Hard Knocks boxers ready for McDermont card
Eleven-year-old Espie Ruiz is called “The Crusher” by Hard Knocks Boxing Club head trainer Mitch Sandoval and one look at Ruiz throwing a punch tells you why. The girl can throw a punch.
“None of the boys want to spar with her,” Sandoval said. “I don’t blame them.” Sandoval then told Ruiz, “I’m going to put aluminum cans right here so you can crush them all day.”
Ruiz is among 15 male and female boxers ranging in ages from 9 to 26 that are benefitting from the club on South D Street that Sandoval began in January. “We’ve been going full bore since then,” Sandoval said.
The ultimate goal is for the club to have a ring of its own, so it can begin hosting cards. But the club has begun competition, participating in a card recently hosted by the Sanger Police Athletic League.
And the club won’t have to go that far on Saturday as it will participate in the McDermont Boxing Club’s first card, the McDermont Slug Fist Amateur Show at the McDermont Field House. The event begins at 4 p.m. and up to 32 bouts will be featured. Cost is $8 and free for those 10 and under who are accompanied by an adult who buys a ticket. Limit is one child per paid adult ticket and the child must be with the paying customer at the time of purchase to enter the event.
Clubs from as far away as Oxnard and Salinas are scheduled to be in the event. “It’s fantastic having boxers participating as far as Oxnard to Salinas, coming to our city, Lindsay,” said McDermont Field House sports director Rene Hernandez. “It’s not just benefitting McDermont, but benefitting all local business in Lindsay.”
Hernandez said McDermont hopes to host a Mixed Martial Arts event in November.
“It’s good for all the clubs in the Central Valley,” Sandoval also said about Saturday’s card.
Among the boxers who are scheduled to fight for Hard Knocks on Saturday are Andrew Moreno, Jacob Sandoval and Jesus Ceballos. Moreno (1-0) is already
ahead of the curve as he fought at Sanger, winning by technical knockout when the fight in the scheduled three-round bout was stopped early in the third round due to the bleeding of Moreno’s opponent.
“It went well, but a lot of mistakes to learn from,” said Moreno, a 13-year-old Sequoia Middle School eighth grader, who boxes at 100 pounds.
About Hard Knocks, Moreno said, “It’s cool. It keeps us busy. It keeps me out of trouble.” He also said about Sandoval and his younger brother, Jaime Sandoval, “They’re good coaches. They teach us real well.”
Sandoval couldn’t help bragging about his brother, saying he’s “a monster when it comes to physical fitness. He’s got muscles on his ears.”
Sandoval, Mitch’s son, is scheduled to take part in his first fight on Saturday at 150 pounds. “I’m looking forward to it,” said the 13-year-old Sandoval, another 13-year-old, who will be an eighth grader at Sequoia. “I’ve been training hard. Just go in head strong and confident, not too confident and show what I learned in training.”
Coach Sandoval operated a local PAL club before it shut down and saw the need for his current club. Among the rules are no foul language and no horse play and the Ten Commandments of Boxing are also hanging on the wall, stressing respect for the sport and opponents.
“I decided to get back into it and open up a gym and help these kids and give them something to do,” said coach Sandoval about his club which is affiliated with USA Boxing. “It’s just a passion of mine.”
