Boxers set to rumble Saturday By TOM RONCO, Special to this newspaper
Thursday, April 22, 2004 3:21 PM PDT
WESTMORLAND — The Rumble in the Desert novice boxing exhibition sponsored by the Westmorland Police Activities League and Boxing Against Drugs boxing club will be at 5 p.m. Saturday in the Westmorland Youth Center.
The exhibition is being organized by longtime local amateur boxing coach and manager Ernie Fierro, who along with Brawley La Gente/PAL boxing club coach Ralph Espinoza, is training the fighters.
"I used to do this type of exhibition when the 4-H sponsored them," said Fierro. "I did this one because I know a lot of the kids from school and I encouraged them to learn how to box."
Fierro sees youth boxing as an opportunity for young people to learn the dedication and training the sport demands.
"These are people who never fought or trained before," said Fierro. "They have been training four to five days a week."
The training includes running, general exercises, shadow boxing and sparring.
"These are kids who wanted to box but didn't have a place to do it so we decided to give them a chance," said Victor Sanchez, a former Westmorland mayor active in the city's youth center.
Some will continue to fight, mostly locally, and some will continue for the camaraderie and the physical challenges.
"We have the center open from 4 to 6 on weekday afternoons, and it's open to everyone," said Sanchez. "Under USA Boxing rules, fighters must have experience before they can compete at the Silver Gloves or Junior Olympic level and this gives them some."
Fierro said seven bouts are planned for Saturday's exhibition but is projecting 15 fights total, most of which will be determined prior to the start of the event.
Said Fierro: "We've got other clubs coming, but we won't be able to match up the fighters until they get here and we are sure of their ages, height and weight and experience."
The Brawley La Gente/PAL boxing club will have two boxers, Brawley High football standout Zay Shepherd, who will face Calexico's Marco Valenzuela, and Eric Rodriguez, who will fight Gonzalo Salas of El Centro.
Hector Rivera of Westmorland BAD will box Brawley's Jose Rosales. Andres Magaña of Calexico will take on Edgar Salazar of Calipatria.
Also fighting for Westmorland will be Victor Montoya, Jorge Torres and Eddie Rocha, who will face Calipatria's Erick Ledesma, Juan Cancio and Marco Correa, respectively.
For Rocha, this is more than an exhibition — it is the culmination of his senior project, a graduation requirement for BUHS students.
"I've done the research on boxing and this will be my physical project, so they'll tape it and everything," said the 18-year-old Rocha. "My brothers were fighters and they'll be in my corner."
Rocha has invested more time than the other fighters (five months), so his anticipation is understandably higher.
Said Rocha: "I'm excited to see what happens. I want to join the Marines and they have a good boxing program, so I may continue with it."
Cost is a $5 donation for adults and $3 for students.
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