Team Tapia’s show looks good for March 24. Possible line-up includes Joaquin Zamora, Arturo Crespin, Amanda Crespin and Leonardo Sanchez.

One more name to add to the “Southwest Explosion 4″ card Feb. 18 in Las Cruces is Joel Macias (119/15 yrs). See previous posting about pre-matches.

The 2012 El Paso Golden Gloves Tournament will be held February 17, 18 & 19, at the County Coliseum. New Mexico boxers are invited to participate in all classes. Open class boxers are not eligible to advance to the state tournament. For more information call 915-626-8031 or 915-203-0493.

El Paso will be hosting a Texas vs. Mew Mexico amateur boxing event on Saturday, March 17. The event will be part of a Street Festival. Uniforms will be provided for all participants. For more information call 915-626-8031 or 915-203-0493.

Saturday night at the National Hispanic Cultural Center Slum Dog Boxing held its first event of the year. According to Cesar Lopez there will be more shows to come in 2012. There were a total of seven USA Boxing sanctioned bouts with clubs from Albuquerque, Northern and Southern New Mexico participating. The audience in attendance had the opportunity to watch some great action and enjoy the entertainment during intermission. Check out results below. . .

10/73 lbs –  Analuisa  Mendoza (Martinez Boxing) won by points against Amy Salinas (LC PAL Boxing)

10/69 lbs –  Lazaro Estrada (Unattached) won by points against Isaiah Perez (Unattached)

Open bout –     Brian Mendoza (Unattached) won by RSC 1 over Edgar Castro (Martinez Boxing)

Open bout –     Xavier Pacheco (Unattached) won by RSC 2 over Richard Johnson (Unattached)

Novice bout - Osbaldo Salinas (LC PAL Boxing) won by RSC 1 over Christian Cardenas (Old School Boxing)

Novice bout - Ronald Jones (Unattached) won by RSC 2 over Derek Martinez (Slum Dog Boxing)

Open bout –     Jose Salinas (LC PAL Boxing) won by points against Jason Sanchez (Unattached)

Team Tapia has a pair of shows in the works for March-April.

Team Tapia is also looking to add another boxing gym to their gym. Anyone selling one, please contact Chris Chavez at 505.804.7938.

The Las Cruces PAL has “Southwest Explosion 4″ set up for Feb. 18 at the Las Cruces PAL Gym, 700 North Solano in Las Cruces. Doors open at 6 p.m., fights start at 7. Physicals are at 5 p.m. For pre-matches call Rick Vasquez at 575-644-0020 or email; Brian Nevares at 575-621-1926; or Hugo Salinas at 575-915-7943.

Anyone interested in matching up with the following fighters for Southwest Explosion 4, contact the names above. Fighters hoping to be matched are Ayanna Vasquez Female open > 119/125 lbs; Edmund Guzman Male open > 114/119 lbs; Jose Salinas Male open >132/137 lbs; Edwin Acosta male open >132 /137 lbs; Amy Salinas 11 years old > 70/75 lbs; Eddie Salinas open novice > 152 lbs; Baldo Salinas open novice > 141 lbs; Juan Jimenez open novice >195/200 lbs; Estella Guzman female open > 110/114 lbs.

The Boy’s and Girls’s Club of El Paso will be holding a smoker on March 10. Anyone interested in fighting, contact Hector Espinoza at 915-474-2661 or e-mail hctespinoza@aol.com.

For coach Ruben Velasco, boxing is more than just showing up to the gym; boxing is about helping kids learn about life.

Velasco is the head coach of Most Valuable Pugilist Boxing team, better known as MVP Boxing. You can find the team practicing on a daily basis at the Jack Candelaria Community Center in Albuquerque’s San Jose neighborhood.

Velasco is originally from Grants, where he began his involvement in boxing fighting under Freddie Lucero as an amateur. After a short amateur career, Velasco began training his younger brother and some of his friends in 2004 to keep them out of trouble. It was not until 2008 that Velasco began training his sons, Isaac and Isaiah.

The Perez brothers have become a staple in the local amateur boxing scene. You will always find at least one of them fighting in the local shows. Isaac is 13 and Isaiah, 10. Besides his two sons, Velasco also trains 12- year-old Gabriel Gurrola and one other fighter who just recently joined the team.

MVP Boxing team has been able to participate in many amateur cards throughout New Mexico, thanks to coach Velasco and the team’s fundraising efforts. Velasco doubles as a handyman and boxing coach, the former being his full time job, though he is able to work around his schedule to train his athletes. Besides the training at Jack Candelaria Community Center, the team also has a home gym, but they prefer the atmosphere and competition at the community center.

“Boxing keeps me outta trouble, but I’m not that much of a troublemaker,” admits Isaac Perez, whose future goals include graduating from high school and becoming the first professional boxer in his family. Velasco expects his team to excel both in the ring and in the classroom. The kids work together to keep each other motivated in and out of the gym. They also have a consensus as to who their favorite fighter is, that being current pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao.  For now the team is focused on enjoying their amateur career, while continuing to win at the many shows and tournaments they participate in on a yearly basis.

“Mad” Mike Alderete is issuing a challenge to his old nemesis, “Mad” Max Heyman. “Stop hiding behind your manager,” says Alderete, who says a place and time has been set up for the rubber match.

El Paso is hosting a Texas Challenge. All New Mexico amateur boxers are invited to participate. The event will be held Saturday, March 17, in El Paso. Uniforms will be provided for all participants.For more information call 915-626-8031 or 915-203-0493.

