United Boxing & Fitness hosts their first USA Amateur Boxing Show
A memorial banner was displayed at the latest USA Amateur Boxing show and on it were three boxers, (l to r) Felix Castro “El Gato”, Luis Antonio Gamez Jr., “El Luisillo” and Pablo Armenta, “El Bronco” – three extremely popular young men who passed on to their eternal reward far too soon. Photo: Jim Wyatt
May 3, 2014
Before announcing Saturday’s results, it’s important we welcome United Boxing to that exclusive group of gyms who are willing and able to stage a USA Amateur Boxing show. As the hosting of these shows becomes more onerous and without a doubt more costly,
we’re seeing fewer gym owners stepping up to the plate and showing us they have the cohonnes to do so.
Speaking of cohones, these well attended shows have become such a major undertaking, it reminds me of a tale I once heard while working in Laredo, Texas. Late afternoon, this big cowboy dropped in at a local restaurant following a night of heavy drinking and roaming about in Mexico. While sipping his tequila, he notices a sizzling, scrumptious looking platter being served at the next table. Not only did it look good, the smell was wonderful.
He asked the waiter, “What is that you’re serving?”
The waiter replied, “Ah senor, you have excellent taste! Those are bull’s testicles from the afternoon’s bull fight. A delicacy!”
At first, the cowboy appeared taken aback, but then said, “What the heck, I’m on vacation down here! Bring me an order!”
The waiter answered, “I’m so sorry, senor. There’s only one serving per day because there is only one bull fight per day. If you come tomorrow and place your order, we will be sure to save you this delicacy.”
The next morning, the cowboy returned, placed his order, and later that evening was served the one and only special delicacy of the day.
After a few bites, and inspecting the contents of his platter, he called to the waiter and said, “These are delicious, but they are much, much smaller than the ones I saw you serve yesterday!”
The waiter shrugged his shoulders and replied, “Si, Senor. Sometimes the bull wins.”
The use of this crass tale is for affect, to remind everyone of the perils of running one of these local boxing programs and also taking an added gamble when producing one of these shows. The margin between making a buck, breaking even or losing your shirt has tightened (considerably) and gym owners, like most business people would not survive if gorged by the bull.
And yet, for the sake of their students, they have to gamble. Their students need to be tested in order to improve. So in the future, we’re looking for more and more of you brave matadors to grit your teeth, and face the bull.
As mentioned above, Saturday, one of the relatively newer gyms, United Boxing & Fitness at Main Street and Hilltop Drive in Chula Vista, faced the music and did a splendid job.
On Saturday, May 3, 2014, one of the newer boxing gyms in San Diego, the United Boxing & Fitness Center in Chula Vista, CA hosted the latest USA Amateur Boxing Show. With boxing fans coming from near and far and filling up the upper balcony, “It was packed to the rafters.” Photo: Jim Wyatt
The results are as follows:
In Bout #1, it was 16 year-old, Rene Flores (135 pounds) of Lee Espinoza’s Coachella Valley Boxing Club taking on 17 year-old Roberto Meza (8-2) of the host gym, United Boxing & Fitness, Chula Vista who weighed in at 132 pounds. Interesting to note, Meza, who now lives in Temecula, CA but trains in Chula Vista, commutes 360 miles per week to train at the United Boxing facility.
In round one, with Meza getting off to a slow start, Flores took the initiative and began to land some big overhand rights. In round two, Flores changed his strategy and smothered his opponent either against the ropes or in a corner. He stymied Meza’s offense by working the body and staying in close. Flores’ successful in-fighting continued into round three to insure victory.
In Bout #1, it was Rene Flores (r) getting the decision win over Roberto Meza.
In Bout #2, it was 14 year-old Gustavo Garcia from Lee Espinoza’s Coachella Valley Boxing Club (157 pounds) making his debut against 13 year-old Manj Taa of United Boxing (157 pounds).
