If boxing offers a profession to young men who would
otherwise end up incarcerated, or worse, then those who teach
such time-honored skills perhaps offer services more important
than the attainment of championship belts.
Tucked away on a side street in what is considered the
beginnings of East Salinas, California, lies a form of sanctuary
known as the Rock Boxing Gym. Squeezed between other businesses
on the corner of Prader and Alisal, hope is made apparent in the
form of this unique facility. But for all the difference in
locale, the short distance traveled between this gymnasium and
East Salinas might as well be a journey between continents. For
many here, this sacred space amounts to an eye in the middle of
a hurricane of social decay.
Here its owners, James Jimenez and Danny Corona, are
linked by a common vision to see the youth of East Salinas
deterred from the dangers of the gang culture and help them find
fulfillment in the promise of new beginnings. Dreams born in
Jimenez's hometown of San Antonio, and Corona's hometown of San
Diego, came to fruition when the two met in
Salinas and discovered that they shared the same dream of one
day opening this great facility.
However, opening doors for future world champions belies
this gym's higher purpose of creating positive outcomes for its
youthful members. "I helped one of our kids go from an 'F' in
his math class to a 'B' by tutoring him in my office," said
Jimenez. "That's the kind of stuff the parents of these kids
don't hear."
Four-and-a-half years after opening, this thriving
gymnasium is home to successful amatuer fighters like Jessica
Ponce (who reached her No. 1 national ranking only after coming
to The Rock) and a myriad of others, including Adrien Juarez,
Aldolfo Gonzales, Jonathon Casacas, Luis Fernandez, Javier
Caballero, George Rojas, Ivan Fernandez, Bruce Jennings, JC
Torres, brothers Miguel and Rudolfo Ponce (no relation to
Jessica), and female fighter Alexiz Martin.
"Not to mention a
host of new guys who have not fought yet, but from whom we
expect great things," Corona said.
"I used to be a civil engineer and
made quite a bit more money than I do now, but I wouldn't trade
this for anything," he added. "The feeling of helping one kid
and motivating him to go to college is just too rewarding."
Despite the
violent aspect of the sport, Corona says, "better to be here
than on the street. Our dream ultimately lies in not only
helping kids, but in letting the community know we're going to
bring championship boxing back to Monterey County."
Facilities such as these not only improve the lives the
youths enrolled, but also decrease the amount of crime and
violence in the surrounding neighborhoods. That's why gyms like
The Rock are crucial to communities all over the world.
Boxing facilities are designed to create world champions
-- that's no secret -- but when a facility like The Rock Boxing
Gym develops discipline and manufactures integrity, its
principle export seems to be fine young men.
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