Amateur Andres Borrego Headed to the Nationals!

Colorado’s Silver Glove Champ Triumphant

Arvada, Colorado’s Andres Borrego is heading to Kansas City after winning his championship bout in this month’s 2012 Silver Gloves Regional Championships held at Victory Park in Pasadena, California.

This amateur tournament is one I look forward to every year. It’s a chance to catch up with the youth I’ve gotten to know through various USA Boxing shows. When I arrived at this year’s Region VIII finals pitting State Champs from California, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada against each other, I saw many familiar faces.

One friendly coach I met last year quickly greeted me. Mike Quintana is Andres’ uncle and trainer. He brought his top boxers from Sloans Lake Boxing Club to compete at this prestigious advancing tournament. I asked Coach Mike where his young champ was? “He’s over there,” Mike gestured. I looked to where he was pointing, but didn’t recognize Andres at first–the boy was much taller than when I saw him in 2011, when he won the “Outstanding Boxer” honors.

Borrego came over, laughing at my reaction. “I grew a lot since last year,” the top amateur said. “I was 4′ 8″ and now I’m 5′ 3!”

“Oh my god, you’re seven inches taller now,” I note. “What are you eating? Maybe I should try it!”

“Mexican food!” the 12-year-old answers with a chuckle.

Well whatever Andres is eating seems to agree with him as his proud coach fills me on the finals the night before. His prized pupil still wearing his first-place Silver Medal, Mike gives me an update about the win.

“Andres is going to Kansas City,” Quintana announces. “He beat Ryan Garcia!”

“He beat Ryan? Wow, congratulations. Was it a close match?” I ask Team Borrego. I’ve also known 13-year-old Ryan for several years and his parents Henry and Lisa Garcia are well-regarded USA Boxing Officials/Volunteers in the amateur circles. Ryan’s younger brother, Sean Garcia, is also an amateur champion. Since another boxing event kept me witnessing the Garcia–Borrego match, I wanted to hear from Andres and Mike about their Saturday fight.

“We blew them out of the water,” a passionate Coach Quintana replies. “Everyone’s shocked that he beat Ryan Garcia, but I’m not. Andres’ got God-given talents. And in this fight with Ryan, there was the ‘revenge factor’ after their Mesquite fight; I thought Andres’ won that one.”

The boys’ first encounter was last year in Mesquite, Nevada, in which Ryan was the winner of that feud on the canvas.

Since then, the kids have been friendly with each other, even communicating through social media. But before their Pasadena showdown, it seemed to be a war of words brewing before this bout.

The camps clashed after Mike said he read comments reportedly made by Ryan’s father, Henry.

“I read things he said about Andres’ that I didn’t like. I read it and my family read it,” he said, still obviously bristling at the memory of the so-called “trash talking” between the two teams. Quintana said the articles he read fueled the fire between pint-sized rivals–and their coaches.

“I’m not here to egg anything on and I’m not here to say anything bad but the proven champ last night was Andres Borrego,” Coach Mike tells me.

Squaring off in the age 12-13, 100-pound division, it was a “turf war” between the “Colorado Kid” and the favored “Cali Kid.” Their second battle against each other–three one and a half minute rounds to settle the score. When the final bell rang, this time it was Andres’ hand raised in victory, upsetting amateur star and multiple champ, Ryan Garcia.

So is there any “bad blood” remaining between the two camps?

I posed that question to the 2012 champ: “Do you want to fight Ryan again?”

“Well, It felt good to beat him,” a thoughtful Andres said, “but I don’t have anything bad to say about him. And I would fight him again if he’s in my weight decision…”

And there was mutual good sportsmanship coming forth after Borrego’s victory over teenage phenom Garcia.

Henry and Lisa sent me a message: “We wish Andres the best at the Nationals! He is a really sweet kid.”

While there may have been heated exchanges simmering between the families, everyone realizes these boys will be facing each other time and time again in the future. And since they will be competing in the same Region VIII team, no harm, no foul.

And while Coach Mike reiterates that he was upset after reading quotes from Ryan’s dad, they are now looking ahead to KC. And he takes pride in the sportsmanship with his slugger. “Andres is humble and likable,” Quintana states. “Look at this kid–he’s got it all!”

Borrego and his camp will travel to the Ringside 2012 National Silver Gloves Tournament February 1 in Independence, MO to face off against the best in the ranks. This will be Andres’ third time heading to the Nationals, where he placed second twice.

He’s been boxing since the age of seven; it’s in his bloodline. “It’s in the family; he’s carrying on for my father and grandfather too,” his uncle/trainer mentions. “He’s got natural talent; quick and he has power and has a great double hook.”

Representing Arvada (near Golden and Jefferson), the Colorado boxer, who will turn 13 next month, is an Olympic hopeful who loves the sweet science.

I wondered if the seventh grader had any interests outside of boxing?

As I chatted with him, his friend and fellow fighter, Xavier Cardona, 13, and Coach Mike, it’s crystal clear that for them, it’s all about boxing, boxing and more boxing for the team.

“What do you like to do besides box?” I ask.

“I tried football but I didn’t like it,” Andres answers, shrugging. “I don’t like anything else…JUST BOXING!”

“Who is your favorite boxer of all time?”

“Manny Pacquiao!” the 12-year-old amateur grins, “because he’s a southpaw like me!”

Watch for this young amateur southpaw Andres Borrego to compete in the Nationals beginning February 1 in Missouri.

Photos by Michele Chong