Boxing will take center stage
this weekend, as several local fighters will take to the ring.
The Rock Boxing Gym in Salinas
will play host to Rock War VIII, an amateur boxing show featuring more than 40
fighters, many of them local. The event takes place at 1 p.m. Saturday and will
go into the night.
More than 20 fights will be on
the card. There aren’t multiple rings, which means each fight is going to be
front and center in front of the audience.
“It’s going to be one fight
right after another,” said James Jimenez, head boxing coach and owner of the
Rock Boxing Gym.
This is also going to be one
of the first events in which new U.S. amateur boxing rules will be implemented.
Of note, fighters with older than 19 will not wear headgear. The International
Boxing Association made the changes with the hopes of making amateur boxing,
which is an Olympic sport, closer to pro boxing. Also being implemented is a
10-point scoring system.
Jimenez said it’s unlikely his
fighters will change their approach going into Saturday’s contest.
“We’ve always taught hands up
and defense,” Jimenez said.
At least five fighters from
Rock Boxing are scheduled to compete in Saturday’s card. Among the five is
Angel Alfaro, an 11-year-old competing in his 40th fight. The
66-pounder is 14-6 in his last 20 fights, according to Jimenez.
Alfaro is a unique boxer
because he’s been taught how to box in a methodical way rather than punch as
much as possible. As he’s continued to fight, he’s gotten used to the style and
can now control the pace of a contest, Jimenez said.
“He sits on punches while
other kids are (punching) like bongo drums,” Jimenez said. “Now, he can jab and
move, and he hits harder than most. He’s advanced for his age.”
Alfaro practices about 15
hours a week, and he’s no pushover in the gym, even getting respect from the
older veterans, Jimenez said.
Other gym participants
include:
» Sean Lopez, 9, competing in
his fifth fight at 55 pounds
» Pedro Escamilla, 19, making
his debut at 135 pounds
» Guillermo Jimenez, 21,
making his debut at 155 pounds
» • Ricardo Ayala, 20, making
his debut at 195 pounds
imenez said it’s been a joy to
watch fighters he and strength and conditioning coach Daniel Corona train over
the past year.
“The enjoyment I get is
watching them accomplish stuff they couldn’t accomplish as far back as three
months ago,” he said. “Having parents there and having their back, that’s the
reward.”
Tickets are $15 for people
ages 13 and older, $10 for children 5 to 12 and free for children under 5.
The Rock Boxing Gym is located
at 285 E. Alisal St., Salinas.
Back in the ring
Salinas boxer Paul Mendez will
take on Alfredo Contreras of Los Mochis, Mexico, in a 10-round bout on Saturday
at the Fox Theatre in Redwood City.
The fight will be Mendez’s
first since competing on Dec. 15 at the Salinas Storm House as part of a Solo
Boxeo event televised on Telefutura.
Mendez is 11-2-1 as a pro. He
has won his last four fights. Contreras is 13-15-2 as a pro; he’s lost his last
two fights. Saturday’s fight will be his first in Northern California; three of
his previous four bouts have been in venues throughout Southern California,
including the Honda Center in Anaheim.
The Mendez-Contreras fight is
the main event of a Don Chargin and Paco Presents boxing card.
Tickets are $35, $45 and $60.
Tickets can be purchased at foxrwc.com or at 650-631-3781.
Lacrosse honors
Several Monterey and Santa
Cruz county high school lacrosse players received all-American honors from US
Lacrosse earlier this month.
Stevenson’s John Jackson was
named an all-American by the organization. Jackson, a midfielder, helped
Stevenson win the MTAL title.
Palma’s Mario Enea was named
the Coach of the Year.
Watsonville’s Alan Medina was
named an Academic All-American, and Aptos’ Tyler Sweeney-Marquez was named an
All-American. Phil Dundas, an assistant at Aptos, was named the Assistant Coach
of the Year.
Softball realignment
The Monterey Bay League didn’t
go through much change in the softball ranks.
Only two teams will switch
positions among the 14 teams in the league. Seaside, the champions of the
Pacific Division, will head up to the Gabilan Division. Monterey, which
finished near the bottom of the Gabilan Division, goes down.
Although Seaside comes in as
the champions and with a young squad, it will get tested, as three of the other
six teams in the division will play 2014 as a defending CCS champion. (Source)
