3-day Show Features Champs of All Ages
It was three days of tough competition with young amateurs of all ages competing in the 2nd Annual “Green Belt Challenge–California” presented by U.P.A.C., Alhambra Youth Boxing Club, LASD and sponsored by the World Boxing Council (WBC) Amateur committee.
Here’s my special report and photo gallery from the yearly event which took place June 16-18 at the Star Center in Whittier.
This highly-anticipated event was well attended as hundreds of boxing clubs showed up to the daily weigh-ins, hoping to secure a match on the board. Thursday’s kickoff show had an estimated 25 bouts, Friday’s matchups also saw 25 bouts and Saturday’s competition featured a whopping 40 bouts of action. Male and female fighters came from all over the country including young sluggers from Oregon, Arizona, Massachusetts, Nevada, and more seeking matches.
The athletes received WBC tank tops and medals depicting the sanctioning body and its longtime President, the late Don Jose Sulaiman (“Keeping the Dream Alive”). WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman also held a Sunday amateur show in Mexico. The WBC was represented at the California show by Pepe Sulaiman, Nancy Rodriguez, Rudy Tellez, and former fighter/trainer John Bray, etc. The nonprofit WBC Cares with Team Sulaiman and Jill Diamond also helps assist and encourage the youth.
Several WBC champs, world title holders, past and present pro boxers all joined forces to support the kids and teens fighting in Whittier. During the three days, familiar faces lending support to the show included L.A. Sheriff Jim McDonnell, pugilists Daniel Ponce de Leon, Randy Caballero, Paul Banke, Chango Carmona, Lupe Aquino, Antonio Diaz, Carlos Molina, Mike Anchondo, Leo Santa Cruz, Israel Vazquez, Mari Cornejo, Ruben Cuellar Jr., among others. Two of the belt winners from the 2015 inaugural show, Chris Zavala and Christian Perez, also showed their support; the third winner of the 2015 belts is Karlos Balderas, who will be fighting in the Rio Olympics.There were many second and third generation of boxing families participating in the event. WBC champ Daniel Ponce de Leon’s son Geronimo, 12, extending his family’s legacy of boxing won his bout scoring a first-place medal in the show. Randy Caballero’s younger brother Rommel, 17, also was a standout at the bash winning his bout and also being awarded one of five WBC championship belts to the five outstanding boxers of the show. Boxing trainer Rodrigo Mosquera’s grandson (Rodrigo Mosquera III) also won his bout.
These 2016 special-edition shiny green and gold belts were presented to Rommel Caballero, Leslie Hernandez, Jose Rodriguez, Ruben Rodriguez and Marc Castro. The victors received a belt, a medal, a shirt and hat for their achievements. A mini belt was awarded to Joseph Cuellar along with two team awards going to first-place Frank Aleman’s Aleman Boxing Fresno and second place went to New Generation Boxing Academy (NGBA) in Lynwood.
Ring announcer Mark Caloumenos made sure Saturday’s installment moved along as scheduled as he announced each bout winner. This mega show was well organized and the pro champs told me they enjoyed watching the talented kids in the ring. Many of the amateurs will be battling in the Junior Olympics later this month and shows like “The Green Belt Challenge” help hone their skills and level of competition.
USA Boxing’s Joe Zanders, Delilah Rico, Dominic Serna Sr., Michelle Serna, Pat Zanders, Dr. Ralph Vega, Karen Soto, and others worked tirelessly to make sure this show went off as planned. United Peace Offers Against Crime’s (U.P.A.C.) Dr. Fritz Wilson was also one of the unsung heroes who worked tirelessly at the show to ensure the competition was a success.
Everyone told me they are already looking forward to next year’s show and with the demand and turnout so popular, there’s talk of possibly having two ring in the gym next time. The sport of boxing is alive and well as evidence of its popularity shined at this Southland show.I know firsthand of the commitment each fighter, trainer, official, volunteer, and family member goes through from all the training to the weigh-ins to first bell. Each amateur fighter shows courage and heart just for stepping inside the ropes. Win or lose, it’s a valuable lesson of strength and discipline just to get to that point.
Congrats to each and every warrior who competed in the 2016 Green Belt Challenge–you are our future champs!
Photos by Michele Chong