This one had chaos written all over it. It was scary to watch as these two pugilist kept loading up on one another. It was just a matter of time before one or the other got hurt and it ended up being Garcia. After an early stoppage for the issuance of an 8-count, a white towel from Garcia’s corner came flying over the ropes and referee Rick Ley immediately called a halt to the match.
At the close of the show, Manj Taa was selected “Boxer of the Day.”
(top, left) In Bout #2, it was Manj Taa (l) getting the TKO win over Gustavo Garcia. (bottom) In the show’s closing ceremonies, Taa (r) received “Boxer of the Show” award from a member of the US National Boxing Team and future Olympian, Genaro “El Conde” Gamez. All photos: Jim Wyatt
In Bout #3, it was an 11 year-old righty Abraham Gallegos (8-6) of the Garcia Boxing Team from the Broadway Boxing Gym in Los Angeles (67 pounds) getting the decision over 12 year-old southpaw Juan Medina of the Bound Boxing Academy, Chula Vista (67 pounds).
This was a dandy match between two skilled boxers. Gallegos’ strategy involved working the body nonstop while Medina felt more comfortable picking his spots from the outside. With round one definitely going in the Gallegos column, rounds two and three were toss-ups, a judges’ nightmare to decide. In the end, the close decision went to Gallegos who threw more punches.
At the conclusion of Bout #3, Abraham Gallegos (r), the winner and his opponent Juan Medina pose for photos.
In Bout #4, it was 14 year-old Giovani Contreras (11-6) from Barrio Station, San Diego (120 pounds) going up against 14 year-old Manuel Jaimes (120 pounds) from Felipes’ Boxing Club, Lathrop, CA.
Here’s a case where, Jaimes, the upright-up boxer was able to out-duel the lower, crouching brawler. It was a matter of scoring, Jaimes won by using the cleaner shots to the head and body while Contreras went with the wider, looping and sometimes slapping punches that don’t get you any points because you’re not using the white of the glove.
At the conclusion of Bout #4, Manuel Jaimes (l), the winner, and his opponent, Giovani Contreras (r) pose for photos.
In Bout #5, it was 11 year-old Julius Ballo (75 pounds) of The Bomber Squad which trains at the Marron Boxing Camp in Lakeside, CA getting the unanimous decision victory over 11 year-old Dominick Vega of the Coachella Valley Boxing Club (75 pounds).
In this hotly contested affair, Ballo demonstrated he has the quicker hands and spent the majority of that first round dodging in and out to score.
Vega, who did a lot better in round two, could not keep up with Ballo who was in perpetual movement. Playing catch up, the much taller Vega made round three an all out war.
At the conclusion of Bout #5, the victorious Julius Ballo (r) poses for photos with his opponent Dominick Vega (l).
In the Bout #6 slot, they had 11 year-old Jabin Chollet (86 pounds) scheduled to face 12 year-old Joseph Landeros, (86 pounds). It’s not certain why this bout was declared a walk-over but it happened and Landeros walked away with trophy.
Bout #6 was won by Joseph Landeros (r), by virtue of a walk-over. Here we see Landeros receiving his award from future Olympian Genaro “El Conde” Gamez.
In Bout #7, it was 14 year-old Daniel Guevara of the Garcia Boxing Club (130 pounds) getting the victory over 14 year-old Erick Garcia of Rhino’s Boxing, Vista, CA (130 pounds).
Daniel Guevara of the Garcia Boxing Club (l) gets the victory over Erick Garcia (c), shown here with his coach Jessie Nevarez (r) from the Rhino’s Boxing Gym.
In Bout #8, it was 20 year-old Juan Beltran of United Boxing (158 pounds) getting the decision victory over 24 year-old Terrence Hendriks of the Bomber Squad from the Marron Boxing Camp, Lakeside (158 pounds).
As the name denotes, the Bomber Squad, Hendricks spent far too much time loading up for that one big blast while Beltran was more efficient and scored well on the one and two punch counters to gain the victory.
In Bout #8, it was Juan Beltran (l) getting the win over Terrence Hendricks.
