OXNARD : 3 Teen-Agers Win in Regional Boxing

Beating champions from six states, teen-agers from Oxnard’s La Colonia Youth Boxing Center won regional amateur boxing titles last weekend during a tournament in Prescott, Ariz.

Robert Garcia, 15, Danny Perez, 13, and Saul Martinez, 13, are now scheduled to travel to Marshalltown, Iowa, on Feb. 6 for a five-day tournament to decide national Silver Gloves champions.

The Silver Gloves tournament is for amateur boxers under 16.

In the regional tournament, each Oxnard boxer won two bouts. Garcia won the 119-pound title, Perez the 95-pound division and Martinez was champion of the 112-pounders.

Two years ago Garcia won the regional championship in the Silver Gloves but did not compete in the national tournament because the gym could not afford the travel expenses, said Martin Noriega, the gym’s manager and trainer.

Noriega said La Colonia Youth Boxing Assn. Inc. is planning on raising about $3,000 for hotel costs, food and travel expenses to send himself and the three boxers to the tournament.