APRIL 2009 • ISSUE IV FEATURES • David Carey and Christina Cruz .........................................2 • Junior Worlds in Armenia - Team USA Prepares ................3 • Staff Spotlight of April - Edith Smith .......................................4 • USA Boxing and the California USA Boxing Begins Public School Initiative State Athletic Commission .......4 With the assistance from the United States junior and open division competition. Olympic Committee’s Urban Develop- • Ticketing Info for the 2009 USA ment Grant, four USA Boxing LBCs have The Middle Atlantic LBC is attempting to launched school programs in their area launch a school program in two areas within Boxing National Championships school districts. their LBC. A program is currently under- in Denver .................................5 way in Harrisburg, Pa., with 38 youngsters The Missouri Valley LBC and LBC Presi- enrolling in the first week. The Harrisburg dent John Brown have reached out to local program began on April 8 and is scheduled • The 2009 National Golden high schools and received permission from to run through June 10. On behalf of the Gloves Tournament in Salt Lake two school boards to take over the Physical Middle Atlantic LBC, Curtis Thompson has City, UT ....................................5 Education classes in all of the high schools also pitched the school program initiative and several junior high schools, using a to 11 schools, a recreation center and the portion of the Membership Growth & De- Mayor’s Office in Reading, Pa. • LBC Membership Updates ....6 velopment Initiative. The LBC has utilized this time to teach the sport of boxing in The fourth LBC to launch a school box- three high schools and hopes to extend the ing program is Florida Gold Coast under • Ringside Physician’s program to six-eight more high schools and President Armando Fiallo. Two schools in Symposium ............................6 several additional junior high schools. south Florida are taking part in school box- ing programs. Dwyer High School in Palm The Arizona LBC and President Michael Beach Gardens, Fla., hosts its program • USA Boxing Alumni News .....7 Sanchez have launched the program in off-campus with 25 students participat- 14 first-time schools in Mesa, Ariz., and ing. North Miami Middle School is holding • United Airlines Updates .........7 they have enjoyed an influx of youngsters boxing classes off-campus with 11 students excited about their new after-school activity. taking part in the program. All of the youngsters are transported to • AIBA Update ..........................7 McKellips Middle School in Mesa, where USA Boxing hopes to continue to grow they were provided a vacant room to set up the school program to new markets and a boxing ring and utilize facilities at a Ra- schools throughout the nation to increase mada next door for bag-work and additional membership and introduce the sport to activities. Over 40 youngsters, ranging in young people who wouldn’t otherwise take age from eight to 18 are participating in part. the program, which Sanchez hopes will continue beyond next year. The new facility For sample presentation materials to ap- at McKellips Middle School even hosted a proach a school or school board, please recent state tournament with boxers vying click here, or visit the USA Boxing website. for a spot in the regional tournament in both (photo) Students train at the School Program in the Missouri Valley LBC. THE WRITE HOOK APRIL 2009 1 ISSUE IV DAVID CAREY David Carey, then a full-time student at the University of Anchorage, Alaska, He continued to train in the mess hall noticed his diligence and devotion to his until a better facility was available. And school work left him a bit on the heavy while Carey wouldn’t describe the new side. He went home to California for gym as “state of the art,” it has heavy spring break where his uncle told him bags, speed bags, and other bare about a boxing gym. Carey hoped the essentials used to prepare the heavy- training would simply shrink his waist- weight for his bouts. line. Little did he know it would become his lifestyle. The Alaskan gym sees a constant flow of people and Carey estimates it Carey began training at King’s Boxing has approximately 50 to 70 registered Gym in Oakland, Calif. Greats such members. The young athletes who as George Foreman and Andre Ward train there can say they box along side called this facility their home, illustrat- Alaska’s best amateur boxer—Carey ing its high caliber. But when Carey’s was the 2004 Ringside Champion, father moved the family to Alaska, a a three-time Tacoma Golden Gloves location lacking in boxing history, he Champion, and an alternate for the was forced to use a sub-par gym. “We 2008 Olympic Team. trained in a kitchen, at one point, in a I want my home to be,” Carey says. rec center,” he recalls. The kitchen had Although his boxing future is unclear “When they introduce me