thedrifter
03-04-07, 06:47 AM
John Whisler: City embraces military boxing
Web Posted: 03/03/2007 09:06 PM CST
San Antonio Express-News
It's not often we get to wrap ourselves in our nation's flag. But we get that rare opportunity this week.
The Armed Forces Boxing Championships begin here Wednesday. And although global operations have reduced the field and caused the tournament at the Bennett Fitness Center to be trimmed from three days to two, there are numerous reasons to attend.
The boxers represent all four branches of the military — Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines — but they are soldiers first.
Many of them have been to Iraq and back. Still others survived Afghanistan.
There's outstanding quality, too. Three of the boxers are nationally ranked, led by Christopher Downs, who is No. 1 at 178 pounds.
To boot, the tournament, which concludes Friday, is free and open to the public.
Hard to beat that.
"It should be a great event," said Osmar Alaniz, the tournament's boxing director. "Not only do these guys want to see who's the best in the military, the winners earn a spot at the Olympic Trials."
The last time San Antonio hosted the Armed Forces Championships was 1999.
In 1997, Lackland AFB hosted the Conseil International du Sport Militaire, or CISM Games, which fielded military boxers from all over the world.
In May, Bennett hosted a dual between the Air Force team and Great Britain's Royal Air Force team that was a huge success.
As you can see, military boxing has a deep tradition in this city.
Alaniz, who coached the U.S. Air Force team either as an assistant or head coach from 1965-2002 and was an assistant coach of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team that boasted Oscar De La Hoya, says the Iraq war has taken its toll on military boxing.
Only the Army will field a full, 11-man squad for the Armed Forces Tournament. The Air Force weighs in with six boxers, the Marines six and the Navy four.
Steve Brown, chief of Air Force sports, says in addition to overseas activities, military downsizing has cut into the numbers for boxing. And interest in the sport seems to have dwindled, too.
Brown said the Air Force, like the Army, has a World Class Athlete Program that enables boxers and other athletes to train full time in their sports leading up to major competitions, including the Olympics.
But no current Air Force boxers are part of the WCAP. The last one, San Antonio native Hector Ramos, recently separated from the service.
The number of boxers has dwindled to the point that the All-Air Force box-offs in recent years have had to invite amateur boxers from the San Antonio area just to be able to fill out a card.
Eight of the Army's boxers are part of the WCAP.
Like the Air Force, the Army program requires its athletes to be nationally ranked with a legitimate chance of making the Olympic team.
Mark Dunivan, first sergeant for the Army's WCAP, said although the athletic programs of the four branches differ, there is a common thread.
"The same discipline it takes to make a good military athlete also makes a good soldier," he said.
That discipline will be on display for fans at this week's Armed Forces Championships.
Right alongside the patriotism.
* * *
VIEW FROM THE CORNER
S.A. Regional Golden Gloves honor roll
Joe Rubin Award for outstanding open division boxer: James Cantu, Angel's Boxing Club
John Gentile Award for outstanding novice boxer: Mario Renteria, Castillo Boxing Club
Team Sportsmanship Award: Scholar Warrior Boxing Club
Outstanding open division coach: Joe Souza, San Antonio Parks & Recreation
Outstanding novice coach: Joe Souza, San Antonio Parks & Recreation
Open division team championship: San Antonio Parks & Recreation
Novice team championship: San Antonio Parks & Recreation
Open team runner-up: Angel's Boxing Club
Novice team runner-up: Zarzamora Street Gym
John "Rocky" Riojas Award for character and leadership: Mohammad Siddiqui, Pan Am Boxing Club
Dylan Baker Award for courage: Randall Farley, Scholar Warrior Boxing Club
Roger Sanchez Award for sportsmanship: John Valdez, Team Morones Boxing
Josie Gonzales Award for outstanding female boxer: Gladys Garza, Scholar Warrior Boxing
Hall of Fame coach: Alfonso Mallen, Eagle Pass Boys & Girls Club; Rex Stearns, Angel's Boxing Club
Hall of Fame official: Suzanne Almendarez, Yolanda Rodriguez
Straight shots
Remember Floyd Mayweather Sr., the trainer who wanted $2 million to help Oscar De La Hoya beat up Floyd Jr. on May 5? Well, Floyd Sr. will be in his son's corner for the fight.
Speaking of the Mayweathers, father and son are the subject of a special HBO reality series set to begin April 15 focusing on the lives of the pair leading up to the May 5 bout.
De La Hoya and Mayweather drew 1,300 fans to the American Airlines Center on Monday's media tour stop in Dallas. The Houston Chronicle didn't even cover the media tour in Houston earlier that day.
Evander Holyfield came out swinging at reports this past week that linked him to the most recent steroids scandal. Truth is, many have long suspected that Holyfield has taken illegal substances. My only question is, have they ever seen this guy work out?
Quote of the week
"Someday my father will have to bury me or I will have to bury him." — Floyd Mayweather Jr., on up-and-down relationship with his father, Floyd Sr.
Local notebook
The replay of the San Antonio Regional Golden Gloves Tournament's open division finals begins Tuesday on Time Warner Cable's SA On Demand, digital Channel 988. Lincoln Rose provides play-by-play and "Jesse" James Leija the analysis.
Leija's mixed martial arts card drew a standing-room-only crowd of 3,000 to Cowboys Dancehall on Tuesday.
"It was incredible," Leija said. "Everything was a success."
Six of the 12 bouts ended in decisions, three in knockout and three in submission.
