By Herman Degado
Luis “Tree” Treviño is a man who wears different headgears in the sport of boxing…behind the scenes of the sweet science. Treviño was introduced to boxing at a young age, “When I was in elementary school, I started boxing at Lawler’s Boxing Club, a little gym on Clark Street,” said Treviño. “And when I was at Bel Air high school, I started training at the Carolina Center….I also played basketball. In the professional boxing arena, I served as a cut man for “Chop Chop” Corley in Denmark and Monterey, Mexico”. Treviño, President of Warriors Edge Boxing Promotions has been a very busy man since opening WEB Gym in his home garage back in 2009. What started out as a training facility to teach his young sons, Luis Jr. and Daniel the sport of boxing, soon blossomed into a full training facility on the Eastside of El Paso. It’s now a well-known and established boxing gym that has been home to several former world boxing champions, such as DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley, Devon Alexander, Daniel Ponce de Leon, and El Paso’s Sweetheart, Jennifer Han. He has also opened his facility to many student-athletes from various high schools, UTEP Women’s Basketball Team, EPCC Softball Team, and most recently…Michael Clemons, a defensive lineman with the New York Jets. Not bad for a small boxing gym located at 3465 Lee Boulevard in El Paso Business Park. You wouldn’t know a boxing gym existed, if it wasn’t for so many young men and women running up and down the street, taking a sledgehammer to a tractor tire, or simply jumping rope with sweat running down their face and sweat soaked shirts….a la Rocky Balboa.
First and foremost, Treviño gives all the credit to his family (Claudia, Luis Jr., Daniel, and Diego) for all his success and motivation. Without them, there would be no WEB Boxing Promotions or as most boxers at his gym refer to as “WEB Family”. He also credits Marshall Kaufmann (CEO King’s Promotions) for the opportunity of helping to coordinate and setting up these professional boxing events. The concept of “It Takes a Village”, could not be further from the truth when these events take place in El Paso. Whether it be an amateur or professional event, the County of El Paso has been quite instrumental in making sure these events run smoothly. Without the support of County Judge Ricardo Samaniego to all County Commissioners, these events would not be possible. He’s also grateful to the current LBC Administration, especially Saul Cadena, Vice-President of the USA Boxing LBC who has always been very supportive of the amateur boxing events that have gone on since the end of the pandemic. “Coach Cadena lives out in Canutillo, and he still attends all these events throughout the city…always supporting El Paso amateur boxing,” said Treviño. Treviño appreciates and extremely grateful for the support he receives from local sponsors, especially Sergio Lewis Body Shop, which has been very supportive throughout the years.
Treviño has only one gear…full speed ahead, it’s the reason for successful amateur shows and success in co-promoting with King’s Promotions out of Philadelphia, PA. Treviño has been instrumental as the onsite coordinator for the last two and current Ring Wars XII promotion, and with his upcoming “Boxing at The Lake” amateur event. “I’m always searching for ideas for my next show,” said Treviño. “I was thinking outside of the box…I always wanted to do an outdoor event and Ascarate was perfect…boxing outdoors, boxing under the lights with the lake serving as a background.” Treviño’s motivation and his full-speed mentality sets him up for success, “I have to take advantage of what El Paso gives us…I’ve been to Commissioners Court twice this week,” said Treviño. “I’ve been in about seven meetings with this administration.”
From setting up press conferences, coordinating on-site lighting set-ups, fight week events, weigh-ins, media workout scheduling, fight posters, venues, setting up commercials, podcasts, ring girl promotions, to making several trips to and from the airport to pick up fighters and their entourage. All these behind-the-scenes work going on, and when you ask Treviño, “What’s on the schedule for your next event?” His face lights up, and Treviño goes into Coaching and Promoter mood…the word “average” has no place in Treviño’s vocabulary…it’s an unspoken word. He takes great pride in the way he puts his shows together… with the same approach in which he served our community as a law enforcement officer with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Department for over 27 years, until his recent retirement. I ask Treviño about his future plans, and with a grin and chuckle he responds, “I think politics is in my future.”
Don’t ever say, “Boxing is back!” Maybe to an elite group that has zero knowledge of the sport, but to those who grind and hustle in the gyms around town….Boxing never left, it’s always been here!