Results from last weekend’s Rosales smoker includes: At Marissa Mendoza, 119, Rosales, and Katie Ramirez, 126, Rosales, fought a boxing exhibition; Dorian Dixon, Rosales, 160, and Javier Rodriguez, 185, Rosales, fought a kickboxing exhibition; Johnny Amezucua, Bad Company, 85, won a decision over Donte Lebya, 74, Rosales; Bryanna Otero, Rosales, 113, and Alexis Damin, 116.5, Montoya Boxing, fought a draw; Isaac Gonzales, 185, Rosales, and Dillion Kohman, TKA Boxing, 183.5, fought a draw; Kevin Lesperance, Rosales, 188, and Javier Rodriguez, Rosales, 185, fought a boxing exhibition; Jake Hawks, Rosales, 118, won a decision over Rena Pena, Bad Company, 122; For the AKA NM state title fight at super heavy, Rosales’ Austin “Tiny” Kitchens TKO Manny Gullian  of Monsiviaz Boxing in the third round.

The next Rosales smoker is Feb. 18.

Weigh-ins will take place from 8AM to 10AM at the TUFF Gym located at 1705 Val Verde Rd SW in Albuquerque. Matching will take place after weigh-ins at the same location. Physicals will be at 3PM at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. For pre-matches please call Steve Garcia at (505) 620-2214.

Professor Monsivaiz will be hosting an SWKA kickoxing, boxing and grappling show, scheduled for Saturday, April 14. This event will be held at the Las Cruces Convention Center.  More information will be available as the show date gets closer.  Anybody interested in participating, please email professor Monsivaiz with names, weights, and record.

Steve Mirabal has joined Team Mirabal as assistant coach. Richard Mirabal helped his cousin get started in the sport of karate/kickboxing at the age of  14.  Steve later boxed and is a (2) time Golden Glove Regional Champ and a USA Mens Open Regional Champion. He brings over 16 years of experience to the table. He coaches his two sons, Malici and Michael, who are active in amateur boxing, as well as other boxers.

Shaun Henson, who made a pro debut on the Fresquez card Dec. 2, has unretired from boxing & MMA – actually, he says it was a misunderstanding that he’d originally retired.

Results by Gerardo Martinez
Photos by Jose Leon Castillo III

This past Monday night Warrior Boxing along with Chavez Promotions put on a private card dubbed “The Black Tie Affair”. The USA Boxing sanctioned card was a fundraiser for the youth of New Mexico. There were a total of five bouts with some of New Mexico’s top amateur talent. Check out the results and photos below. . .

Braulio Trejo (No Holds Barred) won by points against Santiago Amaro (Warrior Boxing)

Zachariahe Jacquez (Independent) won by points against Matthew Griego (Team Mirabal)

Jose Salinas (Las Cruces PAL) won by points against Abelardo Esparza (Warrior Boxing)

Cecilia Renova (Warrior Boxing) won by points Dacia Jacquez (Independent)

Javier Cepeda (Roswell) won by points against Brandon Munoz (Warrior Boxing)

Albuquerque welterweight Freddie Cisneros (1-3-1, 1 NC) lost by a third-round TKO to pro-debuter Andrew Ruiz, at yesterdays’ Top Rank card, staged before spectators at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

(Cisneros on right)

Wyoming native and current Albuquerque welterweight Freddie Cisneros (1-2-1, 1 NC) is already in Las Vegas for his fight today against pro-debuter Andrew Ruiz who trains at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Oxnard, CA. Cisneros trains at Jack Candelaria Community Center under the tutelage of Steve Garcia, head coach of Power and Glory Boxing.

Cisneros and Ruiz will be fighting at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This will be Cisneros’ first fight since May of 2010 that ended in a no contest due to a head clash that caused a cut over his left eye (Thanks to Steve Garcia for photo.)

Unfortunately, New Mexico will not be sending any representatives to the 2012 National Silver Gloves tournament in Independence, MO. (Thanks to Steve Garcia  for the update.)

Please note if you register on-line, the form has to be downloaded and emailed to the NM Registration Chair or sent through regular mail to obtain your Passbooks and Validation Labels. All Non-Athletes are required to have a Passbook starting this year also and must be current with clinics. Coaches Clinics and Official Clinics are coming soon. I’d like to thank everyone in advance for their patience with the new changes USA BOXING has made. We look forward to having another successful year! For more information contact the Registration Chair, Pauline Armijo @ 505-967-6428 or @ parmijotuff1@aol.com.

ANY and EVERYONE WELCOME!

“USA BOXING – New Mexico LBC 42 Boxing Officials Clinic”

Date: January 21, 2012
Time: 10:00AM to 2:00PM
Location: Warriors Boxing Gym 1201 San Mateo SE Albuquerque, NM
Conducting Clinic: Marvin Clifford – USA Boxing Level II Referee/Judge/Timekeeper

No pre-registration for clinic required. Just show up. Lunch will be served. Membership Registration with USA Boxing prior to clinic required.

1. Register online at www.usaboxing.org
2. Register with LBC 42 Registration Chair: Pauline Armijo at 505-967-6428
3. We will try to setup registrations at clinic.

• Professional Boxing, MMA, Kickboxing and Wrestling Officials encouraged to get involved. An excellent way to stay active, sharpen ring generalship skills and boxing knowledge.

• If you have limited or no boxing knowledge, don’t let that discourage you! You will be trained, mentored and developed to become a top amateur boxing official.

• Officials needing Re-certification and/or a Maintenance are required to attend. Contact Sandy Olson to see if you need a Maintenance.

If you can’t make it to this clinic but are interested in becoming a USA Boxing Official contact Sandy Olson to setup a clinic or information for next clinic.

Questions & Information:
Sandy Olson * Chief-Of-Officials
Phone: 505-916-6791
Email: winddancer00705@yahoo.com

There are several New Mexicans scheduled to fight tonight. Results will be posted tomorrow. (Thanks to Steve Garcia for the update.)