Leija said he and his promotional group hope to do five more events this year and are looking at Freeman Coliseum as host site for the next show, possibly in May.
jwhisler@express-news.net
Ellie
Web Posted: 03/03/2007 09:06 PM CST
San Antonio Express-News
It's not often we get to wrap ourselves in our nation's flag. But we get that rare opportunity this week.
The Armed Forces Boxing Championships begin here Wednesday. And although global operations have reduced the field and caused the tournament at the Bennett Fitness Center to be trimmed from three days to two, there are numerous reasons to attend.
The boxers represent all four branches of the military — Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines — but they are soldiers first.
Many of them have been to Iraq and back. Still others survived Afghanistan.
There's outstanding quality, too. Three of the boxers are nationally ranked, led by Christopher Downs, who is No. 1 at 178 pounds.
To boot, the tournament, which concludes Friday, is free and open to the public.
Hard to beat that.
"It should be a great event," said Osmar Alaniz, the tournament's boxing director. "Not only do these guys want to see who's the best in the military, the winners earn a spot at the Olympic Trials."
The last time San Antonio hosted the Armed Forces Championships was 1999.
In 1997, Lackland AFB hosted the Conseil International du Sport Militaire, or CISM Games, which fielded military boxers from all over the world.
In May, Bennett hosted a dual between the Air Force team and Great Britain's Royal Air Force team that was a huge success.
As you can see, military boxing has a deep tradition in this city.
Alaniz, who coached the U.S. Air Force team either as an assistant or head coach from 1965-2002 and was an assistant coach of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team that boasted Oscar De La Hoya, says the Iraq war has taken its toll on military boxing.
Only the Army will field a full, 11-man squad for the Armed Forces Tournament. The Air Force weighs in with six boxers, the Marines six and the Navy four.
Steve Brown, chief of Air Force sports, says in addition to overseas activities, military downsizing has cut into the numbers for boxing. And interest in the sport seems to have dwindled, too.
Brown said the Air Force, like the Army, has a World Class Athlete Program that enables boxers and other athletes to train full time in their sports leading up to major competitions, including the Olympics.
But no current Air Force boxers are part of the WCAP. The last one, San Antonio native Hector Ramos, recently separated from the service.
The number of boxers has dwindled to the point that the All-Air Force box-offs in recent years have had to invite amateur boxers from the San Antonio area just to be able to fill out a card.
Eight of the Army's boxers are part of the WCAP.
Like the Air Force, the Army program requires its athletes to be nationally ranked with a legitimate chance of making the Olympic team.
Mark Dunivan, first sergeant for the Army's WCAP, said although the athletic programs of the four branches differ, there is a common thread.
"The same discipline it takes to make a good military athlete also makes a good soldier," he said.
That discipline will be on display for fans at this week's Armed Forces Championships.
Right alongside the patriotism.
* * *
VIEW FROM THE CORNER
S.A. Regional Golden Gloves honor roll
Joe Rubin Award for outstanding open division boxer: James Cantu, Angel's Boxing Club
John Gentile Award for outstanding novice boxer: Mario Renteria, Castillo Boxing Club
Team Sportsmanship Award: Scholar Warrior Boxing Club
Outstanding open division coach: Joe Souza, San Antonio Parks & Recreation
Outstanding novice coach: Joe Souza, San Antonio Parks & Recreation
Open division team championship: San Antonio Parks & Recreation
Novice team championship: San Antonio Parks & Recreation
Open team runner-up: Angel's Boxing Club
Novice team runner-up: Zarzamora Street Gym
John "Rocky" Riojas Award for character and leadership: Mohammad Siddiqui, Pan Am Boxing Club
Dylan Baker Award for courage: Randall Farley, Scholar Warrior Boxing Club
Roger Sanchez Award for sportsmanship: John Valdez, Team Morones Boxing
Josie Gonzales Award for outstanding female boxer: Gladys Garza, Scholar Warrior Boxing
Hall of Fame coach: Alfonso Mallen, Eagle Pass Boys & Girls Club; Rex Stearns, Angel's Boxing Club
Hall of Fame official: Suzanne Almendarez, Yolanda Rodriguez
Straight shots
Remember Floyd Mayweather Sr., the trainer who wanted $2 million to help Oscar De La Hoya beat up Floyd Jr. on May 5? Well, Floyd Sr. will be in his son's corner for the fight.
Speaking of the Mayweathers, father and son are the subject of a special HBO reality series set to begin April 15 focusing on the lives of the pair leading up to the May 5 bout.
De La Hoya and Mayweather drew 1,300 fans to the American Airlines Center on Monday's media tour stop in Dallas. The Houston Chronicle didn't even cover the media tour in Houston earlier that day.
Evander Holyfield came out swinging at reports this past week that linked him to the most recent steroids scandal. Truth is, many have long suspected that Holyfield has taken illegal substances. My only question is, have they ever seen this guy work out?
Quote of the week
"Someday my father will have to bury me or I will have to bury him." — Floyd Mayweather Jr., on up-and-down relationship with his father, Floyd Sr.
Local notebook
The replay of the San Antonio Regional Golden Gloves Tournament's open division finals begins Tuesday on Time Warner Cable's SA On Demand, digital Channel 988. Lincoln Rose provides play-by-play and "Jesse" James Leija the analysis.
Leija's mixed martial arts card drew a standing-room-only crowd of 3,000 to Cowboys Dancehall on Tuesday.
"It was incredible," Leija said. "Everything was a success."
Six of the 12 bouts ended in decisions, three in knockout and three in submission.
Leija said he and his promotional group hope to do five more events this year and are looking at Freeman Coliseum as host site for the next show, possibly in May.
jwhisler@express-news.net
Ellie