Champ wins BCR WBC Belt at Desert Showdown
Teen boxing sensation Xavier Montelongo Jr. has officially marked the end of his amateur career with a bang by winning the first-ever BCR WBC Legends of Boxing Museum’s championship belt at the 2011 Desert Showdown Lonsdale World Championships held this past weekend at the Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella.
I caught up with the 19-year-old both before and after what he says is his very last bout as an amateur. Nicknamed “The Mongoose,” Montelongo has amassed quite a resumé through the years as I’ve watched the East Los Angeles boxer continue to rack up prestigious titles and victories along the way. With over 200 bouts logged in, he’s also won over 40 amateur titles including 20 national titles like Ringside World Champion, National PAL Champ, National Jr. Golden Gloves Champion, MexGames and more.
Training with his father Xavier Montelongo Sr and Gilbert Valdez out of Solid Rock Boxing Gym, he campaigned at 132 while traveling all over the world competing in shows and tournaments. Xavier first laced up at age eight and after more than a decade honing his skills, the Schurr High School graduate is now ready to take the next step as a professional prizefighter.
He wanted his very last bout as an amateur to be a special one as did all of Team Mongoose. As the minutes ticked down to his final match before going pro, I observed Xavier warm up with trainer Valdez. He was focused and intense but also smiled and acknowledged all well wishers who stopped to greet the young amateur star.
Then it was time to get his game face on. Time to take his place inside the ropes for his final duel in the desert. You can call it the “Last Stand” as everyone watching realized that this bout was ushering in a big change ahead for the heralded amateur.
And the energy in the Palm Springs casino was already crackling even before Montelongo’s highly-anticipated bout began. With a couple of thousand spectators watching on, all eyes were on center ring where “The Mongoose” would take on Rocky Ramos from San Diego. The pair of sharpshooters gave the audience a spirited show with Montelongo showcasing his skills on the canvas. I watched with trainer Joe Estrada, who coached Xavier in early years. “He’s gonna do great as a pro,” Estrada (whose daughter Seniesa is now 2-0 as a new pro) told me between rounds. “With his style of fighting, he’ll do good.”
The fans were riveted as the watched Montelongo use his swift hands, crafty combinations and lightning-fast accuracy over his tough ring adversary Ramos, 23, a former Pan Am Games Champ.
After the final bell rang, the two talented warriors waited for the official announcement as Montelongo Jr. was crowned the 2011 Desert Showdown BCR WBC Champion. Angel Ochoa, representing the WBC Legends of Boxing Museum in San Bernardino, unveiled the shiny new belt awarded to “The Mongoose.” The green and gold world amateur belt takes its name of “BCR” from founder Roger Romero’s uncle Bert Colima Romero (“Give it to him, Colima!”) while honoring WBCares (“Big Champions Supporting Little Champions”), a nonprofit helmed by World Boxing Council’s Jose Sulaiman, Mauricio Sulaiman and Jill Diamond.
Stepping down from the ring, Montelongo strapped the precious hardware around his waist as he celebrated with Team Mongoose.
With this final amateur triumph, the Solid Rock slugger now sets his sights on entering the pro fight game.
As experience shows, it’s not always a seamless transition to go from headgear, heavily-padded gloves, and standing-eight counts that protect youth boxers, then moving up to professional ranks wearing a mouthpiece as your only protection above the shoulders. Switching from the point system of the amateurs to pro rules also takes some getting used to. But many of Xavier’s local contemporaries have also recently gone pro including Frankie Gomez, Randy Caballero and Seniesa Estrada, all finding success in their new careers.
The new BCR WBC title holder hopes to continue his own winning ways as he steps up his game.
After his weekend victory, I caught up once again with the high-octane “Mongoose” as he reflects back on his decorated amateur career while looking forward to his burgeoning career as a professional. Friendly, polite and thoughtful, the deeply-spiritual teenager also proudly takes on the role of a mentor for younger kids and is very active with the Victory Outreach Church.
On the other hand, he’s also a very normal L.A. teen who sports a tattoo on his bicep and earrings in his lobes, went to the high school prom and loves spending time with his pretty girlfriend, Ruby. He also just happens to have mad skills in the sweet science.
