Boxing: Blood Sweat and Tears - Fighting for a Future

By Apolonia S. Pollock
Special to Viva Loudoun

(March 11, 2012) - Since 1923, the Golden Gloves has been a gateway for amateur boxers to be exposed into the professional world of boxing. Many former Golden Gloves champions such as, Muhammed Ali (1960), Oscar de la Hoya (1989), and Jermain Taylor (1998 and 1999) have gone on to win world titles and become role models in boxing.

courtesy National Golden Gloves Inc.

Five local Loudoun amateur boxers, Jose Israel Flores, 19; Eric Hernandez, 18; Manuel “Manny” Hernandez, 13; Matthew Abregu, 19; and Diego Abregu, 18 are hoping to not only follow Ali, de la Hoya, and Taylor Golden Gloves titles’, but to fulfill their own personal dreams of becoming world champions as well.

“Golden Gloves to me is an opportunity to prove that I belong in this game,” said Eric Hernandez, “but it is going to be a hard tournament.”

Alongside Hernandez, teammate Matthew Abregu says, “boxing isn’t just a hobby to me, but a way of life, so winning the gloves will be a big stepping stone in pursuing my dream of becoming a professional boxer.”

These locals will be fighting in the Golden Gloves Championship on Friday, March 30 through Sunday, April 1 at the Elizabeth City Boxing Club in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.


The Golden Gloves is a national contest held by the Golden Gloves Association of America, Inc. The winners from each regional competition are automatically qualified to compete in the Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions which is held once a year.

“Boxing can be an ugly sport, but it will only make you stronger,” Trainer Craig Fladager who has been training some of these young men for over six years, said. Fladager is also the trainer of the current WIBA Female Middleweight Champion, Tori “Sho Nuff” Nelson.

“I’ve had five coaches and never felt like any of them cared, so I try to be the coach that I never had, to these boys,” said Fladager. “I do this for the boys so that they can all feel special.”

To Fladager, these young men are more than just his athletes, but his sons.

“I can guarantee that when boxing is over, I will still keep in touch with them … our relationships are beyond just boxing,” says Fladager.

Boxing is more than just a sport to these young men. It is a dream that they will never stop fighting for until it is reached. Sweat, pain and tears are just a few words that can best describe the obstacles that these young men have faced throughout their training for the Golden Gloves, but the one word that can describe it the best is: passion.

“I’ve always had to fight to get to where I am,” said Eric Hernandez, “and this is just another fight for my future. I love this life.”

For these five tough Loudoun athletes, a passion for boxing has not only helped them overcome the challenges that face them, but given them the drive to keep fighting until they hold a championship belt in their hands.