Boxing Helps Santa Maria Youth Avoid Trouble
They come for the love of the sport and to stay busy, stay focused and stay safe.
The Central Coast Boxing Club in Santa Maria helps local kids stay on the right path and out of trouble.
“It helped me get back on track when I was in a rough patch”, says 19 year old Frank Ramos who works out at the club, “I hung out with a bad crowd and boxing basically taught me self discipline, it helped me stay off the streets.”
“There was a point where I was messing up you know”, adds 17 year old Brandon Gutierrez, “I was out on the street getting into a lot of bad stuff but now I’m back.”
The Central Coast Boxing Club has been a healthy and positive influence for Santa Maria youth for several years.
“I was one of these kids back in the day on the streets”, says Carlos Ruiz who runs the boxing club with the help of a couple of staff members, “the one that took me off the street was the Lieutenant from CMC, Willie Flores, the founding father of the Central Coast Boxing Club, that gave me the outlet to stay off the streets, and it showed me love and how to be a part of something.”
“We have a lot of kids that love to be part of the program, we’ve got a lot of parents that are supporting their kids during these tough times, its really good for our community right now”, Ruiz says, “I’ve been around, I came from the streets, especially right now, with the six homicides this year, the streets are not too safe right now, and this brings the community together with something positive out there especially during these tough times.”
Learning the sport of boxing through proper technique and training also teaches the young people who show up how to handle the punches life throws at them at early age.
“It helps me release some anger that I have inside”, Frank Ramos says, “rather than just letting it out on a certain person or something like that it helps me lay it out on the bag instead.”
“I started boxing when I was 10, so I just like the sport”, Brandon Gutierrez says, “ever since I was a little kid, I always watched boxing with my dad, I just like the sport you know.”
Ramos and Gutierrez have already learned what its like to work hard, compete and win in and out of the ring thanks to the Central Coast Boxing Club.
“I don’t really care for anybody who judges me”, Gutierrez says, “I just do it for myself and my son and my baby’s mom.”
“Right now I’m going to college”, Ramos says, “I want to be a high school history teacher and I want to help other teens stay off the streets too.”
“Whether they pursue boxing or not this is a great tool, it shows them a team effort in everything they do”, Carlos Ruiz says, “you have to be part of a team, same thing with a career or work, its part of a team, so it shows them the team effort and the respect they need to grow up and be successful in society.”
The Central Coast Boxing Club is inside a converted warehouse and garage at 539 East Oak Street behind the Santa Maria-Bonita School District Administration Building.
To learn more about the Central Coast Boxing Club or to help support the club call (805) 868-9874.
