 - Blog by James “Ricky” Coward
- The City of Philadelphia is a boxers paradise. There are boxing gyms in
just about every part of the City, a haven of sorts to help keep city
kids off streets and out of trouble. The Front Street Gym in Philly is
no different, a boxing gym among many, with a history of producing
tough, skilled professional fighters some of whom have gone on to be
top contenders and world champions. Most of the boxer’s if not all
before turning professional, had one thing in common, they competed in
the annual Philadelphia Golden Gloves tournament.
The annual Golden Gloves Tournament has a rich tradition in
Philadelphia, PA. Since it’s inception in 1967, the competition has
produced numerous local, state and national golden glove champions. For
those having the privilege to take in the competition, you would find
that the amateur boxer’s competing in the tournament are no different
than the professional fighter’s coming out of city, they are just as
tough, with talent and skill’s to match. I have to admit that as a
professional and amateur boxing coach myself, I was very impressed with
the level of talent these young men and women displayed in competition.
I think it is a testiment not only the boxer’s abilities, but to the
level of coaching being conducted.
I saw some very good technical
boxing taking place in the ring, with a number of boxer’s looking very
polished and professional.
I picked out a few boxer’s to highlight in the competition (2 female
&/ 2 male). One being 17 year old 132lb novice boxer Nicholas
“Nico” Rodriguez, this was his very first amateur bout. He had been
training for 4 years out of the Front Street Gym under trainer Howard
Cupid. Rodriguez had plenty of family and friends at the fight to
support him and he did’nt let them down; going out and stopping his
opponent 1:13 seconds into the second round, and advancing to the
novice championships on March 27, 2009.
This was a huge win for
Rodriguez who had just lost his uncle to a work related accident
earlier in the week and had to bury him earlier the same day of his
fight. This young man showed poise in the ring and used controlled
aggression and a very nice array of punches to get the job done.
Congratulations to “Nico”, his trainer and his friends & family.
Another young man, Travis “Baby Rex” Hollis Jr. was competing the same
night in the 141lb novice class. This would be his second trip to the
Philly Golden Gloves in three years. He came in with a record of (1-1
1KO) and having had the opportunity to train him along with his father
and coach, Travis Hollis, I was confident that he would compete very
well in the tournament. The young man he faced had considerably more
experience and fights than he, but, “Baby Rex” went out and performed
like a true champion. After suffering a standing 8 count in the first
30 seconds of the bout, he steadied himself, settled in and went to
work out boxing his opponent cleanly, over the next two rounds to get
the victory and advance to the novice championships on March 27, 2009.
Travis “Baby Rex” Hollis Jr. won the Silver Medal in the finals in a
performance that many including myself felt he won. But that is amateur
boxing today. Either way a he is a young prospect in the making at
141lbs and for “Baby Rex” the journey is just beginning. He is in his
senior year of high school in Pine Hill, NJ. Congratulations to him and
his family.
Now for a few of the woman boxers, to start how about last years 138lb
Philadelphia Golden Gloves Champion, Sharline Mendez. This young lady
17 years old boxes out of the Phoenixville PAL, in PA. She has been
boxing for 8yrs now and has 14 fights under her belt, including 2008
Philly Golden Gloves Championship, 2008 Regional Championship and is
ranked #2 in PA at 138lbs. She is very excited about the prospect of
trying out for the woman’s boxing team for the 2012 Olympics.
Mendez
according to her father and trainer Charlie Mendez has been training
very hard for this tournament and is ready to step into the ring and
defend her title. But as it turned out she did’nt have to, at least not
in the ring, she ended up winning the city championship again by walk
over and advances to compete in the PA regional championships.
Congratulations to Sharline, her coach and her family and we wish her
much continued success on her quest for the regional, state and
national crowns and also for her Olympic endeavors.
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Last but not least is a young lady originally from Queens New York, and
now boxing out of Pennsauken, NJ by way of T-Rex Boxing Club. This
young lady has become a youtube sensation of sorts due to her
“Mayweather Style” of training and the sheer skill she brings into the
ring. Jessica “La Chica Mala” Maldonado is on a mission, she wants the
title of “2009” Philadelphia Golden Gloves Champion. She’s been
training to box for about 2 years, and at age 23 display’s the talent
and skill of a seasoned professional. Having had the opportunity to
train and spar with top professional contender’s, including several
world champions, she is came into this tournament ready to make her
mark in the 119lb class.
“La Chica Mala’s” hard work and dedication
were evident at the first (initial weigh-ins/ match-ups 3/1/09)and
second weigh-in the night of her scheduled bout (3/21/09), where she
came in right on point at 119lbs. She though, like Sharline Mendez, had
won the battle out of ring and on April 3, 2009 was awarded the 119lb
Philadelphia Golden Gloves Title by way of walk-over, her opponent
failing to make weight. A disappointment for “La Chica Mala” not having
the opportunity to get in the ring and showcase her boxing prowess, but
hopefully she will have the opportunity to do so as she advances to the
regional championships on April 18th. Congratulations to Jessica “La
Chica Mala” Maldonado, her coach (who happens to love her very much)
and her family and friends.
I want to congratulate Camden Boxing Academy's Head Coach Chris
Williams along with all of there Boxer's for winning and advancing to
the championship’s in both the novice and open class. Keep up the great
work Chris, you got some talented fighters and it's obvious that the
training they are getting is on top notch!! I want to commend all the
coaches and boxers out there competing in the Philadelphia Golden
Gloves tournament, I saw a lot of talent in the ring over the last four
weeks, so america look out there’s a new wave of amateur boxing stars
on the rise, and some of them are from your own neighborhood!
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