Full Circle for Ex-Con and Boxer

Gang life, drugs and violence were once the every day norm for Richard Savala Jr., better known as “Trino.” This Saturday he will be inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame in the upscale hamlet of Studio City. From ring life to street life to this weekend’s glare of the spotlight, it’s been a long and rocky road for the former featherweight.

The tattooed slugger, hailing from Sacramento, was once a promising prizefighter nicknamed “Mr. KO” for his streak of victories after turning pro in 1979. But sidetracked–and later on completely railroaded–later on down the road, Savala (22-3, 13 KOs) gave up a lucrative career for drugs and gangs which prematurely ended his ring life in 1983. Next stop for Trino was prison. For 12 years behind bars, the boxer took up right where he left off–diving into a life of gangs and drugs while incarcerated. Let’s just say he was no angel, not exactly a model prisoner. It’s also safe to say that the Sactown boxer probably would’ve even been kicked out of the “School of Hard Knocks.” He was that bad.

“I was selling drugs; I was using drugs,” Trino says as we chat a couple of days before his big induction. “There were stabbings, jumpings. That was the wreckage that was my life.”

Fast forward to 2011 and his old inmates probably wouldn’t even recognize the clean and sober life that the ex-con (now 11 years sober) abides by. Living a complete turnaround, the former fighter from Broderick currently owns his own bail bonds company and most surprising of all, he is married to the daughter of a retired homicide detective. “He let you marry his daughter?” was what everyone remarked after he and wife La Homa, who works for the federal government, tied the knot. Savala also continues to give back to the community counseling others addicted to drugs and alcohol, mentoring wayward youth and donating his time to many charities.

From his brushes with the law to his successful job working alongside law enforcement all make for a story that may not have had such a happy ending if Savala hadn’t managed to turn his life around in the nick of time. Keeping his connection to the fight game, the heavily-moustachioed man also still trains and works with young amateurs in Northern California.

Now he will be inducted–instead of “indicted” as in his earlier lifestyle–among his peers in boxing circles.

Standing tall next to his good friend and fellow inductee Loreto Garza, Trino will take his place in history as one of California’s Hall of Famers. With wife La Homa, his daughter, grandchild, along with a hearty contingent of Sacramento and L.A. friends back from when he fought at the Olympic, Savala will take the stage with this year’s class of new honorees chosen by Don Fraser’s famed organization. Making the event extra special is that there will be a trio of Sactown guys who made the cut. Good times with good friends for the former bad boy.

Savala, Garza and Ray Lovato are included in the 2011 group, along with many other well-regarded inductees. “Yes! There will be three of us from Northern California,” Savala says cheerfully. Trino is good friends with Garza and also close friends and co-worker with Sacramento’s Tony “The Tiger” Lopez, another former boxer and current bail bondsman.

The duo are even filming footage together for a future reality show and have also faced each other recently in a charity boxing match.

The Three Amigos have been through a lot together.

“Loreto and I grew up together, he’s a little younger than me but I’ve known him and Tony for a long time. Yolo County guys! We knew each other as kids and our brothers were friends too,” elaborates Savala. “And Ray fought and trained in our area too. He fought when I was locked up so I didn’t get to see him but I know he was a really good fighter.”

“And what was it like fighting them?”

“Loreto hit SO hard I hated sparring with him! I had nightmares about it,” Trino says with a shiver about their early days. “He was so lanky and fast–and he’d hit and run. I could never hit him back!”

And this December, Savala and Lopez are looking to rematch their first bout which was a fundraiser for abused children in their area.

While some say the fight was a “draw” Trino says otherwise. “Tony won! But I ‘let’ him win,” jabs his close compadre. “You know, he’s a three-time world champ so I had to make him look good. Plus he found me on a park bench and made me a bail bondsman so I can’t make him look bad in the ring!”

Not bad for an ex-inmate.

Not too shabby for the former jailbird whose life is now dedicated to catching the “bad guys.”

