Amateur Boxing Scene: Busy Summer Ahead!

PfLUS Exclusive Pics From OXNARD PAL

Boxing is alive and well as evidenced by the countless stream of boys and girls lacing up in the amateur ranks. And this summer looks like it will be a knockout season as many important competitions will be taking place in California, Nevada, Missouri and more.

The kids and teens the compete have Olympic dreams in their sights and pro championship goals in their future. But making it in the big leagues doesn’t happen overnight. The children and their parents spend endless hours in the gym, patiently sharpening their skills, perfecting their footwork and growing strength, discipline and confidence through the rigors of the sweet science.

Through the decade, I’ve been to many amateur shows and tournaments and I can bear witness the dedication and desire of these youth boxers. Beginning with early morning weigh-ins with coaches clamoring to get their kids on the matchup boards to the long hours of waiting before the show starts. Boxing is a mental game as well as a physical one and these little warriors learn to tough it out early on. And just as it is in baseball: “There’s no crying in boxing.”

And these tough young gladiators are a talented bunch. Through the years, I’ve seen many grow up and enter the pro ranks like Randy Caballero, Juan Funez, JoJo Diaz, Artemio Reyes Jr., Xavier Montelongo Jr., Frankie Gomez, Matt Villanueva, Jesse Villanueva, Seniesa Estrada, Daniel Franco, Peter Haro, Eric Mendez and many more.

I recently checked out the action at the 2014 Adidas National Boxing Tournament at the Oxnard PAL Gym to see the current shining stars in amateur boxing. This show (like most prestigious tournaments) was almost a week long beginning with the registration, trainer and fighter meetings, weigh-ins and four days of competition in three rings. From June 16-21, sluggers from all over the U.S. took their turns in the spotlight during heated competition that lasted well into the night.

I met teams from all different parts of the country including two boxers who came all the way from Hawaii. Logan Yoon and Vincent Siorda flew to SoCal to take part in the Oxnard shows and several local shows and tournaments during a month-long duration and “vacation” for the boxing boys. Logan and Vincent represented Kawano Boxing and were with their fathers/trainers George Yoon and Jesus Siorda. Vincent fought in the finals and Logan went on to win his division’s honors and a brand new belt.

During the competition, the kids who won their early bouts (sometimes fighting as many as three times in four days) moved on to the finals in which green championship belts were awarded. The days leading up to the finals were long ones but the fighters, their families and trainers and all the USA Boxing officials/volunteers showed up each and every day with a strong stance. USA Boxing’s Dick Jones and Delilah Rico helmed a crew of referees and judges that are dedicated to the sport.

Many of the amateur officials have children that have boxed and/or are still competing and have come to love the world of amateur boxing through years of weekend shows and monthly tournaments.

One father I ran into at the show was John Molina Sr. His son John “The Gladiator” Molina Jr. fought in a blood-and-guts war with Lucas Matthysse in April of this year that had the boxing fans going crazy in a “Fight of the Year” candidate. Even though his son (who is signed with Al Haymon) is successful in the pros having earned WBC and WBO titles, John Sr. still puts in time working with young amateurs. Amateur boxing is rough; countless hours and endless days in the gym and on the road–for no pay.

But yet, there was Molina Sr. proud to be in the corner with fighters from the Azusa Boxing Club. For six days, he attended the Oxnard meetings and matches. Molina Sr. had Timothy Lee in the finals and Lee showed his ring presence in the finals. John says he loves the sport and enjoys working with the amateurs.

Other area gyms I chatted with were Hollywood’s Wild Card Boxing Club, Pasadena’s Villa Parke Boxing Club, the Burbank Boxing Club, and the Westside Boxing Club.

Brothers and trainers Jose Saucedo and Nacho Saucedo from Westside work with both amateur and pros. At the Oxnard show, they had Nick Arce and Tenoch Nava competing for glory. Both guys proved their toughness in the ring with Arce in the finals, winning a belt. The Saucedos say after Nick (who’s still in school) will go pro in the near future.

For teen Damien Lopez, the Oxnard event will be a memorable one. He celebrated his 19th birthday on June 13 and won his semi-final bout on his mom Angela’s birthday (June 20). Trained by his father, David Lopez, and fighting out of Coach Steve Harpst’s Burbank Boxing Club, Damien fought in the finals winning a championship belt on Saturday night. The family got to celebrate this victory as well as the two birthdays.

I also saw a USA Boxing mainstay, Coach Joe Zanders (LBC 33 Association President). The trainer was with his prized pupil, Michael Norato, who fought to win his division’s 2014 championship belt. Look for L.A.’s Norato to be making his pro debut soon.

And for those who still proclaim “Boxing is dead,” the sport is alive and kicking. Each show turns away tons of fighters wanting to get on the card; there’s just not enough room for each boxer even though some shows have 25 bouts or more crammed into the day. I see many disappointed boys and girls not getting a matchup. It’s hard on them as they’ve prepped both mentally and physically only to not get a fight. But the good news is, there’s always another show the next day.

At the Adidas tournament, all of the boxing clubs were already making plans for their next competition. In the amateurs, the kids fight almost every weekend. There’s experience to gain and skills to hone. So the amateurs are kept busy with local shows every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The families, trainers and officials are truly loyal, often dropping plans at a moment’s notice to go to the next gym for a chance to add another win in their passbooks.

Here is a list of just some of the upcoming tournaments that some of these same kids from the PAL tourney will be competing in:

• July 14-19: 2014 Jr. Golden Gloves Nationals in Mesquite, Nevada
• July 15-19: Title Boxing’s 2014 Desert Showdown Amateur World Championship at Fantasy Springs in Indio, California
• July 25-27: High Desert Diamond Belt Amateur Classic in Hesperia, California
• July 28-August 2: The 4th Annual Ringside World Championships and the 2014 Female National Silver Gloves Tournament in Independence, Missouri
• August 29-30: The 21st Annual Blue N’ Gold Tournament at Sportscene in Long Beach, California

And these are just the major tournaments coming up. There are also plenty of local shows (to numerous to name) that are not included in my above list. A boatload of weekend shows that will give the amateurs a chance to shine. And all in all, there are plenty of talented teens that could become the next superstars in the pros.

You never know who’s gonna make it all the way to the top. Which ones will cash those million-dollar paychecks?

That’s part of the fun in following amateur boxing…Keeping an eye on not only the ones with the obvious star quality but those “hidden gems” with the raw talent that will go on to surprise everyone.

Come out and check out the fresh-faced talent. AND KEEP SUPPORTING AMATEUR BOXING–These young men and women are our future champs!

Photos by Michele Chong