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Years ago, when Ricky Evangelista said goodbye to his mother at the airport before she returned to Mexico, she took him in her arms and told him to keep boxing.
Evangelista, now 18, started boxing when he was in third grade and bounced around from gym to gym until he landed in the boxing program at Kosciuszko Community Center on Milwaukee’s south side in eighth grade.
When his mother left, Evangelista kept his promise and threw himself into boxing.
Each week, he trained for roughly 24 hours while attending school and working for his dad's drywall finishing business.
During each of his matches, his sisters would video chat with their mom so she could cheer him on.
“It motivated me more,” Evangelista said, knowing that his mother was supporting him from afar.
Today, their family is reunited, and Evangelista remains as committed to boxing as ever.
Evangelista was recently admitted to Marquette University. He has applied to several scholarships, including the university's Urban Scholars Program and a scholarship through USA Boxing. He has plans on becoming an immigration lawyer to help families with experiences like his parents.
Evangelista said he never imagined that boxing would open so many doors for him, but through the sport, he’s met friends, mentors and grown his self-confidence.
“It helped me develop discipline and to stay committed to everything in my life,” Evangelista said.
“Boxing is more than a sport to me, it's more of a lifestyle.”
The boxing program at Kosciuszko Community Center is an athletic and youth development program run by the United Community Center and Milwaukee Community Crossroads.
The community center hosts the program's practices in its boxing gym, which recently received funding for new equipment after Milwaukee County invested $100,000 in grant funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The boxing program is aimed at improving students’ confidence both in the sport and in their everyday lives.
When the club’s former coach stepped down, Jose Rosales was asked to step in to coach and manage the team, and he eagerly agreed so that he could help carry out that mission.
Rosales' first exposure to boxing came when he was a child. He would visit a restaurant in his native Jalisco, Mexico, and watch boxing matches on the restaurant owner’s black and white television for hours.
Years later, after immigrating to the United States, boxing has become a family affair.
Rosales' eldest son, Lorenzo Rosales, was the first to express interest in boxing. Soon, his wife and his two other children would all fall in love with the sport.
When Lorenzo began training, Jose Rosales came to his practices to learn how to coach.
He learned how to hold the pads correctly for drills, how to spar in the ring, and he taught himself the rest by watching YouTube videos.
“If I had the opportunity to have a boxing career as a kid, I would have, but God didn’t give me that opportunity,” Jose said in Spanish.
“Now with the kids, I feel happy. The same energy through my blood that I felt when my kids fought, I feel it with them.
Lorenzo became an amateur boxer and fought in the Wisconsin Golden Gloves before retiring from the sport. Jose's middle son, Roberto Rosales, also became an amateur boxer before serving in the Marines.
His youngest child, Yasmin Rosales, began boxing at five years old – tagging along while her brothers trained, Jose said.
Yasmin eventually collected 11 national titles through USA Boxing as a teenager.
Although each of his children has left the sport, Jose continues coaching, while his wife, Evelyn Rosales, manages the boxing club.
Affectionately known as “coach mom” or “coach Evelyn” by the student boxers, Evelyn is responsible for organizing matches, registering students for competitions and arranging travel.
Evelyn said her experience raising children who participated in boxing helped her learn how to best support the students in the boxing club.
“We had a passion for boxing, and now we have a passion for helping the kids,” Evelyn said.
Evelyn said she credits a large part of the team’s success to parent involvement.
The waitlist for the club is long, she said, adding that she makes it clear to every prospective member that the training is rigorous and requires a significant time commitment from the students' families.
Students dedicate five days a week to training, with two days for drills, two days for sparring and competitions every Saturday, Evelyn said.
Oftentimes, when students need financial support with new gear, Evelyn said the parents will pool together money to help the other students, ensuring that no one goes without.
Alma Buendia, mother of two boys in the boxing club, supports the club by handing out water, organizing equipment, and planning special events alongside the other parents.
Buendia said she started getting involved in the club when she noticed the impact it had on her sons' lives.
After a few months, her boys were healthier and more confident. They even kept up with their schoolwork so they could participate and become leaders within the club, she said.
“They’re healthier mentally, physically and emotionally,” Buendia said in Spanish.
Fabian Jaimes Sr., Buendia’s husband, volunteers at the boxing club to learn how to train his sons.
He helps secure equipment for other students so they can get the same benefits from the club that his sons have.
"I always tell my sons, if you have bread, break it apart so more people can eat," Jaimes Sr. said in Spanish.
His son, Fabian Jaimes Jr., said one of his favorite parts of the boxing club has been growing closer with his dad.
“My dad really helps me out, like when I’m not feeling good emotionally, he’s there for me,” Jaimes Jr. said.
“For me, it means a lot … it helps us communicate more.”
Jaimes Sr. said he enjoys being there to support his son, both in and out of the ring, and hopes to continue training him.
“My favorite memory is seeing the kids’ faces when they leave a fight they’ve won,” Jaimes Sr. said.
“Whether they win or lose, they gain experience. But when they come down and receive a medal, you can see it in their face – the joy.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Local boxing club builds confidence — inside and outside the ring
Continue reading...
