Jorge Hernandez, 10, received the chance to compete the Silver
Glove Nationals held in Kansas last weekend. He walked away with a
belt, and he didn’t have to break a sweat.
Hernandez, who boxes out of the Bulldog Boxing Club in
Hollister, wasn’t sure he would even be able to make the trip
because of a lack of funds. But at the last minute, money was
donated to allow him the chance. He went with the coach from the
boxing club in Watsonville, who brings kids to Hollister to
train.
Jorge Hernandez, 10, received the chance to compete the Silver Glove Nationals held in Kansas last weekend. He walked away with a belt, and he didn’t have to break a sweat.
Hernandez, who boxes out of the Bulldog Boxing Club in Hollister, wasn’t sure he would even be able to make the trip because of a lack of funds. But at the last minute, money was donated to allow him the chance. He went with the coach from the boxing club in Watsonville, who brings kids to Hollister to train.
“I told him it wasn’t his fault if people didn’t show up, said Bulldog Boxing owner and trainer Zeke Lopez. “There are not that many kids in his weight class. Reguardless of if he fought or not, he still trained hard. He is a very good boxer. He went there for one reason, and he accomplished his goal (of bringing home a belt.)”
Hernandez is scheduled to face a kid from Salinas on Sunday at Planet Gemini in Monterey. Fellow Bulldog boxer Tony Corrales, 12, is scheduled to join him there.
“Tony has come a long ways,” Lopez said. “He has put a lot of heart and dedication into what he is doing. He is moving well and is quick with his hands. He gives Jorge a fight. He lost in the Silver Gloves to a kid that had over 30 fights. I thought he was going to quit, but if anything, it put more fire into him.”
State champion Danny Hernandez, 18, (no relatation to Jorge) fought in the Western Trials in Bakersfield for a chance at a spot on the Olympic team.
Hernandez was defeated in a four-round decision by Sadat Vasquez from Texas, who went on to lose in the finals.
“Several people were calling me and telling me that it was a shame he lost, because they thought he had won,” Hernandez said. “The kid was running and running, but he still won.”
Hernandez, who first started boxing about four years ago, will fight in the Golden Glove competition in Tulare. He was also scheduled to fight in Monterey on Sunday but may opt out because of a conflict, Lopez said.
Bulldog Boxing will be holding a sponsors’ appreciation day with a barbeque on March 6 at noon for people who have helped out or are involved with the team.
