I was rolling through Downtown late last Friday afternoon towards Soulard as sunshine and a tolerable February temperature brought a gentle end to the work week. As I sat idle at a stoplight in front of City Hall, Beyonce was giving a shout out to all the single ladies from the cracked side window of the car beside me, and heavy foot traffic suggested more than a few people had opted to get a head start on the weekend.
But there was still work being done upstairs in the boxing gym at 12th & Park Rec Center, with seven of eight chained heavybags swinging as I walked into the room illuminated with muted artificial light.
A prospect with long braids was battering a speed bag in short staccato bursts while another hopeful was using a lonely piece of cardio equipment in the corner as an anchor while he lurched through a stubborn set of crunches.
I was there to interview Damian Howard, the eighth grade Peabody student who recently won the National Silver Gloves Tournament in the 156 lb. division, and when he shook my hand he had the confident look of a champion. With five years and over 50 bouts in his passbook, he seemed excited about winning the title in Independence, Mo. over a gritty opponent from Virginia.
His trainer Kenny Loehr said, “He was tough. He kept coming at us. It was one of the toughest fights we’ve had.”
The victory automatically qualified Howard for the 2009 USA Boxing National Championships in Denver this summer. He told me getting to travel is one of the things he enjoys most about the sport. The fan of Sugar Ray Leonard describes himself as a “boxer who isn’t afraid to stand and trade.”
For now, he said, “I’m going to keep on boxing and try for a football scholarship as a wide receiver.”
He is tall with a generous reach and fights 44 pounds north of the weight class he started in. With the mention of that, Coach Loehr smiled and said, “He’s gonna be my first heavyweight champion.”
To get there, the work will continue, even late on Fridays after others have already called it a week.
Tijuana Tornado and trainer banned
Last week the California State Athletic Commission voted unanimously to suspend the licenses of both Antonio Margarito and his trainer Javier Capetillo for at least one year after “plaster-like bandage wraps” were found inside the Mexican’s gloves prior to his title clash in January with Shane Mosley.
Footage of the hearing was broadcast, with Capetillo trying to throw himself on a grenade by taking full blame and Margarito claiming he didn’t know the foreign materials were placed on his hands, which were inches in front of his face during the entire wrapping process.
Shane Mosley later ended up turning back the clock with a dominating performance, substituting Margarito’s skull for the double end bag he had been using at training camp in Big Bear on the way to a ninth round TKO.
Loading gloves has been going on forever, and it is a form of cheating that stands at the very top of all sports. If an athlete uses steroids to gain an edge, for instance, in the end he is ultimately putting his own health in danger. Loading gloves or removing padding from them puts the life of one’s opponent in jeopardy.
On fight night, a photo of the sneering Margarito in the “Tale of the Tape” segment made me think, “This is a bad dude.” Not “Shaft” bad, mind you, but “rotten” bad. He looked like a villain sent straight from Central Casting- the only things missing were a black hat and bands of ammo across his chest.
In a snippet of an interview, Bob Arum of Top Rank (the cheater’s promoter) said he was outraged about the suspension and that Capetillo was solely responsible, adding that the decision was made against his guy because he’s Mexican. Because nowhere will you find less tolerance for Mexicans than in California.
A tip of the cap to you, Bob Arum. In 30 seconds of face time on ESPN you knocked one out of the park by managing to appear both corrupt AND delusional.
Riley: one to watch
I settled in last week for the “Friday Night Fights” broadcast and was impressed with an undefeated cruiser prospect named Yathomas Riley. Over the course of four hectic rounds against the mostly game Julius Jackson, the southpaw Riley lashed out at his taller counterpart with one of the most merciless body attacks I’ve witnessed in a while.
Riley repeatedly stamped the anatomy underneath his foe’s left elbow with his lead right mitt, drawing knockdowns in rounds one and three and almost convincing Jackson to forgo the final three minutes of abuse.
The now 6-0 contender earned a unanimous decision and is one to keep on the radar as he rises through the ranks.
