Packed house for another Bound Boxing Academy show

Gone Hollywood? With the Bound Boxing Academy Boxing Shows being such a hit in the South Bay, you can expect even more diversity/showmanship from the top boxers like Julian “The Mexican” Rojas who had his hair color changed for the last show.

On Friday evening, February 19, the Bound Boxing Academy’s USA Amateur Boxing show had so many patrons in attendance you couldn’t have fit another person in the door even with a shoehorn. As usual the host team won the most matches going 4-0 with The Arena taking second place with 3-0.

All told, there were 12 boxing clubs represented at the show and three boxing teams were making their first appearance in a USA Amateur Boxing event. The three first timers included the UFC Gym, San Marcos, the University of California San Diego’s and from south of the border Tijuana’s Jackie Nava Boxing Club. 

The Bound Boxing Team that delivered that perfect 4-0 performance included Christian Rivera, Julian “The Mexican” Rojas, Alejandro Bastidas and Gracen Hoopii.

In Bout #1, it was 11-year-old Christian Rivera (84.8 lbs. with four previous bouts) from Bound Boxing being declared the winner by disqualification after his opponent 11 year-old Fernando Lopez (80 lbs. with four previous bouts) from Nevarez Boxing had to pull out due to a headache.

(l to r) Christian Rivera winner by default in Bout #1 and one of the show’s hosts Andrea Medina, National Champion and two time Junior Olympic Champion.

In Bout #2, it was Eric West (18 years-old, 125 lbs., Open Division) from the Coachella Boxing Club coming away with the victory over Brandon Cruz (17 years-old, 125 lbs., Open Division) from the Pride of San Diego Gym, Bonita, Calif.

With like styles, West won the match by an unanimous decision by out working Cruz in both rounds one and two, and then Cruz came on to take the final round.

(bottom, right) Eric West (wearing blue trunks) of Coachella Boxing gets the win over Brandon Cruz from The Pride of San Diego.

Bout #3 featured 9 year-old Antonio Padilla (82.4 lbs., in his second bout) from the Legacy Training Center, Vista, Calif. going up against 10 year-old Alejandro Bastidas (80.2 lbs.) from Bound Boxing who was making his debut. From the outset, it was clear Bastidas was the more disciplined boxer and instead of coming wide with his punches as Padilla did, Bastidas’ more accurate punches went straight as an arrow.

At the conclusion of Bout #3, we see referee Rick Ley raising the arm of the victorious Alejandro Bastidas after he defeated Antonio Padilla by an unanimous decision.

Bout #4 featured 13 year-old Esteban Julian “The Mexican” Rojas (89.2 lbs., 18 bouts) from Bound Boxing taking on 13 year-old Xavion “Xman” Douglas (91.8 lbs., with 23 previous bouts) from the Nevarez Boxing Club, Vista.

In Bout #4 it was Julian “The Mexican” Rojas of the Bound Boxing Academy (red gloves) doing battle with the always tough Xavion “The Xman” Douglas from Nevarez Boxing, Vista. All photos: Jim Wyatt

From the git-go Rojas established himself with his accuracy which led to Douglas being issued an 8-count in round three. Realizing that Rojas had the lead on the scorecards, Douglas threw caution to the win and went full bore right up till the final bell. With “The Mexican” having his hair colored turquoise green for this bout, the talk later was: “Is this going to be allowed? It was obviously a distraction.”

Hair coloring tip from cosmetologist Christina Marie Jenkins: “You have to lighten your hair to nearly platinum, tone it to white, and then add whichever color you’re wanting. But if you’re going for bright red, orange, yellow, or hot pink, you don’t need to lighten to platinum, just going to yellow orange would do. But for blues, greens, and violets, platinum is the way to go. And if you have dark brown to black hair, you’ll have to lighten in a double process (lighten twice) or it won’t go past orange. And a double process is also necessary for those who use box color on their hair, sometimes they have metallic dyes in them which are very difficult to lift. Black box color with metallic dyes in them don’t lift at all.”

In Bout #5, it was 14-year-old Adam Palma (113 lbs., 6 bouts) from Golden Hands Boxing going up against 16 year-old Randel Salazar from the Pride of San Diego Gym (117 lbs., 3 bouts). Salazar edged out Palma in round one based solely on the use of his stiff jab. That being said, it was the much taller Salazar who returned to his corner with a bloody nose.

When a bout like this Adam Palma of Golden Hands versus Randel Salazar of The Pride of San Diego is taking place – time stops. It was another classic with Salazar taking the first round and then Palma dominating both the second and third rounds to get the victory.

