Boxing

The future looks very bright indeed for the All-Marine Boxing Team thanks to standout performances from Cpl. Angel Garcia and Lance Cpl. Melissa Roberts during the recent Ringside Boxing Championship in Kansas City.

The rattle of the ring echoed across the steamy gym as members of the Marine Corps boxing team planted their feet before unleashing blow after blow while sparring Wednesday under the watchful gaze of coach Ron Simms.

The Marine Corps Boxing team competed at the the 2009 NC - VA Golden Gloves Boxing Championships 27 - 29 March in Virginia Beach, VA.

When All-Marine Boxing Team coach Ron Simms decided to hold a weeklong camp for novices, he did so with a purpose.

“I’d like to see if we can find some people to fill in some of our lighter weight classes,” said Simms. “Maybe some people who never really thought about boxing, but might like to give it a try.”

By all accounts, I was not the kind of camper Simms was hoping for — 37 years old, 15 pounds overweight at 203, and afraid of getting hit in the face (or anywhere else for that matter) — but the coach and his fighters were gracious to a fault as I huffed and puffed through the first Marine Corps Installations-East Boxing Training Camp at Camp Lejeune.

Beginning in June, Head Coach Ron Simms and his fighters have been working on a new program that may provide huge dividends for All-Marine team down the line — way, way down the line. They are giving the future of the sport a boost by initiating the first Camp Lejeune Youth Boxing Program.

For three nights running, Goettge Memorial Field House was transformed into a paradise for fight fans who came to take in the inaugural Marine Corps Boxing Invitational.

 2008 Armed Forces Boxing Championship Results

Hyderabad, India - Competing in his first international tournament, Marine Corps Lance Corporal Samuel Martinez of MCB Camp Lejeune, N.C., received a bronze medal after losing 24-4 to Russia's Zubok Alexei in the 64-kilogram semifinals.

Rawlins, Wyo., population: a little more than 9,000, is the hometown of Marine and possible future Olympic champion boxer Samuel Martinez.

Martinez, an All-Marine Corps Team boxer, recently triumphed in the light welter-weight division at the 2007 Armed Forces Boxing Championships at Bennett Fitness Center on Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. The southpaw defeated the Navy's Petty Officer 2nd Class Adam Fusinato by decision to claim the gold medal in the competition.

On the night of April 18, 1775, the British Army began its move across the Charles River towards Lexington. Paul Revere, along with the other Sons of Liberty, immediately went into action by riding to Lexington and Charlestown to warn his fellow patriots with his legendary war cry, "The British are coming! History will be repeating itself on the 232nd anniversary of that legendary evening.

With new head coach Ron Simms, the All-Marine Boxing Team fought their way to the team silver.  As military operations still hurt the Service teams, the Marines brought an inexperienced squad, with only one team veteran to the 2007 Armed Forces Championship.  The 2007 Armed Forces Boxing Championship was held at the Bennet Fitness Center at Kelly Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX 5-10 March.