During my northbound drive on Kingshighway earlier this week, DJ Kaos and Silly Azz kept referring to this “hot and sticky summer,” but the humidity was low and the early evening air was pleasant as I eased into a parking spot at the Wohl Community Center.
A shrill referee’s whistle from the basketball gym greeted me just inside the entrance as a member of the St. Louis Trotters was fouled on his way to the hoop by a member of the Hot Boyz squad.
From the chlorine sting of the indoor pool to the muggy boxing gym above it, there was no shortage of activity as neighborhood kids looked to fill another summer vacation day.
A dozen aspiring boxers were inside the worn ropes upstairs, circling on their toes and peeking over wrapped hands at the end of elbows tucked tight against their ribs.
During the Junior Olympic Tournament in Michigan last weekend, St. Louis was well represented with a half-dozen medal winners at the national competition. The list included Cherokee’s Alan Burns (Bronze/110 lbs.), Corey Walker Jr. (Silver/154 lbs.) and Otis Brown Jr. (Silver/178 lbs.). West End’s Brandon Davis brought back a Bronze medal in the 119 lb. class and Marquette’s Julius Butler won a Silver medal at 138.
Wohl’s Joshua Temple captured Gold at 189, a tall order for the exceptional Cardinal Ritter sophomore who is looking forward to football season and his spot at defensive end.
As the sun tumbled through a row of second-story windows at Wohl, I asked Brandon Davis what was next on his schedule. He said, “My goal right now is to win the Ringside Tournament and, eventually, boxing in the 2012 Olympics.”
Fifteen-year-old Joshua Temple shares that dream, and hopes to turn pro when his amateur campaign draws to a close. I asked him about his ring savvy, and he said, “I have many different styles. I pick the one that is most complicated for my opponent.”
Willie Temple, Joshua’s father and coach, was very pleased with the way the team represented St. Louis. Cherokee’s Corey Walker Sr. was equally thrilled when I phoned him after leaving the rec center.
He said, “Corey (Jr.) took three months off and still won the Silver. We’re going to skip the Ringside Tournament because of an injury, but we’re going to the PAL in October.”
Local talents like Walker, Temple and Davis continue to extend St. Louis’ rich amateur boxing legacy by going deep into national tournaments with sights set on London in 2012.
Diamond Gloves approaches
The annual Diamond Gloves Tournament is July 11 & 12 at the Marquette Recreation Center, located at 4025 Minnesota on the South Side. The event is a big fundraiser for the local amateur commission and gives fans the chance to watch a packed card each evening while supporting local athletes. Tickets are available at the door and the action will kick off at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Officials and Judges Clinic
The Marquette Center will also host an Ozark Boxing meeting and a USA Boxing Level’s I & II clinic at 10 am on Saturday, July 26. Debbie Holmes from Dallas will train the officials, while Ben Stewart and Winston Shaw will preside over the coach’s clinic. Lunch and refreshments will be served, and anyone interested in getting involved as a judge, referee or trainer is encouraged to attend.
