Morongo’s “Indian” Willie Schunke Presents Check
With breaking news this past weekend that the Los Angeles Police Department have arrested two new suspects (along with one female suspect arrested on accessory after the fact) in the savage beating of Giants fan Bryan Stow, no one was more happier to hear this than Southland boxing promoter “Indian” Willie Schunke.
The fight game vet has kept Stow (a Santa Clara County AMR paramedic) and his family in his thoughts ever since he first learned of the vicious crime that left the baseball fan with severe brain damage. And Schunke recently went one step further by contributing to Bryan’s need of financial assistance during what will be a slow recovery for the father of two. Stow was placed under a medically induced coma after the men who viciously attacked him at Dodger Stadium “allegedly cut his tongue, put out one of his eyes and sliced his nose, ear and lip” according to prosecutors.
Reaching out to someone beyond the boxing corners, Schunke decided to hold a special fundraising raffle with all proceeds donated to Stow, his wife and their two young children.
In this update about the funds donated from the raffle, check out some snapshots from the II Feathers card held recently at Morongo Casino, Resort and Spa in Cabazon, California where many familiar faces showed up in support including fighters Tim Bradley, Mikey Garcia, Jesus Soto Karass, Jose Luis Soto Karass, Vitaly Demyanenko, Bobby “School Boy” Chacon, Raul Marquez, amateur star Saul Rodriguez, Hall of Fame cutman Miguel Diaz, former World Boxing Hall of Fame Presidents Ken Thompson, Dr. Joe Noriega, Adolfo Perez, the band Hy3rid (Alfonso Gomez’s brothers Robb and Zeuz) among many others.
Speaking with “Indian” today, we caught up about the brand new headlines touting the arrests made in the barbaric beating against Stow. I asked him what first prodded him to reach out to the Giants fan.
“I was watching the news, just like everyone else,” Schunke told me, “and the idea came to me to try and help out any way I can. So I got the idea for a raffle.”
As a busy fight promoter, cutman, cornerman and glove supplier, “Indian” held his prize raffle in center ring at his recent promotion in association with Top Rank and II Feathers Promotions (with Al Franco) at Morongo.
With a team of pretty assistants including Vanessa Franco (sister of pro fighters Mike “Lil Warrior” Franco and Daniel “Twitch” Franco), Amanda Mendez and Pobedy Montes, II Feather Promotions offered a cache of cool prizes like an autographed satin cornerman’s jacket, a custom leather jacket, signed boxing gloves, sports memorabilia, certificates for complimentary hotel stays and meals, and much more.
The raffle was a rousing success and “Indian” Willie was able to present an $800 check to the ambulance company, who made sure it reached the beating victim and his family. Schunke was very appreciative of all the support he received from the local boxing community.
“It was a great turnout!” the Riverside cutman says. “We had a lot of local help and support for Bryan Stow. The fans had fun; besides the raffle we also had giveaways with T-shirts. And the people at the casino and the management were very happy with the show too.” The evening featured Alfonso Gomez vs. Calvin Green in the main event and Mike Franco vs. Rafael Lora in the co-main, where many special guests and celebrity fighters sat ringside. Coveted tickets to the Morongo fight sold out days in advance.
“So when will your next show be?” I asked him.
“Our next show may be in September or October,” he replies.
As an in-demand cornerman for heavyweight champ Chris Arreola, NABF and WBO NABO Featherweight titleholder Mikey Garcia and NABF Light Welter titlist Josesito Lopez (with three will all three possibly lacing up in September), getting the time to promote a show isn’t easy. Besides the trio of champs already mentioned, Schunke is also a cutman for Jonathan Arellano, Mike Franco, Daniel Franco (fighting August 19), and others. And he also owns one of the most exclusive gyms in Southern California, where trainers Henry Ramirez and Eduardo Garcia coach their prizefighters in Schunke’s state-of-the-art private gym in the Inland Empire.
“When I first started out in boxing I decided to learn everything about the sport,” Schunke, who learned to wrap hands from the master, Joe Chavez, relays. “So now I can be a cutman; I can wrap hands; I do everything except train boxers.”
“Indian” is a frequent fixture in the boxing scene, whether it be in the corner, promoting fights or supplying the gloves (with wife Dolores) utilized at pro shows. He was also part of the original “The Contender” reality TV series which made Alfonso Gomez, Ishe Smith, Sergio Mora, Peter Manfredo Jr. and Joey Gilbert stars.
With his trademark glasses and turquoise and silver jewelry, Schunke is loyal to the sweet science and also takes pride in his heritage.
As a tribe member of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, “Indian” Willie makes note of one distinction he holds.
“In regards to promoting fights, I am the first and only Native American promoter,” the boxing aficionado says.
Staying busy, he also chooses to stay low-key and under the radar, preferring to let the boxers shine in the limelight.
Schunke wasn’t looking for any publicity in his fundraising efforts for Bryan Stow, just looking to lend a helping hand beyond boxing’s borders.
Now with the new arrests of suspects, justice may be served. And as reports of the paramedic’s painful recovery trickle in, the Santa Clara man’s family can be assured that “Indian” Willie Schunke and the II Feathers team is in his corner.
Photos by Michele Chong