Story & Photos by Herman Delgado
Every year the announcement for the El Paso Golden Gloves reads: “The tradition continues” and one boxing team in town is trying to lead the way and set the tone for this statement. There’s a small gym out on the eastside, nestled in a business park off of Lee Boulevard, and the only sign of life or existence is a flashing “OPEN” neon light in the window and the sounds of speed bags and punching going on inside this warehouse space. Once you step inside, you realize that it’s far from just being a space. You have just entered a real boxing gym…the smell of leather, the sounds, and the atmosphere makes you take a step back in time to when Rocky Balboa walks out into the gym and asks Mick, “How come I’ve been put out my locker?
Team WEB is entering six fighters in this year’s El Paso Golden Gloves: Miguel Mata – 150 lb. (novice), Seth Dominguez – 175 lb. (novice); Alex Lujan – 106 lb. (junior); Keilah Delgado – 110 lb. (junior); Adriel Moreno – 130 lb. (novice); and Eric Nino – 106 lb. (junior). A young team, but nothing short of determination, dedication, and passion for the sweet science. A group of boxers coached by Luis Trevino, Luis Trevino Jr., Herman Delgado, and Richard Lujan.
These young fighters have different reasons for why they came through the doors of the WEB Gym and decided to lace up the gloves. Keilah a 15-year old freshman at Andress High School simply loves the sport and the adrenalin rush that goes with it. “It’s a very aggressive sport and I don’t believe that any sport that I’ve done is more competitive than boxing,” said Keilah. “It’s just you there and you’re dependent on yourself. Hopefully one day when I become a professional boxer I can get the WBC belt and be known be known as one of the greatest boxers of all time. Don’t tell me the skies the limit, when there’s steps on the moon,” said Keilah.
Dominguez the oldest of the team at 20, and former first team all-district running back at Franklin High School, who was offered and turned down several scholarship offers to play college football, turned his back on football in pursuit of a more competitive sport…boxing. “I didn’t like football anymore and I stopped pursuing it. It wasn’t as fun to me anymore,” said Dominguez. “I miss it a bit sometimes, but boxing is it, for me,” said Dominguez.
Lujan a 13-year old and 8th grader at Hernando Middle School was watching a boxing match on the big screen. “I was watching Manny Pacquiao take on Floyd Mayweather Jr. on the big screen and that got me interested in becoming a boxer,” said Lujan. He’s been training hard, running, working on his movement, and anxious to compete in his first El Paso Golden Gloves, taking place this weekend at the historic El Paso County Coliseum.
Mata a 15-year old sophomore at Pebble Hills High School is also a former junior varsity football player, who has always had a passion and love for boxing. After three months of asking his parents, he finally convinced them and they brought him into the WEB Gym, and he’s now 2-0 in his young career. “I’ve been training hard, running hard, and the coaches motivate me,” said Mata. “I’ve always liked boxing; I came into this gym and fell in love with this sport.”
In charge of this group of young fighters since the first day they walked into the WEB Gym is Luis Trevino Jr. “What motivates and drives me to work with these fighters is the dedication that the coach and the fighter have,” said Trevino. “The relationship that no other sport has, the one-on-one relationship that the coach and fighter have…it’s an individual sport, so you don’t see it in any other sport.” Trevino is very committed to this sport and training these young fighters, and he leads by example. He’s about to graduate from El Paso Community College with an Associate Degree in Kinesiology, team athletic trainer for the EPCC Tejanas softball team, and the public address announcer for the team. A young man of all trades, who wears his heart on his sleeve and has a passion for everything he sets his mind on. Keep an eye out for Team WEB…they’re young, hungry, and very dedicated young athletes.
