FIGHTING FOR AN OLYMPIC SPOT.

Byline: Alejandro Guzman

Judging by the sweat rolling off their faces, the two fighters sparring inside the ring Wednesday night, Jan 10 at David M. Gonzales Recreation Center in Pacoima, can definitely feel the heat.

And with good reason ... the heater is cranked up high because the temperature must be at least 85 degrees inside the gym. The gym manager feels this provides a good training atmosphere.

But one of the fighters, 16-year-old Robert Herrera of Porter Ranch, is determined to make the most out of this training session and does not let the heat get to him.

He and his father Ruben Herrera drove all the way to Pacoima, largely because they know there will always be a sparring partner at the gym.

Tonight, they found a worthy opponent in 24-year-old Joel Alvarez.

Despite the obvious difference in age, at 6'2'', 190 pounds, the young Herrera is not easily intimidated.

Father and mentor Ruben looks on from his son's corner lending instruction as the two combatants move around the ring exchanging blows.

Ruben says that an important part of the training for Robert includes fighting older boxers.

``Eventually, he's gonna be fighting men,'' Ruben said. Robert's birthday is in June, when he'll turn 17, the minimum age for open division boxers ages 17-34.

The father-son duo's ultimate goal is to qualify for the U.S Olympic Team.

But the road ahead is arduous: Robert must come out on top in a series of competitions, including the USA Boxing National Championships June 11-16.

This event, Ruben says, will bring together some of the best fighters in the country.

Robert qualified for this event in October, 2006 when he won the Junior Olympic senior division (ages 15-16) championship in the 201-pound division at the National Police Athletic League Championships in Oxnard.

Ruben already wears a proud face as he watches his son in action.

Robert has had 10 victories and one loss. His one defeat came early in his career. It was only his second fight.

Not bad, considering he's only been boxing for about a year.

Still, Ruben can recall the pre-boxing Robert. The one who focused his energies getting into fights at school and hanging out with the wrong crowds.

Ruben knows his son has come a long way since then and sees the positive impact the sport has had on Robert.

``He is more respected now (by his peers) ... more of a collective thinker (thinks things through),'' Ruben said.

Robert also acknowledges he's come a long way from tagging on walls with friends.

``I was hanging out with the wrong crowd and was up to no good,'' Robert said.

But all that stopped when boxing came into his life. Suddenly, he was too busy for anything other than his training.

Boxing required him to take on many disciplines. Some of which have him rising with the sun at 6 a.m. Monday through Saturday for early morning eight-mile jogs.

And thanks to his father, those jogs take place in Porter Ranch, which provides him with hillside streets and a park-like setting with nice scenery.

All this is a big change from the tough streets of North Hollywood where the Herreras first lived.

Ruben was determined to provide something better for his family. He knew what it was like growing up in neighborhoods where wearing the wrong clothes could get you beat up, shot or killed.

Even Robert had his own brush with death, remembering a party he was supposed to attend one night, but didn't. One of his friends ended up getting shot and killed at that party.

Robert reflects and realizes he has something good going.

``There's no comparison (between North Hollywood and Porter Ranch),'' Robert said. ``In Porter Ranch, you walk around and someone says hi, good morning. You never hear that in North Hollywood.''

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Robert Herrera, left, spars with Joel Alvarez at David M. Gonzales Recreation Center in Pacoima.

Alejandro Guzman valleynews.com