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Best of 2008: H.I.T. Gyms’ Boxing Extravaganza draws range of amateur boxers
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| Humble resident Paul Rodriguez talks to H.I.T. Gyms fighter Sam Nunez during one of the more than 30 fights that took place at the Humble Civic Center Arena on July 12. Rodriguez’ two sons, Anthony, 12, and Jonathan, 11, both fought later in the day. |
By STEPHEN WHITFIELD
(from the July 16 edition of the Observer)
More than 500 people made their way to the Humble Civic Arena last Saturday to watch the Hardcore Intense Training Gyms’ Boxing Extravaganza.
The H.I.T. Gyms show consisted of a series of three-round fights, with each round lasting one minute. Eighty boxers ranging from ages 8 to 34 participated, and 10 came from H.I.T. Gyms.
One of those boxers, 11-year-old Julio Diaz from Atascocita, said the atmosphere at the arena was thrilling. Even though he lost his match to William Dierksiede, Diaz said he loved being in the ring.
“It’s just exciting,” he said. “Sometimes you get nervous, you get butterflies in your stomach, but once you get in there and people cheer for you, you feel great.”
Many boxing luminaries attended Saturday’s event including Hector Camacho, Christy Martin and Raul Marquez Sr.
William Fountain, another H.I.T. Gyms boxer who fought at the Extravaganza, said the exposure gained from boxing in front of a crowd like that would help not only H.I.T. Gyms but the boxers themselves.
“For us as fighters, we get to go out there and display our talents,” Fountain said. “It’s all about experience. The more we’re out here, the more people get to see us and the better it is for our gym.”
The headline match was to feature Joe Louis in his last amateur match, but the match was cancelled because Louis’ opponent failed to show. Louis, a boxer who has worked out at H.I.T. Gyms for nearly four years, said he was disappointed not to fight but happy to support the other H.I.T. boxers.
“Most of these kids, they can’t pay a lot, and you need the community to help with the other expenses of the gym, the electricity and whatnot,” Louis said. “That’s why we always show up at each other’s events, because we know that’s what keeps the game going.”
All proceeds from the Extravaganza went towards H.I.T. Gyms’ new boxing facility on Wilson Road in Humble.
The gym originally started as the Yeshua Center at Calvary Christian Fellowship Church in Kingwood three years ago.
It produced 25 Golden Glove titles over that time span, but the program eventually had to shut down due to costs.
Ron Collins, who along with his wife, Lynn, co-founded Yeshua Center, said the church paid upwards of $12,000 per month to help maintain the program.
“They started wanting to build out with the church, so we had to close the program down,” Collins said. “My wife and I thought about it, and we wanted to keep this going.”
In order to keep the program going, the Collines’ moved to The Gym in Humble before eventually deciding to move into their own facility.
Ron said he had to reach into his own checkbook to help fund the transition, including paying for the equipment and personnel needed to run the Extravaganza, but the effort was worth it.
“It’s a good thing, not just for the boxing but for the overall transition the boxers make,” he said.
More than 500 people made their way to the Humble Civic Arena last Saturday to watch the Hardcore Intense Training Gyms’ Boxing Extravaganza.
The H.I.T. Gyms show consisted of a series of three-round fights, with each round lasting one minute. Eighty boxers ranging from ages 8 to 34 participated, and 10 came from H.I.T. Gyms.
One of those boxers, 11-year-old Julio Diaz from Atascocita, said the atmosphere at the arena was thrilling. Even though he lost his match to William Dierksiede, Diaz said he loved being in the ring.
“It’s just exciting,” he said. “Sometimes you get nervous, you get butterflies in your stomach, but once you get in there and people cheer for you, you feel great.”
Many boxing luminaries attended Saturday’s event including Hector Camacho, Christy Martin and Raul Marquez Sr.
William Fountain, another H.I.T. Gyms boxer who fought at the Extravaganza, said the exposure gained from boxing in front of a crowd like that would help not only H.I.T. Gyms but the boxers themselves.
“For us as fighters, we get to go out there and display our talents,” Fountain said. “It’s all about experience. The more we’re out here, the more people get to see us and the better it is for our gym.”
The headline match was to feature Joe Louis in his last amateur match, but the match was cancelled because Louis’ opponent failed to show. Louis, a boxer who has worked out at H.I.T. Gyms for nearly four years, said he was disappointed not to fight but happy to support the other H.I.T. boxers.
“Most of these kids, they can’t pay a lot, and you need the community to help with the other expenses of the gym, the electricity and whatnot,” Louis said. “That’s why we always show up at each other’s events, because we know that’s what keeps the game going.”
All proceeds from the Extravaganza went towards H.I.T. Gyms’ new boxing facility on Wilson Road in Humble.
The gym originally started as the Yeshua Center at Calvary Christian Fellowship Church in Kingwood three years ago.
It produced 25 Golden Glove titles over that time span, but the program eventually had to shut down due to costs.
Ron Collins, who along with his wife, Lynn, co-founded Yeshua Center, said the church paid upwards of $12,000 per month to help maintain the program.
“They started wanting to build out with the church, so we had to close the program down,” Collins said. “My wife and I thought about it, and we wanted to keep this going.”
In order to keep the program going, the Collines’ moved to The Gym in Humble before eventually deciding to move into their own facility.
Ron said he had to reach into his own checkbook to help fund the transition, including paying for the equipment and personnel needed to run the Extravaganza, but the effort was worth it.
“It’s a good thing, not just for the boxing but for the overall transition the boxers make,” he said.
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