Evangelista, now 18, started boxing when he was in third grade and bounced around from gym to gym until he landed in the boxing program at Kosciuszko Community Center on Milwaukee’s south side in eighth grade.
When his mother left, Evangelista kept his promise and threw himself into boxing.
Each week, he trained for roughly 24 hours while attending school and working for his dad's drywall finishing business.
During each of his matches, his sisters would video chat with their mom so she could cheer him on.
“It motivated me more,” Evangelista said, knowing that his mother was supporting him from afar.
Today, their family is reunited, and Evangelista remains as committed to boxing as ever.
Evangelista was recently admitted to Marquette University. He has applied to several scholarships, including the university's Urban Scholars Program and a scholarship through USA Boxing. He has plans on becoming an immigration lawyer to help families with experiences like his parents.
Evangelista said he never imagined that boxing would open so many doors for him, but through the sport, he’s met friends, mentors and grown his self-confidence.
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“It helped me develop discipline and to stay committed to everything in my life,” Evangelista said.
“Boxing is more than a sport to me, it's more of a lifestyle.”
The boxing program at Kosciuszko Community Center is an athletic and youth development program run by the United Community Center and Milwaukee Community Crossroads.
The community center hosts the program's practices in its boxing gym, which recently received funding for new equipment after Milwaukee County invested $100,000 in grant funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The boxing program is aimed at improving students’ confidence both in the sport and in their everyday lives.
When the club’s former coach stepped down, Jose Rosales was asked to step in to coach and manage the team, and he eagerly agreed so that he could help carry out that mission.
Boxing as a family affair
Rosales' first exposure to boxing came when he was a child. He would visit a restaurant in his native Jalisco, Mexico, and watch boxing matches on the restaurant owner’s black and white television for hours.
Years later, after immigrating to the United States, boxing has become a family affair.
You must be registered for see images attach
Rosales' eldest son, Lorenzo Rosales, was the first to express interest in boxing. Soon, his wife and his two other children would all fall in love with the sport.
When Lorenzo began training, Jose Rosales came to his practices to learn how to coach.
He learned how to hold the pads correctly for drills, how to spar in the ring, and he taught himself the rest by watching YouTube videos.
“If I had the opportunity to have a boxing career as a kid, I would have, but God didn’t give me that opportunity,” Jose said in Spanish.
“Now with the kids, I feel happy. The same energy through my blood that I felt when my kids fought, I feel it with them.
Lorenzo became an amateur boxer and fought in the Wisconsin Golden Gloves before retiring from the sport. Jose's middle son, Roberto Rosales, also became an amateur boxer before serving in the Marines.
His youngest child, Yasmin Rosales, began boxing at five years old – tagging along while her brothers trained, Jose said.
Yasmin eventually collected 11 national titles through USA Boxing as a teenager.
Although each of his children has left the sport, Jose continues coaching, while his wife, Evelyn Rosales, manages the boxing club.
You must be registered for see images attach
Affectionately known as “coach mom” or “coach Evelyn” by the student boxers, Evelyn is responsible for organizing matches, registering students for competitions and arranging travel.
Evelyn said her experience raising children who participated in boxing helped her learn how to best support the students in the boxing club.
“We had a passion for boxing, and now we have a passion for helping the kids,” Evelyn said.
Family involvement helps the boxing club thrive
You must be registered for see images attach
Evelyn said she credits a large part of the team’s success to parent involvement.
The waitlist for the club is long, she said, adding that she makes it clear to every prospective member that the training is rigorous and requires a significant time commitment from the students' families.
Students dedicate five days a week to training, with two days for drills, two days for sparring and competitions every Saturday, Evelyn said.
Oftentimes, when students need financial support with new gear, Evelyn said the parents will pool together money to help the other students, ensuring that no one goes without.
Alma Buendia, mother of two boys in the boxing club, supports the club by handing out water, organizing equipment, and planning special events alongside the other parents.
Buendia said she started getting involved in the club when she noticed the impact it had on her sons' lives.
After a few months, her boys were healthier and more confident. They even kept up with their schoolwork so they could participate and become leaders within the club, she said.
“They’re healthier mentally, physically and emotionally,” Buendia said in Spanish.
Fabian Jaimes Sr., Buendia’s husband, volunteers at the boxing club to learn how to train his sons.
He helps secure equipment for other students so they can get the same benefits from the club that his sons have.
"I always tell my sons, if you have bread, break it apart so more people can eat," Jaimes Sr. said in Spanish.
His son, Fabian Jaimes Jr., said one of his favorite parts of the boxing club has been growing closer with his dad.
“My dad really helps me out, like when I’m not feeling good emotionally, he’s there for me,” Jaimes Jr. said.
“For me, it means a lot … it helps us communicate more.”
Jaimes Sr. said he enjoys being there to support his son, both in and out of the ring, and hopes to continue training him.
“My favorite memory is seeing the kids’ faces when they leave a fight they’ve won,” Jaimes Sr. said.
“Whether they win or lose, they gain experience. But when they come down and receive a medal, you can see it in their face – the joy.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Local boxing club builds confidence — inside and outside the ring
Continue reading...
