FIGHTING THE IMAGE; BAD PRESS RILES BOXER.Byline: Stacy Brown Daily News Staff Writer When Alex Virgen steps into the boxing ring, he is fighting not only his heavyweight opponent but all the negative publicity the sport he loves most has endured. Virgen, a Lancaster amateur who trains at the Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, Community Center under the direction of Larry Duran, has compiled a 5-1 record and continues to impress his trainers. ``He is 5-1, but if you know about amateur boxing Amateur boxing is practiced at the collegiate level, at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, and in many other venues sponsored by amateur boxing associations. Amateur boxing bouts are short in duration and fighters wear head protection, so this type of competition prizes and how it's scored, you'd know he should be undefeated,'' Duran said. He said Virgen, 19, is probably the best prospect that he's ever trained. ``We train up to 30 kids a day, and Alex is at the top,'' Duran said. The 218-pound Virgen said among the things he'd like to change in boxing are the staredowns and prefight insults fighters engage in. ``That's not necessary, I think guys should be gentlemen. I mean it's a sport and you fight, and if you win you should shake hands. If you lose you should also shake hands,'' Virgen said. Virgen, already at an ideal fight weight, and Duran both said they expect his first professional fight to come next March. ``I'm ready I'm Ready is the double platinum second release from R&B singer Tevin Campbell. I'm Ready yielded the biggest R&B hit of his career the #1 R&B smash "Can We Talk", and produce 3 more successful hits in "I'm Ready", "Always In My Heart" and "Don't Say Goodbye Girl". . I will let my trainers decide, but I'm ready,'' Virgen said. Duran readily agreed. ``He's definitely ready, and I've seen a lot of things that have convinced me,'' Duran said. Virgen recently won an interstate amateur tournament, representing Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, in the heavyweight division against the best of Nevada. The young boxer said he hopes to pattern himself after current WBA WBA West Bromwich Albion (English Soccer Club) WBA World Boxing Association WBA Weekly Benefit Amount WBA Wisconsin Broadcasters Association (Madison, WI) WBA Wireless Broadband Access Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield (born October 19, 1962 in Atmore, Alabama) is a professional boxer from the United States and a multiple world champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions. . ``Evander is a gentlemen. He's shown that and he cares about the sport like I do. You don't see him getting involved in all that prefight stuff,'' Virgen said. Virgen, who trains at the Santa Clarita Center because there are no adequate facilities near his home, said former champ Mike Tyson's recent ear-biting exhibition has not only further tarnished the sport's image but has caused him to get an earful ear·ful n. 1. An abundant or excessive amount of something heard, such as talk or music. 2. Gossip, especially of an intimate or scandalous nature. 3. A scolding or reprimand. from friends and co-workers at his day job. ``People hold their ears and say things like, `You aren't going to bite us, too?' '' I know they are kidding me, but I'm kind of tired of it. What Mike did was embarrassing.'' Virgen works 10-hour days at an aerospace firm in Sylmar as an inspector. Virgen said his father, Rafael, was a fighter in the 1970s before retiring to get married. Rafael was undefeated in 25 fights in a short career that inspired his son to box. Like all fighters, Virgen wants to make a lot of money but feels there should be a limit on the number of years a boxer should be allowed to compete. ``Ten years should be the max, from about 19 to 29 years old, like I plan to do,'' he said. Today, fighters usually do battle just twice a year and oftentimes champions resist fighting top contenders. Duran said when the bell rings next March to begin Virgen's pro career, a star will be born. ``He has no fear. We will fight anybody that is ranked, anybody that comes our way,'' Duran said of Virgen. ``We are very excited about him, and we are going to share his success with the rest of the community.'' `Mexican Mike' gives earful That ear thing aside, Alex Virgen has some strong opinions about boxing's greatest fighters past and present and the sport's most famous promoter. Virgen, by the way, has been dubbed dub 1 tr.v. dubbed, dub·bing, dubs 1. To tap lightly on the shoulder by way of conferring knighthood. 2. To honor with a new title or description. 3. Mexican Mike by his coach, a comparison to Mike Tyson Noun 1. Mike Tyson - United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion (born in 1966) Michael Gerald Tyson, Tyson . On Tyson: ``My trainers said I'm a lot like he used to be stylewise, which is why they call me Mexican Mike. He needs to get himself together, what he did was terrible.'' On WBC WBC white blood cell; see leukocyte. WBC abbr. white blood cell WBC, n stands for white blood cell. champ Lennox Lewis Lennox Claudius Lewis CBE (born September 2 1965 in West Ham, London, England) is a retired professional boxer who represented Canada in the Olympics and fought under the British flag as a professional. He is a former undisputed lineal heavyweight champion. : ``He talks too much and I don't think he's that good anyway.'' On former lightweight champ Julio Cesar Julio Cesar could refer to those people:
On promoter Don King: ``One thing I don't like is when two of his fighters face each other, he always leaves the ring with the winner and ignores the loser. That's wrong, he should congratulate both. But I don't think the sport can live without him.'' CAPTION(S): 2 Photos Photo: (1--color) Amateur heavyweight Alex Virgen of Lancaster, who has compiled a 5-1 record, trains at the Santa Clarita Community Center under the direction of Larry Duran. (2--color) Alex Virgen works out with trainer Larry Duran. The heavyweight is hoping to get his first pro fight in March. David R. Crane/Daily News Box: `Mexican Mike' gives earful (see text) |
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