And he’s open and honest while talking about the politics in boxing, his decision on going pro, and in sharing his joy at winning another new belt. Projecting a wholesome persona, the pugilist flashes a good sense of humor combined with a keen business savvy, wise for his age. Here are my “12 rounds” with Xavier along with some exclusive snapshots from Saturday’s Desert Showdown!
Michele Chong: Congratulations, Xavier! You just won the Desert Showdown and also recently fought in the Last Chance Tournament. What made you decide to turn pro instead of trying for the Olympics?
Xavier Montelongo Jr.: The reason why me and my team decided to turn pro was because we are not going to the Olympic Games due to a lot of politics in USA Boxing and we didn’t qualify for the trials. At the Last Chance I fought a kid from Ohio (which is where the tourney took place). He had three points taken away for holding–and he still won! I don’t mean to criticize anyone but me and my team believed we won but the judges saw it another way…also we have 200 amateur fights so we have enough amateur experience to turn pro–and I wanted to end it the right way by winning a championship (BCR)!
MC: Have you decided when you will go pro?
XM: I am planning on going pro this year, hopefully October or November.
MC: And at what weight class?
XM: The goal weight is 126 pounds, featherweight.
MC: How will it be to go down in weight?
XM: I haven’t been that low since I was 14! (Laughs) But it won’t be a problem. In the amateurs, 132 is a tough division but I believe I’m up there. So 126 will be a little bit of an adjustment–and sacrifice–but I can do it.
MC: What did you the think about your final bout and your thoughts of winning the brand new BCR WBC belt?
XM: My fight was good. I didn’t know too much about my opponent, just that he was older than me. I was nervous because I knew it was my last amateur fight and I wanted to end my amateur career with a win! I’m really happy about winning the BCR WBC belt. It’s a great accomplishment and hopefully in the pros I can get one of those real WBC belts.
MC: Who were your pro favorite fighters growing up? Is there any style you emulate in particular?
EX: I don’t really have just one; there are so many I look up to. In training, I like Roy Jones Jr., Floyd Mayweather, Juan Manuel Marquez. I like the punchers too but I really like “true craftsmen” with skills to win, not just guys who slack off trying to land that one big punch. Right now, my favorite is Sergio Martinez. And he’s not the “ugliest” guy in the world either.
MC: You’re right about Sergio. (Laughs).
XM: I’d like to be like him, a boxer but also open to anything beyond boxing.
MC: Like Sergio Martinez, you’ve also had inquiries about modeling and acting too, right?
XM: Yeah, I’m open-minded to that stuff besides boxing. I always want to give 100% to anything. My dad taught me that; he implemented that early on with morals and values. He may seem quiet and observant but he’s one of the smartest guys I know. He owns his own business too.
MC: With your dad in your corner, are you ABSOLUTELY sure that this was your very last amateur fight?
XM: THIS IS IT! We had talked about fighting in the Blue and Gold but I feel Spotlight 29 was the perfect place for my last fight. And I have 200 fights so that’s more than enough. When the scouts hear how many bouts I have they usually don’t want me to fight anymore in amateurs. Sometimes boxers fight too much with the wear and tear–and fighting for no money–and then they are already banged up.
MC: Have you signed with a promoter yet?
XM: We’ve talked to a few and they’re gonna look at my tape from Saturday too but we haven’t signed with anyone yet.
MC: Do you feel any pressure about expectations once you’re pro?
XM: Well I think the media is always looking for the “next big thing” so they try and always compare you to someone. And if you’re a decent looking Mexican-American they compare everyone to Oscar De La Hoya. (Laughs)
MC: (Laughs). That’s true. Boxing always wants the next or future “Golden Boy.” So I’ve noticed you have already have a good fan base, a great group of supporters. Any message for family and friends?
XM: I just want to give a shout out to East L.A., my church Victory Outreach, Team Mongoose and all my supporters and fans! Without you guys there is no Mongoose. And last, but certainly not least, the media for covering my career.
MC: Congrats again, Xavier! Good luck to you.
XM: Thank you, Miss Chong!
Xavier Montelongo Jr. is forgoing his Olympic dreams of going for the gold.
He and Team Mongoose hope that his future path will be golden as he strives to make a name for himself in the pros.
Sleek, agile and speedy just like his ring moniker, look for the clever “Mongoose” to shine.
Photos by Michele Chong