights were issued with the show closed out by a thunderous knockout by one of The Rock’s talented heavyweights.
Don’t miss TODAY’S action–See you at the fights!
Fight Academy
491 S. Arroyo Parkway
Pasadena, California
Sunday, January 17
Bouts begin at 1:00 p.m.
Photos by Michele Chong