In fact, when I first called the ex-boxer this morning, I didn’t recognize this gruff and tough low voice when he answered, growling, “Hello.”

“Trino?” I questioned after identifying myself.

“Hi Michele!” he said quickly in a hushed voice. “Hey, can you call me back? We’re arresting someone right now!”

All in a day’s work for the former gang banger.

A few hours later, I tried the owner of Trino Savala Bail Bonds again.

This time his voice was back to the cheerful, upbeat, fast talking manner I had encountered in previous interviews.

“So how’s it going? Are you arresting anyone else right now?” I ask him.

“Nope! We got her,” he replies.

“HER?” I say.

“Yeah, it was a female. We arrested her and put her in jail,” Savala says, “AND after we made the arrest, we found her neighbor who was a drug user and I helped put them in rehab. It was a busy morning!” He laughs as we then chat about his upcoming awards ceremony.

“So Trino, with no disrespect to you, after your prison stint and your drug history, did you ever think you’d be going into any Hall of Fame?” I said.

He laughs. “No, I never in my life would think this,” he admits. “It’s a trip; I’m honored. I used to beat myself up a lot with a lot of bad stuff that I recreated. Life has shown me I can redeem myself!”

After going back to school, Savala now runs his own business and is also proud of a youth program he founded. He takes extra pride in mentoring others who seek a way out of the grimy underbelly he was once a part of.

For a man who was used to breaking the law, I wondered aloud what the turning point was for him.

Behind bars, he said the life he was living caught up to him. In his cell, Savala came to a life-altering realization.

“I joined a gang in prison thinking it was for the betterment of my people,” he recalls. “But prison gangs make you sacrifice a lot and I realized that I was hurting my own people by selling drugs and using. In prison, I had a moment of clarity. I had to change my whole belief system.”

Exiting gang life can’t be too easy for a violent and hardened criminal, who after leaving the gang would he constantly have to watch his back?

“It wasn’t easy but I had to get myself out of it,” Trino shares. “I was stabbed; I was jumped. And after that: Would I have to run and hide for the rest of my life?”

But with a warrior’s mentality learned early on from his amateur days boxing as a kid and later as a pro, the fighter stayed on the right side of the tracks, and has remained on the right side of the law. One more surprising twist entered the picture.

“Now some of the same people I picked up and sent to prison call me when they get out,” he further reveals. “They come to meet me for help, seeking guidance.” If he could change his life in a complete turnaround, Savala hopes to inspire and encourage others.

Redemption for a former prisoner who could’ve easily remained on the wrong side of the road.

“Trino, one last question for ya! Who’s gonna play you in the movie about your life?” I tease.

“What?” the humble and deeply spiritual ex-boxer says with a laugh.

“Well after all you’ve been through, they should make a movie of your life,” I tell him. “So which actor do you think should play you?”

“MARIO LOPEZ!” he chuckles this time, not missing a beat.

“Great choice. Mario’s a good boxer too! But he’d have to work out more if he’s gonna portray you,” I joke about the actor known for his ripped six pack abs. “So you better keep out of trouble if you want your movie made!”

“I have a good life. What I have today, I’m not giving away,” Savala promises. “That’s the only way, Michele. I’d have to give it away–and I won’t.”

The ex-inmate, former boxer and thriving bail bondsman doesn’t have any plan of giving in and going back to drugs and gangs.

His bountiful life has a purpose now and he really is working for the betterment of others. No turning back now.

Dining among boxing’s luminaries in the Empire Ballroom on Saturday, Savala will be applauded for his own contributions in the sweet science.

After this weekend, he will be a brand new member of the California Boxing Hall of Fame.

Many addicted professional athletes have been helped by stints at alcohol and drug rehab centers, and are now doing their part to help others as well.

2011 Induction Ceremonies
California Boxing Hall of Fame
Saturday, June 25
Sportsmen’s Lodge, Studio City
For ticket info: (818) 761-4887

Photos courtesy of Trino Savala Jr./ Group photo courtesy of 916 Knockout (Mike and Ricky Brodovsky)