CHAMPS - Front from left, Johnny Reyes and Ray Ramos. Back from left, Roberto Reyes, Valerie Reyes and Tommy "Chucky," Landeros. All five youth boxers won titles in last months' Desert Showdown Boxing tournament in Coachella.   RON SIDDLE/Valley Press

Starting young

Palmdale's Grace Boxing Club trains youths to become champions

By PATRICK BURNS
Valley Press Staff Writer
 

After they drew so much interest he decided to start a boxing gym, with his wife Rosa Amezola, where his children and others in Palmdale could train and become successful fighters.

And now his kids, as well as other members of Grace Boxing Club, are becoming accomplished amateur fighters as they enter young adulthood.

Valerie, Johnny and Roberto Reyes, along with Ray Ramos and Tommy "Chucky" Landeros all won championship titles at the Desert Showdown Boxing tournament in Coachella last month.

"It's kind of a shock to me we have done so much in just four years," Jose Reyes said. "Now every time we go fight somewhere I expect everyone to do well."

Valerie (age 17), Johnny (15), and Roberto Reyes (16) all attend Antelope Valley High School. Ramos will be a freshman at Eastside next year and Landeros is a junior at Palmdale.

Grace boxer Arturo Villareal, who attends Desert Sands Charter, lost in the 119-pound open division championship to Littlerock boxer Matt Villanueva, who fights with the Jackie Robinson Park boxing club.

Villanueva and Villareal have sparred together several times and are good friends.

"That was a tough match to watch, the crowd didn't know who to root for," said Amezola.

Said Valerie Reyes: "Arturo is going to be a great fighter, he has a pro style."

Valerie Reyes won her title in the women's 17-34 age group, 138-pound open division. Her normal weight is around 125, but she decided to go up two classes just to have someone to fight.

"I wasn't worried," she said. "I knew I could use speed and power."

Johnny Reyes won his belt in the men's 15-16, 101-pound open division. As a righty who can switch to his left at almost any time, he gains an advantage through his opponents by being technical but also very quick.

"Johnny will make you miss a lot," said Ramos.

Roberto Reyes (15-16, 138 pounds), Landeros (17-34, 112 pounds) and Ramos (13-14, 114 pounds) won titles in the novice division.

"I like boxing because when I'm in the ring, it's just me and the other guy," Landeros said. "There's nothing else to think about."

With the exception of Ramos, all the fighters have been training at Grace for more than three years and are hoping to turn professional in the near future.

Ramos, though, has only been training for 10 months.

"I was getting into some trouble and Johnny got me to come out and box," he said. "I've always liked it, but now I love it."

Jose Reyes started Grace by taking over the same location as the Estrada Boxing Club, a well-known club in the area run by Hervi Estrada, a licensed matchmaker/promoter who is the current Vice-President of the AV Boxing Academy.

Reyes said one reason he wanted to get his kids into boxing and start a new club was to keep them out of trouble.

"I wanted a place for a lot of kids to come so they could stay off the streets," he said.

At least within his own household, it has worked.

Jose Reyes Jr., the oldest of the nine Reyes children, boxes at Grace and also spends his time earning an education at ITT Technical Institute in Sylmar, where he works with Computer Network Systems.

"My mentality used to be mess around in school and only care about friends," Reyes Jr. said. "When I started boxing, I decided I can make something of myself."

And as all the young men and women at Grace flourish in the ring and the classroom, they are excited to see Amezola train to become an amateur fighter. She plans on making her amateur debut next year at the Ringside World Championship Tournament in Kansas City, Mo.

Never a fighter before, Amezola was inspired by some of the older members that came into her gym.

"It's been my dream for a long time," she said.

Her kids can't wait, either.

"Were all very excited to see my mom box next year, it's going to be fun to watch," Valerie Reyes said.