Champs at The Rock Boxing Show
Former WBC Super Bantamweight Champ Israel “El Magnifico” Vazquez and former NABF Super Bantamweight titlist Efrain Esquvias Jr. came out to Carson, CA to support the amateur fighters at The Rock Boxing Gym’s Friday night show.
The two prizefighters have both scored victories over Mexican warrior Rafael Marquez. Vazquez (known for his classic trilogy versus rival Marquez) is currently training young sluggers at his Magnifico Boxing Gym in South Gate and is also a ringside commentator at Thompson Boxing Promotions and Latino telecasts. Esquivias looks to lace up again in the next couple of months. The South Bay boxer gained attention when he defeated Rafael Marquez on September 7 and continues to punch his way to the top.
At last Friday’s bouts, Israel coached the youth fighting out of his gym while Efrain also cheered on The Rock boxers who were matched on this USA Boxing-sanctioned show with the organization’s Dick Jones, Delilah Rico and their team of officials overseeing the bouts. Former pro fighters Sal Casillas and James Wimberly were also ringside mentoring the young pugilists.
There were 14 matchups at the show hosted by Head Coach Dennis Heffner, Esquivias’ trainer. The two first began training at The Rock (which also houses a church) almost a decade ago when it was just a bare bones room. “We started this about nine years ago,” Heffner explains with a smile. “I had some ratty bags I brought from my backyard; we used masking tape to make a ‘ring.’ We had a humble beginning but through hard work we’ve seen the transformation.”
And those young men that began boxing at The Rock years ago still come by to support the troops. I met Hassan McDowell, who told me he first trained at the Carson gym eight years ago. He speaks highly of Dennis who has become a father figure to many at-risk youth. “This is a good man,” Hassan tells me. “You can look up to him. It’s a tough sport but he is a role model and father figure to us.”
Esquivias recalls their early days. “I first came to the church here at The Rock with my cousin Mike,” the puncher recalls, remembering what it like back then. “Then we started training here. We didn’t even have a ring!”
Efrain recalls a visit from two teen boxers who would go on to make names for themselves. “The La Colonia gym donated a ring to us,” he recalls with a laugh, “and I remember Brandon Rios and Victor Ortiz coming to the gym to help deliver it! This was about eight or nine years ago and they were friends back then.”
And since then, the Carson club has thrived with Coach Heffner and co-trainer Miguel Diaz. The gym focuses on discipline, clean living, respect and working hard in and out of the squared circle. During the show, Heffner worked with young Randy Davenport, another super bantamweight learning the trade in the amateurs. Dennis’ protégé Efrain Esquivias was an amateur champ before making the ranks in the pros.
The amateur show featured many clubs from the region including The Rock, Magnifico Boxing Gym, Casillas Boxing Club, DG Boxing, Grampa’s Boxing, Rounders, Burbank Boxing Club, Crossroads, Commerce, Santa Fe Springs, Long Beach, Outlaws, and more.
Israel Vazquez says he loves working with the amateurs and has also been in the corner of pro Michael “El Unico” Ruiz Jr. and others.
Amateur boxing provides an outlet for the boys and girls to channel their energy and aggression into boxing skills involving discipline, self confidence, defense, strength and coordination. Guiding these youngsters are dedicated individuals like The Rock’s Dennis Heffner, Miguel Diaz and former champ Israel Vazquez. I know that there are long hours in the gym, countless days spent doing road work and loads of down time at weigh-ins. Trainers who work with amateurs put in long hours and often volunteer their time to help the kids.
Seeing a hand raised in victory is the pay off for a job well done.
Congrats to all the combatants at The Rock Boxing Show and see you at the fights!
Photos by Michele Chong
