Nature of "The Beast"

Story by Gerardo Martinez
Photos by Jose Leon Castillo

Charles "The Beast" Alderete hasn't always loved boxing.

You wouldn't either if your first experience, at the age of 12, was getting beat up while sparring a girl. But even that didn't stop Alderete, who's been beating up his opponents in the ring and has lost over 100 pounds.

"I was a hefty kid" admits Alderete who decided to get back into the ring at age of 15 at the insistence of his father. He's never looked back. He began training at the Warriors gym, but a few months later decided to train at home where his father remodeled the garage into an all out boxing gym. From his home gym Alderete racked up an amateur record of 15-4 and won a few amateur titles in a short span of time.

Unable to get many fights as an amateur Alderete decided to take the plunge into the professional ranks at age 19, a few months after graduating from West Mesa High School in September 2010. Alderete made his debut against Albuquerque's Derrick Casaus (0-1) on the Johnny Tapia card at the Hard Rock at a catch weight of 170, winning in entertaining fashion by unanimous decision.

A couple of months later he was offered a fight he could not refuse on a one-day notice against Las Vegas' Arturo "Tudy" Crespin, also at 170. Against the more experienced Crespin, suffered his first loss.

"I went in there and gave 110% and I think I beat him, but the judges disagreed," said Alderete during a training session at his home gym.

After that fight he's been looking to stay busy and getting to his ideal weight, which he says is 155-160. Unfortunately, because of his weight and lack of competition Alderete was unable to land a fight for a few months and lost a bit interest. During this drought he found motivation in the kids that train alongside him at the Alderete Boxing Gym. "The Beast" says the kids inspire him and see him as a role model and he just couldn't let them down. He has since changed his diet and has regained the motivation he had lost a few months back.

With his mother as his manager and his father as his trainer, Alderete has landed a fight that could steal the show on the the upcoming Tapia card in June against fellow Albuquerquean Carlos "El Gallo" Sanchez (5-2, 2 KOs). This contest will be at Alderete's ideal weight of 155 lbs. Alderete will look to improve his 1-1 record.

By comparison, Sanchez is 1-1 with Crespin, who defeated Alderete.

"He's a real good fighter and he has power," Alderete says of Sanchez. "I have respect for him, but we’ll see who the bigger man is the night of the fight."

Alderete says he does not planning on losing his toughest fight to date. Most New Mexico boxing fans hope that he decides to fight like one of his favorite boxers, Mexico's Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, and not like his other favorite, Floyd Mayweather.

Alderete describes himself as a power puncher who breaks down his opponents as the fight wears on. Alderete will be training "old school" for his fight against Sanchez using tires and sledgehammers the way his father has always had him train. His sparring partners include some New Mexico hopefuls and amateurs including Randy "Savage" Arrellin, Alan "El Alacron" Sanchez and amateur star Jose "Guero" Sanchez.

Once he's done with Sanchez, Alderete says he'd like to get a second shot at Crespin, this time with more than a one day notice. The Beast said he's willing to take on anyone from 155-160 including Henry "Poison" Anaya (0-1) and then work his way up the ranks.

"I want him to be one of the best boxers in New Mexico and I know he has it in him" says father and trainer Daniel Alderete. First things first: he must take care of "El Gallo" on June 4th.

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