THEY'RE LIVING LIFE IN THE RING BOXING HELPS LOCALS FIND A NEW DIRECTION.Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer NEWHALL - All muscle and sinew sinew /sin·ew/ (sin´u) a tendon of a muscle. weeping sinew an encysted ganglion, chiefly on the back of the hand, containing synovial fluid. sin·ew n. , the fighters pounded each other with swift jabs and hard knocks hard knocks pl.n. Informal The practical experiences of life, including hardships and disappointments: "He hadn't grown up in the school of hard knocks. for pride and victory before a hometown crowd Sunday, part of the city of 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's USA Boxing USA Boxing is the national governing body for Olympic boxing and is the United States' member organization of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA). Headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO, USA Boxing is a non-profit organization responsible for the exhibition. Five fighters - Danny Oliva, 27; Lupe Brambila, 25; Joanna Pereyda, 12; Leonardo Vazquez; 12 and Marilene Castro, 12 - represented the home team in a series of 14 bouts that paired amateur boxers from community programs ranging from Santa Maria Santa Maria, city, Brazil Santa Maria (sän`tə mərē`ə), city (1991 pop. 217,592), Rio Grande do Sul state, S Brazil. It is a major railroad terminus and the site of an important military base. to south Los Angeles South Los Angeles is the official name for a large geographic and cultural area lying to the southwest and southeast of downtown Los Angeles, California. The area was formerly called South Central Los Angeles, and is still sometimes called South Central. . The event was organized under USA Boxing of 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, , a farm club for future Olympic boxers. ``The main goal here is to have an audience for the great kids here ... to have an audience to watch their hard work,'' said Gilbert Amaro, the boxing program coordinator. But, more important, competing in the square circle helps forge character. ``We're really dedicated with building good boxers,'' said Diana Boone, the city's community services administrator. ``But one of the most important things is we're building lives. ... They don't use their fists outside the ring.'' Despite this weekend's endless downpour, about a hundred people came out to watch the fights, whose proceeds go to the city youth boxing program. The spectators exploded, shouting ringside ring·side n. 1. The area or seats immediately outside an arena or ring, as at a prizefight. 2. A place providing a close view of a spectacle. advice and encouragement, whenever a local fighter entered the ring. ``We're really happy with the turnout,'' said Claudia Solis, a community center coordinator. ``We thought it wouldn't be good because of the rain.'' John Ruiz Jr., 25, mingled among the old friends and new faces. He first laced on the gloves at 16 and is now competing on the pro circuit as a junior featherweight. He's ranked 10th in the World Boxing Organization The World Boxing Organization (WBO) is a sanctioning organization currently recognizing professional boxing world champions. Its offices are located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. and 25th in the World Boxing Council The World Boxing Council was initially created by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela, and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of . ``I just got a little more focused (by boxing),'' said Ruiz, who grew up in Newhall. ``There are a lot of gangs out here. It kept me away from that.'' Not yet a teen, Vazquez took up boxing four years ago and relished a victory. ``I like punching other people,'' he said. ``I like it till I get hit.'' Jennifer Velasquez, 12, of Santa Maria traveled here to represent her local Police Activities League in the ring. She's been boxing for six months, following a cousin's lead. ``You just have to hit fast,'' she said. ``Getting the felling that you've won in the end - that's the best part.'' Rudy Martinez, 22, watched from the sidelines. A Newhall resident, he has participated in the city boxing program on and off since he was 14. ``My dad put me into it,'' he said. ``He always wanted to put me into boxing since I was little. I love it now. What's it like in the ring? ``You're nervous,'' Martinez said. ``You can't really stop and think. You have to be a lot quicker - be quick with your actions. ... It takes a lot of heart.'' A version of this story appears in Main News. Eugene Tong, (661) 257-5253 eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- color in SAC edition only) Alfonso Rocha, above, takes a shot at Dion Day during a match Sunday at the annual Santa Clarita Community Center Boxing Program. (2) Referee Don Livingston declares Alfonso Rocha the victor over Dion Day after their bout Sunday at the annual Santa Clarita Community Center Boxing Program. (3 -- ran in Valley edition only) Lupe Brambila of Santa Clarita replaces her mouthpiece during her very first fight Sunday. David Sprague/Staff Photographer |
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