O.C. Fighter, 15, Claims Silver Gloves National Title

With only six amateur fights under his belt, Raul Pacheco has become Anaheim Boxing Club’s first national champion.

Pacheco, 15, a 10th-grader at Anaheim High School, clinched the U.S. National Championship Silver Gloves title at a tournament over the weekend in Kansas City, Mo.

“The city, and especially the Mexican-American community, is extremely proud of Raul,” said Boxing Club manager Ed Kostiuk. “We expect great things from Raul, and not just in boxing, but great things for him for the rest of his life.”

Anaheim City Councilman Lou Lopez, a longtime supporter of the club, said, “This is a real accomplishment. It’s a reflection of our trainers and boxing program.” The council will recognize Pacheco this month for his achievements, Lopez said.

Pacheco won the national title in the 178-pound division. Club boxer Dominic Gonzales, 11, a sixth-grader at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School in Anaheim, also made it to the national championships. But he lost in the semifinals in the 98-pound division and is ranked third in the nation.

“It was a big disappointment for my son,” said Dennis Gonzales, who helps train his son and Pacheco. “It was a learning experience. Now he’ll just continue his winning ways.”

Both young boxers won Western U.S. National Championships at the Silver Gloves Tournament in January in Norwalk to qualify them for the national competition. Both also earned state championship titles in December, 1996. The competition is open to boxers 17 and younger.

Dennis Gonzales called it a positive experience for the boys to make it to the national tournament.

“It means a lot to the other kids to see that it’s something that is possible,” Gonzales said. “It’s just a positive thing for the rest of the kids to see that if they try hard and dedicate themselves, they can accomplish whatever they want.”

Kostiuk said after three rounds, Pacheco won his national title by unanimous decision. He won all his preliminary bouts by knockout.

“He’s been blessed. He has God-given strength,” said his other trainer, Rip Icenhour, who in past years turned out silver medal winners in the national tournament.

Pacheco, Icenhour said, has a rare ability: “He has power and he’s very focused when he gets in the ring . . . We’re happy to have a champion.”

Pacheco, who works out daily at the club, said he was “just happy and proud” to come home as a champion.

Kostiuk said Pacheco has “gone from a very shy young man to a very confident champion. He has developed this self-confidence and self-esteem--at least inside the ring.”

Pacheco now has one long-term goal in mind: to become an Olympic boxer.

But first, Pacheco will train in coming months for the Junior Olympics in June.

Kostiuk said he has a fighting chance of achieving his goals.

“With each fight, he gets progressively stronger,” he said.