Colton's P.A.L. Boxing Club Pushes IE Fighter's to Success

At the Thompson Teen Center, the PAL Boxing Program trains some very talented young men. Freddy Barrera has coached since the gym opened about a year ago. Alongside Barrera, Paco Romero, Art Satterwhite, and Kea Needs help out with coaching and training the kids. Monday through Thursday there is a practice being held. From 5:30 to about 6:30 p.m., the younger kids practice. From 6:30 to 8 p.m., the older and more advanced fighters train. Coach Freddy Barrera, graduate of Colton High School, has lived in Colton for twenty-one years. With forty-eight amateur fights, fourteen professional fights, and a long list of trophies, Coach Freddy Barrera is determined to prepare his fighters for their future tournaments. Three of his fighters, Daniel Castillo, Chris Aviles, and Mike Sanchez have already fought in a major boxing tournament called The Desert Showdown at Fantasy Springs Casino. Mike Sanchez at the age of 17 is the youngest to win in his division, bringing home the Championship belt. "I hang it up on my headboard," he said with a smile. He has competed in six amateur fights, which measures how much experience a fighter has, so far. Considering what that number represents, winning his division was a major accomplishment. Sanchez is currently a senior at Grand Terrace High School. He started boxing when he was only eight years old but only stuck to it for about a year. "When I heard this gym was opening, I started again," he said. When Sanchez graduates he plans to attend Riverside Community College before transfering to a four-year university. He mentioned he would love to become a professional boxer but he definitely wants to go to college, "I want to keep my options open." His family is very supportive of his boxing career; "my dad helps guide me," he shared. Even outside of practice at the Teen Center, Sanchez practices and conditions on his own time. "It's all about dedication," he said. Daniel Castillo, known as "DC", graduated from Colton High School this past year. He began to box about a year ago, when the gym opened at the Teen Center. "It always caught my attention because my dad was a boxer," he said. He has two amateur fights so far, and won his division at a tournament called Meadowbrook Boxing Academy this summer. Kea Needs, coach and trainer, mentioned that Castillo has "taken a position of leadership". He is one of the lightest fighters in his category, weighing in at about 95 pounds at the age of 18. Due to his size, he is able to help the younger kids a lot more than the other fighters are able to. Castillo's main focus is boxing, and he hopes to become a pro boxer by next year. He shares that he uses his free time to train. He doesn't only condition when he's at the gym; "I run about seven miles a day," he shared. Chris Aviles, 22, has been boxing on and off since he was 12 years old. He started boxing again when the gym at the Teen Center opened. Aviles attended Vista del Lago and Moreno Valley high schools in Moreno Valley. Boxing isn’t the only thing on Aviles’ plate; he has two AA degrees, one in history and behavioral studies and the other in philosophy arts and humanities. After the gym opened, Aviles realized he want to really focus on boxing while he is still young and would like to make something out of his boxing career. "Hopefully I'll be pro by next year," he shared. They have an upcoming fighter, as well. Eli Aguilar has been fighting since he was eight years old but had to postpone going to fights and tournaments due to his braces. Coach Barrera mentioned that Aguilar is very "gifted." He gets his braces off soon, and will hopefully be boxing once again. Coach Barrera's plans for these boxers are to get them experienced in fights. They have an upcoming showcase in about two weeks in Ontario at the Crossroads Boxing Club that they are currently preparing for. Barrera shares that he is enrolling them in smaller tournaments/showcases for now so they can build their way up to the major tournaments. "I took them to the Desert Showdown just so they can see what it's like," he said. "I'm very excited for what we're building. I see a bright future for the city of Colton... these are all local kids that want to box."