Thousands in Menifee for Amateur Boxing Championship

Akeem Cheattham of the KO Kings and Queens boxing club (blue headgear) takes on Floyd Diaz of Pound 4 Pound Sunday in a 70-pound championship match for 11- and 12-year-olds. Menifee 24/7 photos by Kristen and Doug Spoon

Dario Rodriguez looked around the Valley-Wide community gym at the packed house gathered to watch the final day of a three-day boxing tournament billed as "Menifee's Main Event." He spoke proudly of what a group of boxing enthusiasts who care about the welfare of young people have accomplished in the fourth year of the Southern California State Boxing Championships.

"Yesterday we had easily 1,200 people in here," said Rodriguez, a 2001 graduate of Paloma High School who loves the city he grew up in. "We've been growing year to year. No other event in Menifee brings this kind of crowd in."

It was hard to argue with Rodriguez (left) about the popularity of the tournament, which draws crowds from throughout the southwestern United States but is relatively unknown among the residents of Menifee. The goal of Rodriguez, the event coordinator, and main event promoter Steve Harriman is to make this one of Menifee's signature events.

Now if only city officials and the people who live here catch on to the popularity of an event that is bringing considerable business into town for one busy weekend a year.

"This morning I went by the Shell gas station and the attendant was like, 'Today's the last day, right? I'm gonna get off work and go check it out.' He said that all weekend long he's seen seen carloads of people coming in, buying water, drinks, food. I've seen Jack in the Box bags all day, McDonalds bags ... the local businesses really benefit from this three-day weekend."

Rodriguez said the only two hotels in town -- Motel 6 and America's Best Value Inn -- were sold out, forcing special guests such as three-time world boxing champion Fernando Vargas to stay in Lake Elsinore with the 14 fighters and their families he brought from his Las Vegas boxing club. Vargas was joined at the event by several other former pro fighters, including Joel Casamayor, former heavyweight champions Michael Weaver and Dee Collier, former middleweight champion Andy "The Dakota Kid" Heilman and Michael Weaver's younger brothers, triplets Troy, Floyd and Lloyd Weaver.

In the largest event in its short history, 360 boxers ages 8 to adult competed in three two-minute rounds. Championship belts were given out to the winners.

One of the champions was Jalon Hudson, a senior at Heritage High School. Hudson (in red, right) won his first amateur fight Saturday and defeated Angelo Aguirre on Sunday to win the championship of the 201-pound division for 17- and 18-year-olds.

"It was a lot of adrenaline, kind of nerve-racking, standing up there," Hudson said about his first weekend of bouts.

Many boxers such as Hudson train year-round at the Riverside County Boxing Club, which is based in Canyon Lake. Competitions such as this weekend's give valuable opportunities to young people from all areas and backgrounds.

"If I didn't find boxing, I'd be in jail or dead," said Vargas (left)  as he taped one of his young boxer's hands in preparation for a bout. "I was a troubled kid, 10 years old and locked up in juvenile hall. I was running away from homes, sleeping in alleys. I had multiple batteries and was doing hundreds of hours of community service for fighting.

"One day my life changed when I was flipping through the channels and saw amateur boxing. Kids my age, 10 years old and even younger, were fighting and winning trophies. I couldn't believe my eyes. I joined and it took me an hour to walk five miles every day to the gym, but it didn't matter.

"I do this for the kids. I want to give back to the kids."

Jalon Hudson (in red) battles Angelo Aguirre as a large crowd looks on Sunday afternoon.

Curmel Moton celebrates a victory in the 9-10 age group.

Former boxing champion Fernando Vargas gives advice between rounds to his son Emiliano.