The real showstopper – During intermission, this toddler put on quite a show when he started to jump rope for the amusement of onlookers. Photos: Jim Wyatt
In Bout #9, it was 26 year-old Javier Santos of United Boxing (201 pounds) getting the best of 19 year-old John Phillips of The Arena MMA Gym, Point Loma, San Diego, CA (201 pounds).
In Bout #9, it was Javier Santos (l) of United Boxing getting the win over John Phillips of The Arena MMA Gym, Point Loma. All photos: Jim Wyatt
In Bout #10, it was 12 year-old Danny Martinez of the Grace Boxing Gym in Palmdale, CA (95 pounds) getting the best of 13 year-old Alfredo Vargas of Barrio Station, San Diego (95 pounds).
Dedication plus – Mr. Martinez and his support group had to drive a little over three hours to attend the event.
(bottom, right) In Bout #10, it was Danny Martinez (l) of the Grace Boxing Gym, Palmdale, CA getting the victory over Alfredo Vargas of Barrio Station.
In Bout #11, it was 34 year-old Andrea Iniquez of the Alliance Training Center, Chula Vista (123 pounds) getting the TKO victory over 21 year-old Estela Vargas (115 pounds) of the Bound Boxing Academy who was making her Amateur debut.
(bottom, left) Andrea Iniquez of the Alliance Training Center has her arm raised in victory by referee Will White after she defeated Estela Vargas of Bound Boxing.
In Bout #12, it was 17 year-old Marco Sustaita of the Fanos Boxing Gym, Oceanside, CA (115 pounds) defeating 16 year-old Roberto Lopez of Team Garcia from the Broadway Gym in Los Angeles, CA (115 pounds).
In Bout #12, it was Marco Sustaita (r) getting the victory over Roberto Lopez.
In Bout #13, it was 17-year-old Kyle Erwin (4-0) of Rhino’s Boxing, Vista, CA (135 pounds) getting the best of 16 year-old Luis Casillas of the Coachella Boxing Club (135 pounds) who was making his Amateur debut.
In Bout #13, there was another victory for the Rhino’s Boxing Team. This win came from Kyle Erwin (2nd from the left) who managed to defeat Luis Castillo and improve his overall record to (5-0). All photos: Jim Wyatt
In Bout #14, it was 21 year-old Nicholas Carrico of Old School Boxing, San Diego (171 pounds) getting the best of 22 year-old Christian Olivas of the Intensity MMA Gym in South San Diego (171 pounds).
Having an opportunity to watch these two young men progress has been awe-inspiring. Now, that they’re more seasoned boxers and have that big knock out punch in their arsenal, opponents must feel they’re just inches away from being laid flat.
(bottom, left) Bout #14 was won by Nicholas Carrico (l) of Old School Boxing who defeated the vey tough Christian Olivas of the Intensity MMA Gym.
In Bout #15, it was 11 year-old Esteban Rojas of the Bound Boxing Academy (75 pounds) getting the best of 12 year-old Gregory Leal of the Intensity MMA Gym (75 pounds).
(bottom) In Bout #15, it was Esteban Rojas (l) getting the best Gregory Leal.
In Bout #16, it was 18 year-old Joel Carrero of the Garcia Boxing Team from the Broadway Boxing Gym in Los Angeles (161 pounds) getting the best of 18 year-old Gabriel Barton of United Boxing (161 pounds).
(bottom) In Bout #16, it was Joel Carrero (l) from the Broadway Boxing Gym in Los Angeles getting the best of Gabriel Barton of United Boxing.
In Bout #17, it was 11 year-old Nahela Barrientes of the Alliance Training Center of Chula Vista (95 pounds) getting the best of 10 year-old Oloa Taa from the United Boxing & Fitness, Chula Vista who was making her debut(95 pounds).
(bottom) In Bout #17, it was Nahela Barrientes (r) of the Alliance Training Center defeating Oloa Taa from the United Boxing & Fitness. Photos: Jim Wyatt
