Program May Give Youths a Fighting Chance

While his friends grew up battling rival gang members on the streets of East Los Angeles, Joey Olivo fought for his barrio another way.

Olivo’s bouts were in the ring. At age 15, he put aside gang life and launched a successful career in professional boxing, becoming the only U.S. fighter ever to hold a world junior-flyweight title.

In the neighborhood, he quickly rose to legendary status. On Thursday, the legend returned home. In the gym of the Ramona Gardens Housing Project, former gang members and community residents watched as Olivo instructed young fighters in a new boxing program developed by the East Los Angeles Activities Foundation to steer the area’s teen-agers away from gang violence.

Mike Garrett, vice chairman of the group, said the program will teach the kids discipline, respect and pride--values they desperately need. “One kid told me that no one who ever amounted to anything ever came out of East L.A.,” he said. “I realized then that someone had to do something to change their images of themselves.”

In addition to boxing, the program offers gymnastics, weightlifting, exercise programs and nutrition and parenting classes. All participants will be required to sit in on an anti-drug and anti-gang seminar.

Garrett grew up in East L.A., won the Heisman Trophy as a running back at USC in 1965 and then played in the National Football League. He formed the East Los Angeles Youth Activities Foundation after experiencing the pain of gang violence.

Last year, Garrett’s niece was killed in a drive-by shooting. Her death, combined with an abiding interest in “making East L.A. the way it was when I grew up” compelled Garrett to develop the recreation program. With help from Jerry Buss, owner of The Forum, Garrett’s group raised more than $15,000 from the proceeds of boxing matches at the facility. Individuals and corporations provided the rest of the funds.

Gilbert Garcia, chairman of the foundation--which plans to develop six other centers in the city--noted the cost of locking up prisoners and said, “If we can save them by putting them in an athletic program, this will pay for itself.”

For Chino, a former gang member who was released from prison earlier this year, the program brought back memories of his own childhood. So strong was his devotion to his gang that Chino killed a man and served 18 years in prison.

“I went to jail for this project,” he said, referring to the Ramona Gardens homes. “They (project residents) look up to me.”

Motioning to police officers watching the boxing exhibition, Chino added: “We didn’t have this when I was growing up. We wouldn’t even be in the same room as the police. I think this is going to improve the community’s morale.”

Nearby, 7-year-old “Mighty Mike” Achinodo said he has already decided that he will make his mark in the world through boxing and not gangs. The 60-pounder has already had 16 fights and will don gloves for this year’s Junior Olympics.

“I don’t like gangs,” he said. “They kill people and break in everybody’s house. I don’t like that kind of stuff,” he said, climbing in the ring to go a few practice rounds with the 108-pound Olivo.

Afterward, Olivo had nothing but praise for “Mighty Mike” and the other youths who will be sparring with him in the months ahead. “It makes me feel good because these kids have already set goals for themselves.”