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US National Boxing Team
Vs.
Mexico’s National Boxing Team
SF Civic Auditorium
Oct. 30, 2005
Not since Oscar
De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas met to duke it out, has there been as much buzz
about an up coming fight to see who is the most “Macho”. The test of who is
more man is a dominant theme in Mexican culture. As it was before, it will not
be about who is the “most Mexican”, but who is the better fighter. All
stereotypes will be put to the test. Some will be validated others will be cast
aside. Fans are invited to watch young amateur lions square off to test their
mettle. Mexico Vs USA
Amateur
boxing is the very heart and soul of boxing. Future champions are now being
created, and we are privileged to have the opportunity to witness what they have
to offer. Boxing fans can rest assured these young warriors will bring their
best. Dreams of riches and fame hang in the balance. Such dreams have drawn
millions of hungry young men into the ring. On this day, boxers from a poor,
third world country, will square off with citizens of the richest country in the
world to test their mettle and make a drive for glory. Much has been said about
the millions of their countrymen crossing our borders illegally, bringing crime
and disease. On this day, these young lions arrive waving their flag and
standing tall. Fight fans will witness a valiant, worthwhile struggle. All these
Mexican fighters are decedents of the brave men and women who fought during the
Mexican revolution, and later betrayed. These are the great, grand children of
Pancho Villa’s dream of a better future. These young warriors are not here to
accommodate or acculturate, they are here to do battle and risk it all. They
come as modern day Don Quixote’s, dreaming the impossible dream. Society in
general may look down upon people of Mexico, but on this day, these young lions
will take center stage in front of millions in the televised event. On these
days, they are heroes. On this day we will all be proud to say “I am
Mexican!”
Most
of the Mexican boxers I’ve seen have been poorly trained, and have little or
no knowledge of fundamentals. However, they possess chins of stone, courage and
rather die then surrender. Mexican American boxers are generally better trained,
but lack the discipline to get into great shape, consequently they ran out of
gas. The ingredient that seems consistent with their Mexican counter parts is a
chin of stone, courage, and a mean street dog deposition. These warrior
qualities are not always demonstrated. As those who witnessed Goosen’s last
show in San Jose, August 18, 2005, which he called The Best Damn Night of
Olympian Boxing that featured former Olympians. To my great disappointment none
of them demonstrated those mythical powers they were suppose to possess. I was
however, impressed with Goosen's ability to pick perfect tomato cans so that our
former heroes could easily win.
Fans
will recall I was disappointed with former Mexican Olympian, Juan de Dios
Navarro who performed in a barley acceptable manner, and was luckily handed a
tomato can to beat up on. I hope the Mexican boxers will bring more grit and
guts to the table. They’ll have to, in order to maintain their positions. This
is also true with the American Team. The position they hold on the day of the
event is not guaranteed. They must continue to win in order to hold it. The
Olympics are still very far away.
The
road to the Olympics is a bumpy ride. Those whose goal is Beijing in 2008 must
continue to dedicate themselves to this purpose, or risk losing their position.
The Central Valley can boast one of it’s own on the team, we can also take
heart that there are many Mexican American boxers from other parts of the state
on the team. Readers should keep in mind there are many Olympic Myths, such as
only the best are selected. And that fair play, honesty and good sportsmanship
are regarded as all-important. In the end, it only comes down to winning. The
losers are soon forgotten and cast aside. Ask Viencete Escobeo, who is doing
great as a pro, but has been largely ignored by the Media since he failed to
bring home the gold. According to weights these could be the matches we might
expect. Please take note I am not the matchmaker, nor do I have any say-so over
who is matched with whom. I am only suggesting that these are possible according
to weight. Match One. Odilon De Jesus Zalea Reyes 106 lbs., 54 fights, 42 wins,
with 12 losses and O Kos. Vs. David Gaspar of Wilmington CA, no stats. Boxing
four years.
Match
Two, Ramon Adolfo Garcia Hirales, 112 lbs., 65 fights, 50 wins, 15 losses with
20 KOs vs. Oscar Luis Veniegas of Maywood CA, no stats. Boxing four years.
Match
Three, Jose Arturo Santos Reyes, 119 lbs., 90 fights 79 wins, 11 losses with 45
KOs vs. Rico Ramos, of Los Angeles, no stats. Boxing 10 years.
Match
Four, Marco Antonio Lopez Balderas, 126 lbs., 100 fights 89 wins, 10 losses with
10 KOs Vs Richard Baltazar of Lynwood, CA, No stats.
Match
Five, Francisco Javier Vargas Pelaez, 132 lbs.,73 fights, 61 wins, 12 losses
with 20 KOs Vs. Miguel Garcia, Of Oxnard, Ca. No stats. Boxing 5 years.
Match
Six, Luis Enrique Grajeda Ozaeta , 141 lbs. 45 fights , 37 wins 8 losses, 10
KOs, Vs. Hector Ramos of San Antonio TX, No stats, Boxing 8 years.
Match
Seven; Noberto Gonzalez Gonzales, 152 lbs., 131 fights 110 wins, 21 losses 4 KOs
Vs Santos Soto, of San Francisco, Ca. No stats, Boxing 3 years.
Match
Eight, Marco Antonio Hernandez,165 lbs., 80 fights, 64 wins 16 losses, 45 KOs Vs
Daniel Jacobs of Brooklyn, New York, No stats. Boxing 5 years
Match
Nine, Jose Fernando Estrada Santoyo,178 lbs., 135 fights, 106 wins, 29 losses,
Vs. Brandon Gonzales, of Sacramento, Ca, No stats. Boxing 3 years.
The
individuals filling in as coaches for the US Team are Candy Lopez, Mario
L’Esperance and Eddie Croft. Although this “sounds” important, it’s
really an “honorary” position. These boxers come from all over the state,
they gather to do battle and have very little time to be “coached ³, by
anyone. It’s like wearing a combat ribbon and never having been in a war. It
does give them bragging rights, but only with people outside of boxing, who
don’t know how the politics work. From what I know of amateur boxing, these
individuals must know people in high places. This is not to say they are not
qualified, they may very well be, but that’s not how or why they are selected.
Fight
Fans should call 415-643-9109 for tickets. Fans should remember amateur boxing
is a business and all businesses are there to make money. No promoter would
volunteer for such duty, if there were not money to be made. Fans should not be
surprised to learn that tickets start at $25.00 in the Balcony to $150 for
Special Ringside Package. This is as much as you would expect to pay for a
professional event. In this case the promoter wants to be called “producer”.
Imagine making millions on a fight and not having to pay the participants, now
that is a great money making idea. No matter, what you call a duck, if it quacks
waddles, and swims sitting up, it’s still a duck. However, we, should be happy
such individuals exist, without their moneymaking schemes, we would not be able
to enjoy boxing. Professional promoters should make take a lesson form Oscar
Tenedora
Boxing
fan in he Central Valley can gear up for another amateur boxing show at the
Merced Fair grounds, 11/19/05 Call Eddie Campos at 209-384-9492.
Even
with all that’s wrong with boxing, starting with California’s completely
useless boxing commission, back room politics, egomaniacs, liars, cheaters and
back stabbers. I’d rather be doing this than only one or two other things I
can think of. As I’ve said hundreds of times before. Watch you’re back and
Thank God for Boxing!
Always
in Your Corner,
Jorge A. Martinez
Sportswriter/Trainer/Manager
dancingskyhorse@earthlink.net
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