when I get in no bags of any kind, leaving shadow (he has not yet decided if he will pursue the ring, they always say ‘David Carey boxing and jumping rope as the only the 2012 Games or turn pro), one thing from Anchorage, Alaska.’” form of exercise. will remain constant. “This is where CHRISTINA CRUZ thought she would actually compete in boxed many of her opponents prior to a sanctioned bout. But she gave it a try the event. Her dedication to training and the 26-year-old bantamweight has also aided in the win. When asked won the New York Daily News Golden how she prepared, she enthusiastically Gloves three years in a row and looks replied with “a lot of hard training, a lot to add to her long list of accolades. of hard sparring, and a lot of drills,” she says. And while Cruz made each vic- Cruz began boxing approximately three tory look easy, she takes nothing away years ago. A natural-born athlete, she from her opponents. “I did fight tough participated in basketball and softball fighters and I just prepared myself to do before beginning boxing. After taking really good,” she says. a two-year hiatus from basketball, Cruz gave the sweet science a try. Since first Currently, Cruz works as a personal stepping into the gym, she has placed secretary, but says boxing is all she first at the 2007 U. S. Championships ever thinks about. As of right now, she and second at the 2008 U. S. Future has yet to decide if she will wait for Stars National Championships. a decision regarding the inclusion of women’s boxing in the 2012 Olympics, A New York City native, Cruz trains or turn professional. Either way, she Christina Cruz watched a state under Marco Suarez at the Cops N says she will continue to be a member Golden Gloves competition on televi- Kids BC. She felt confident going into of the boxing world. “Boxing is my true sion. Although she trained, she never this year’s Golden Gloves because she love.” THE WRITE HOOK APRIL 2009 2 ISSUE IV Team USA Prepares for the 2009 Junior World Championships in Yerevan, Armenia camp before departing Barney Flores (McKinney, Texas) for Armenia. The thirteen with Bobby Lee (Alamada, Ca- young boxers represent- lif.) serving as Team Manager. ing the United States Mike Rosario (New York, N.Y.) will be pinweight Frankie will work as the AIBA official and Agnew (Chicago Heights, Dr. Robert Nielsen (Saratoga Ill.); light flyweight Edwin Springs, N.Y.) will serve as the Sandoval (Bakersfield, Team Physician. Calif.); flyweight Ray Ximenez (Dallas, Texas); Over 285 boxers from 39 coun- light bantamweight Car- tries are currently registered los Chavez (North Hol- to compete in the tournament, lywood, Calif.); bantam- which is taking place for the first (COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) weight Chuy Alegria (Fort time since the 2007 edition in – Thirteen of the United States’ Worth, Texas); featherweight Ri- Baku, Azerbaijan. Team USA won top junior boxers are prepar- cardo Gallegos (Caldwell, Idaho); three medals in the 2007 event, ing for the 2009 Junior World lightweight Manuel Rojas (Dallas, including a gold medal by Frankie Championships, May 23-30, at Texas); light welterweight Sema- Gomez. The United States ranks the Sport-Concert complex in jay Thomas (Chicago, Ill.); welter- seventh all-time in medal count Yerevan, Armenia. The event, weight Angel Bojado (Los An- with 15 medals. The event took which was previously known as geles, Calif.); light middleweight place for the first time in 2001, the Cadet World Championships, Gerald Sherrell (Pittsburgh, Pa.); and has been contested in every features the world’s top 15 and middleweight D’Mitrius Ballard non-Olympic year since its incep- 16-year-old boxers in what is of- (Temple Hills, Md.); light heavy- tion. ten an early showcase for future weight Benjamin Maine (Ellwood Olympians. City, Pa.); and heavyweight La- All of the bouts will be three, two- mar Richards (Philadelphia, Pa.). minute rounds, and competition The United States team will con- will take place in the 13 junior vene at the U.S. Olympic Training The U.S. team will be coached weight divisions. Center in Chula Vista, Calif., from by Al Simpson (Charlotte, N.C.), May 13-21 for a domestic training Gene Vivero (Dallas, Texas), and Follow TEAM USA on Twitter, for up-to-the minute results and info! Click here or on the button to the right! THE WRITE HOOK APRIL 2009 3 ISSUE IV Staff Spotlight Edith Smith Edith Smith serves USA Boxing’s membership as the Insurance Coordinator. She started at USA Boxing in October of 2007 as a temporary employee and has since moved on to a permanent capacity. In her position as Insurance Coordinator, Smith handles all medical accident questions claims and follow-ups, manages certificate of liability requests, field calls and questions about officials, inputs and maintains certificate records for all non-athlete certification, and deals with all certification level questions.