Amateur Show with the Pomona Boxing Club
Father’s Day was a memorable one for the large crowd convening at the Mosley Manor this past Sunday in Pomona, California.
Sugar Shane Mosley and the Mosley Pomona Boxing Club hosted a special amateur boxing event in association with the nonprofit Diamond’s Love Foundation. Here is my exclusive report and photos from the day which including 17 amateur bouts, a kids’ fun zone and a meet-and-greets with the champs in attendance.
Joining multiple world champ Shane Mosley were World Boxing Council (WBC) Featherweight Champ Abner Mares, heavyweight champ Mike “Hercules” Weaver, two-time female champ Trina “Iron Butterfly” Ortegon (IFBA and IBA), IFBA Super Bantam Champ Kaliesha West, former amateur star and current pro featherweight Xavier “The Mongoose” Montelongo Jr., unbeaten heavyweight Alexander “The Great” Flores, undefeated lightweight Leon Spinks III (grandson of Leon Spinks) and more checking out the action at the sprawling estate of trainer Jack Mosley.
Over 500 fans came out to support this 2013 Father’s Day fiesta which also featured a taco bar, DJ and live entertainment and a display with three owls at the Wild Wings of California (Native Wild Bird Care Project) booth. Several of the fighters also ad their fathers by their side including Xavier Montelongo Jr. with dad/trainer Xavier Montelongo Sr. and female puncher Kaliesha West, who’s father Juan West is also her trainer.
It was an action-packed day for the attendees of all ages. Many families were joined together and everyone expressed what a fun-filled event this was for the community. Organized by Shane’s sister, Cerena Mosley-Prude, Shante Hall, Rose Garrett and their MVP team of volunteers, the Diamond’s Love Foundation had a KO day for the families gathered on the grounds at this weekend fan fest.
Sugar Shane and his family are keeping their legacy in boxing intact. With father Jack Mosley in the corner, Shane watched his own son Lil Shane Mosley Jr. lace up. Boxing is their family business and the bond remains strong for Team Mosley.
In the ring were combatants from ages 8-27 including fighters from Pasadena, Long Beach, Wild Card, La Habra, Elite, Barstow, Meadowbrook, Duarte, Santa Fe Springs, Azusa and more. Fight fans took in the action from the ring set up on the basketball court. The spectators also roamed the tiered levels of the Mosley home checking out the face painting booth, video game bus and raffle prizes.
And the audience got to meet their boxing heroes too as a ring presentation was made during the intermission. Wild Wings volunteer and artist John Barge III had a gift for Sugar Shane. Barge unveiled his original art to Mosley, who just won his latest WBC title in Mexico with a victory over Pablo Cesar Cano. The artist told me he wanted to present this to Shane for winning his eighth world title. The framed art is a Crimson Commemorative with a signature red hawk with a gloved fist in the foreground.
Mosley, still boxing at 41, is a future Hall of Famer who has remained humble, always giving back to his community in Pomona and beyond. And fittingly, it was almost 13 years to the day when Shane first won a WBC welterweight title in his bout versus Oscar De La Hoya back on June 17, 2000. Thirteen years later, Sugar Shane is a hero to the young amateurs, especially in the Southland.
Shane, Jack, and Cerena thanked everyone for coming out to this 2013 Father’s Day bash and expressed their longtime support of amateur boxing and charitable organizations.
The Mosley Pomona Boxing Club (with trainers Jack Mosley and Mike Kidd) scored several victories during the day, keeping the momentum strong in the Inland Empire.
During the show intermission, I also caught up with the hard-working crew of USA Boxing. This dedicated group of SoCal referees and judges are an integral part of what makes each sanctioned show a success. Officials Joe Zanders, Dick Jones, Delilah Rico, Zac Young, Henry Garcia, Lisa Garcia, Ray Chavez, Greg Fajardo, Elisa Fajardo, Krysti Rosario and more are always on the move, trekking from show to show. I saw them at amateur shows both Saturday and Sunday and this week they will be traveling to Oxnard for the Adidas National Boxing Tournament.
And Sunday’s show offered the fighters, officials and fans something different, a unique setting with fish ponds, a swimming pool and garden surrounding the boxing ring. Most boxing shows are held in tiny sweatbox gyms, so this event in the tropical outdoor setting was a pleasant surprise for many. It was also a nice respite for the families–and for the community. Fathers were able to spend time with their loved ones while taking in some heated boxing matches.
“I had a great time,” pro fighter Xavier Montelongo Jr., 21, commented. “We need to do this again soon!” The “Mongoose” recently added another win to his professional ledger, with a KO victory last month in Arizona. Xavier spent many years coming up in the amateur ranks and on Sunday, the young fighter was happy to check out the amateur action again. Always busy with training, this was Xavier’s first time back at an amateur show since his own amateur days. With his dad in attendance, Montelongo Jr. said this was a very special day.
This holiday show transcended boxing, with dads and their kids spending a memorable day in the warm sunshine. The set-up at the Mosley Manor made it fan-friendly with the interactive layout with the boxing matches and display tables. The show was such a big success that the crowd is already asking when the next one will be. Shante Hall told me there are plans for a possible October show with the location to be scheduled soon.
Female slugger Trina Ortegon also praised the show. “Shante Hall, you are an amazing hostess. Thank you for a wonderful time,” the champ known as the “Iron Butterfly” stated. “Great fights, no one got hurt, and lots of kids got to know the power of an important father. GREAT JOB!”
While the highlights were many for the attendees, I asked Shante what her own personal highlight was.
Hall stated her appreciation for all the pro champs and prizefighters coming out to show support and also spoke of the amateur boxers who gave it all inside the ropes. Shante said: “My favorite part of the day was when boxers and their families were leaving and expressed how much fun they had and that we did a good job!”
Check out my photo gallery from the day–and congrats to the Mosley family, Diamond’s Love Foundation and all the fighters!
PHOTOS BY MICHELE CHONG
