‘Throw-down in O-town’ set for Saturday
Boxing event will also feature a car show and Christian concert; events begin at 2 p.m. Saturday
By Scott Ford
Argus Observer
scottf@argusobserver.com
Wednesday, September 23, 2009 10:35 AM PDT
Ontario—“Let’s get ready to rumble,” as the famed ring announcer Michael Buffer of professional boxing shouts before the matches he calls.
Saturday, 10 local boxers will do just that, rumble in the ring at the “Throw-down in O-town” boxing event which will take place at 7 p.m. at the Treasure Valley Community College gym.
The boxing event will be preluded by a car show and Christian concert. The Christian hip hop concert will begin at 3 p.m., and the car show starts at 2 p.m.
The K.O. Rats Boxing Club, of Ontario, is putting on the show in conjunction with Harvest House Missions and the Autism Center.
Club director Martin Castellanoz said the event is a fundraiser to help all three of the orginizations.
“We are bringing in a girl from Palmdale, Calif., named Goula Escraga who will take on Marina Ramirez in the 110-pound main event,” Castellanoz said. “The semi-main event will pit Amy Sowers, from Bozeman Mont., and ranked third in the nation and she will face Ontario’s Julia Lopez in the 119-pound weight.”
The event will feature 15-20 bouts with boxers from around the surrounding states.
“We are doing this so we can get the community involved and let them know what we are doing down at the boxing club,” Castellanoz said.
Currently, the K.O. Rats Boxing Club, situated at 505 N.W. First St. has more than 30 boxers in the gym on any given day.
“Not only are we teaching boxing skills, but we are teaching these kids life skills,” Castellanoz said. “A lot of these kids have or had a very low self-esteem, and we are trying to teach them, win or lose, they can feel good about themselves.”
Castellanoz said the boxing club is loaded with talented fighters, like Del Martinez, of Ontario — who boxes at the 65-pound weight, and another named Reyes Romayor, also of Ontario, who has close to 20 fights already and is a five-time boxing champion.
“Both of these boys are tremendous fighters,” Castellanoz said.
The boxing club has five trainers on hand for these young boxers.
The event will feature a lot of female bouts as well.
