Shafter Boxing Club shines at Olympics

The Shafter Boxing Club traveled to Wichita, Kansas, last weekend to compete in the National Junior Olympics. Mike Ayon, the director of the club, took 10 boxers for the competition and they came home with five medals, two silver and three bronze, making it the most successful Olympics for the local boxers in its history.

"We have had a boxer or two medal at the Olympics, but we have never had this much success at the event," commented Ayon.

In the past, the club has had national champions at the Silver Gloves competition in Missouri, but never from the Junior Olympics, the most competitive event in the nation.

In the 13-14 year old 95 lb. division, Alberto Deleon captured a silver medal, in a division that was loaded with 28 elite boxers from throughout the country.

Madeline Martinez competed in the girls 14-15 year old 114 lb. division, and came away with a bronze medal.

This event has the most competitors of any competition in the nation, with each state sending their best boxers. Valentina Aguilar won a bronze medal in the girls 13-14 year old 132 lb. division, beating out 22 other boxers in the division.

Analisa Deleon fought in the girls 11-12 year old division. She fought a couple of tough matches, but was stopped just short of a medal. Alyssa Deleon had an outstanding weekend, coming away with a silver medal. Rounding out the medalists for the Shafter contingent was Lorenzo Mendez, who got a bronze medal in the boys 14-15 year old 95 lb. division.

This group is just the latest in a series of champions that have come out of the Shafter Boxing Club. While clubs three times their size are fighting for a medal or two at competitions, the Shafter club has been turning out champions, making the city well known in the amateur boxing world.

When the club was just a dream in Ayon's, he invited some kids to work out at his house, training in his backyard and in his garage. "It started out as a way to keep the kids off the streets and let them get some good exercise," said Ayon. "It just kept growing from there."

Among their successes was Fast Eddie Rodriguez, who won multiple national championships for the club, and Javen Encinas, who was one of its first national champions.