*** FLASHBACK ***

This article originally was first published on www.dmboxing.com April 9, 2009

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

I would like to announce that on (Friday) April 17, 2009 at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) Thunderdome, Pi Kappa Alpha will present Fight Night XVIII with doors to open at 5:30pm and the first bout scheduled for 6:30pm.

I was involved in the first inaugural Fight Night back in the mid eighties, which was originally started by Art Carbajal. I am delighted that my involvement this year will be as a corporate sponsor, judge and referee.

I was invited to participate a few months ago by Henry Calles, owner and trainer of Duke’s Boxing Gym. Henry is not only a friend but runs a very organized boxing and fitness gym in the small college community of Isla Vista.

Although Henry is about half my age, I feel like I have known him due to my earlier days working at youth gyms. I had the pleasure of working with his two uncles George and Mino Calderon, who were both outstanding amateur boxers in their day.

In 1983, I refereed an exhibition match between these two brothers, and those in the small crowd that attended that day were certainly treated to three, two-minute rounds of exciting boxing action. Their bout, along with a competitive supporting card, was held at a Santa Barbara, California boxing club called the Casa De La Raza, founded by Art Carbajal. Through the years the club moved to another location and has evolved as the Primo Boxing Club which is run by the expertise of Joe and Jean Pommier.

Calderon brothers / 1983 sparring bout
Mino (red trucks / gold trim) and
George (black trunks / gold trim)

I will go on record to saying “that, to this day, the Calderon sparring bout was the best combined six minutes of amateur boxing I have ever witnessed and had the pleasure of being the referee”.