In both the second and third rounds Palma began to dominate with the quicker hands and more powerful punches. A brief time after an 8-count was issued to Salazar, the referee stopped the bout. At that point, Palma’s punches, right crosses and left hooks, were coming in bunches and the bloody nose looked ghastly.     

In Bout #6, they had 9 year-old Xadrian Garza (56 lbs. in his debut) from the Tiger Smalls Boxing Club on Mission Gorge going up against 8 year-old Gracen Hoopii (58.4 lbs., in his debut) from Bound Boxing.

In round one, Hoopii was in charge and with a six-pack of punches had Garza’s head snapping back. Hoopii kept up the pressure in round two and soon had the referee issuing Garza an 8-count. Garza made a valiant effort and took round three, but by that time, the judges already had Hoopii well ahead.

Bout #7 featured the ladies, 19 year-old Ayla Carrol of the newly started UCSD Boxing Team (114 lbs., in only her second bout) going up against 17 year-old Michelle Alvarez (113.2 lbs., 8 bouts) from the Jackie Nava Boxing Club, Tijuana.

Despite going non-stop and being competitive, the difference in the experience levels was too much to overcome for Carrol. In command throughout, Alvarez had the tighter defense, maintained her composure and kept pressing forward to deliver the more accurate blows.

Bout #8 featured 16 year-old Jesus Castillo (124.8 lbs., 11 bouts) from the Jackie Nava Boxing Club, Tijuana in a slugfest with 16 year-old Jason Meza (128 lbs., 12 bouts) from The Arena, Point Loma, Calif.

In Round one, the more accurate Meza gained some momentum by landing the harder shots, mostly to the head. Despite the beating he took in round one, Lopez was right back in round two exchanging leather. Both gents left everything they had in the ring as they closed out the bout.

Bout #9 featured 17 year-old Ulises Bastidas (142.2 lbs., 6 bouts) from The Arena going up against 16 year-old Jovanni Gonzalez (141 lbs., 5 bouts) from Pinzon Boxing.

Bout #10 featured 19-year-old Ali Fahkreddine (143 lbs., Open Division) from Old School Boxing in the College Area, San Diego, Calif. taking on 19 year-old Kyle Erwin (139 lbs., Open Division) from Nevarez Boxing, Vista, Calif.

Bout #11 featured 21 year-old Anthony Franco (154.2 lbs., Open Division) from The Arena, Point Loma, San Diego, Calif. taking on 23 year-old Nico Cortez (149.8 lbs., Open Division) from Nevarez Boxing, Vista, Calif.

In Bout #12 it was 27 year-old Jose Valencia (159, 2 bouts) from the UFC Gym in San Marcos going up against 23 year-old Hector Gomez (165.8 lbs., 2 bouts) from The Pride of San Diego, Bonita, Calif.

In Bout #13 it was 20 year-old Terrance Vaughn (147 lbs., making his debut) of the Pride of San Diego going up against 20 year-old Vince Garin (151.4 lbs., making his debut) from UCSD.

In the final bout of the evening, Bout #14, it was 28 year-old Jessie Arguelles (143.6) of Nevarez Boxing, Vista going up against 23 year-old Andres Munoz (144.6) of the Pride of San Diego, Bonita. (photo below, left) The young man with the biggest grin in the gym couldn’t wait to have his photo taken with his uncle – the victorious Jessie Arguelles.

In Bout #15 it was 25 year-old Miguel Cepedes (139.8 lbs.) from Rhino’s Boxing going up against 21 year-old Jesus Corral (137.6 lbs., making his debut) unattached.

In Bout #15 it was Miguel Cepedes (blue trunks) from Rhino’s Boxing, Vista getting the best of Jessus Corral (red shirt) unattached.

In the final bout of the evening, Bout #16, it was 20 year-old Jessie Arguelles (163.4 lbs.) unattached going up against 17 year-old Luis Ramirez (167) who is from Marical Boxing but traveling with the Jackie Nava Boxing Club of Tijuana. 

The victorious Jesse Arguelles has his arm raised in victory by referee Hondo Fontan after defeating Luis Ramirez in Bout #16.

Coach Salvador of the Bound Boxing Academy is joined by a future pugilist.

You can’t beat teamwork – in the photo above we see Julian Rojas posing for a photo with his proud father. Below, the victorious Bound Boxing Academy boxing team and as if icing on the cake, we have Julian Rojas’ latest report card. Those grades on the latest report card – outstanding.

Their next Friday Night Fights on Broadway show is scheduled for Friday evening March 18th.