By David Martinez / Boxing Historian
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 a participate a few months ago by Henry Calles, owner and trainer of Dukes 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 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.
I will go on record to saying “that, to this day, the Calderon bout was the best combined six minutes of amateur boxing I have ever witnessed.”
I bring this up now, 26 years later, because it directly ties in with Henry, as he is the nephew who certainly has the pure boxing pedigree of his uncles George and Mino. Henry boxes beautifully like George with a superior jab and quickness. He also possesses the strength and power of Mino. As I watch Henry teach and train his students daily in the gym, I can actually see both George and Mino blended into Henry’s boxing skills – a true gift of inheritance.
Henry will not be fighting at Fight Night on April 17, but he will be in the corner for his fighters and will be a main fixture that night for everyone involved in such a positive way.
For those of you that live in the greater Santa Barbara area, I hope that you can come out and support this event. Tickets can be purchased at the door, General Admission is $10.00 and Ringside is $15.00. I am looking forward to seeing you there!
Calderon brothers,
Mino (red trucks / gold trim) and
George (black trunks / gold trim),
exchange punches in their 1983 bout