COSTA MESA : Boxing Club for Youths Is a Big Hit

After months of workouts, the teen-agers in this community’s Save Our Youth program are finally able to put their newly learned boxing skills to use.

The program’s first exhibition bouts were fought Tuesday night in the Rea Community Center, where the program’s new boxing ring was formally dedicated in a ceremony before dozens of parents, friends, celebrities and city officials.

“These kids are really great,” said Oscar Santoyo, the director of SOY. “They have really picked up some boxing skills.”

SOY, a nonprofit organization established in April, was formed by community members, city officials and sports celebrities, including Armando Muniz, a former professional welterweight boxer in the 1970s.

The ring and utilities were donated by the city of Costa Mesa, and exercise equipment was purchased with money raised in garage sales, carwashes and contributions by several private organizations.

More than 300 youths share the recreation facilities, which house the boxing ring, a weightlifting room, an aerobics area and a learning center filled with computers.

“We have all of these computers ready to go,” Santoyo said. “But we need volunteers to come in to show the kids how to use them with their school work.”

The boxing program is the organization’s mainstay, consistently bringing new kids into the gym every week, Santoyo said. Each youth between the age of 13 and 19 is asked to pay $2 to join.

Youths who can’t afford the donation are allowed to box anyway, but must do chores. The money collected pays for the tape boxers use to wrap their hands.

Clyde Lopez, George Latka, Joe Pirelli and Ted Latin volunteer as trainers. The facility has several heavy body and speed bags and a mirror for the boxers to study their moves. The trainers come in five days a week and give the youths the benefit of knowledge that on occasion extends beyond boxing expertise.

“We teach them to respect rules and regulations,” Latin said after a hard workout with one of the young boxers. “Discipline is important for boxers and for life in general.”

Parents like Reymundo Robles feel comfortable at SOY and often join their sons or daughters there. “I like seeing my son working out,” he said. “It’s much better than seeing him hanging out on the streets.”

Alma Romo, a parent and volunteer, brings her daughters to aerobic workouts and weightlifting exercises. “I am here three days a week,” she said. “I think more girls should know about this.”

Councilman Joe Erickson, one of SOY’s founding board members, said the creation of SOY was the result of two years of meeting with community members to “seek an alternative to gang violence” for young people.

“You can have a policeman on every corner, but that isn’t going to solve the gang problem,” Erickson said. “They need a place to go to like SOY.”

Santoyo is excited about the progress of SOY’s boxing program, but hopes to see more women use the facility. He also looks forward to seeing the room full of students and volunteers working at the computers.

“We have a big wish list,” he said. “But we have already come so far.”