The New Jersey Diamond Gloves Tournament kicked off with an unusually sentimental bang at Mother Seton School in Union City this year during its opening event on Sept. 17.
First, the tournament itself was saved when two West New York doctors heeded the call to pitch in after the Amateur Boxing Association’s doctor called out.
Then, amidst the bouts and knockouts, members of the Union City Boxing Club from the past 20 years climbed into the ring to deliver an extra special punch – words of thanks to Joe Botti, their head coach, who was recognized for his work in the community through the boxing club.
“You gave us a home and a family that most of us lacked even at the expense of you being away from your own home and family.”—Vincent Robles
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According to a statement this week from the Union City Boxing Club, the tournament was nearly canceled when the Amateur Boxing Association’s doctor couldn’t make the opening bout. It is mandatory for a doctor to be at ringside to examine boxers before and after they compete.
Botti said that doctors all over the state had been called, but a substitute was hard to find due to the short notice.
However, help turned out to be just around the corner in West New York in the office of Dr. Felix Roque.
“When I called Dr. Roque he immediately said yes,” said Botti. “Without a doubt he saved the day for these kids.”
Roque said he was happy to help out and is even looking forward to helping again in the future if needed.
“I had the best time and I ate like five hot dogs,” Roque said with a laugh.
Roque said he has been volunteering since he was a kid and often volunteers his services to maintain consistent participation with the community.
“In my opinion, doctors should get more involved with the community because that’s what it’s all about,” he said.
In addition to his own time, Roque brought along his sister Dr. Hilda Roque-Dieguez, who also volunteered her time for the event.
Started by accident
Botti, a Union City police sergeant currently assigned to the high school, founded the club in 1989 and has directed it ever since.
But he didn’t exactly set out with intentions to create a boxing club on purpose.
One night while watching television at home, Botti said he heard two kids outside fighting and when he went outside to intervene he wound up teaching them about the basics of boxing.
One fight was defused, and an interest was piqued amongst urban kids who were frustrated and out to prove themselves.
A week later, he said, a whole pack of kids showed up – and that’s when he started training them in his basement.
“What they look for in gangs, they find here,” said Botti.
Over the past 20 years the club has grown astronomically. And, with help from the city, they’ve been able to transition out of that basement and into a new facility in the old NJ Transit Building which on a regular day fills with approximately 80 kids.
The “kids” actually range in age from 6 to 30 years old and over the years have yielded 27 Golden Globe Champs and four fighters who’ve made it to the national television screen.
With his day job assignment at the high school as a police officer, Botti said he is able to work with the counselors to help the kids that need an outlet. None have ever been turned away for purely financial reasons.
And after the ring teaches the kids about respect, Botti said he’s able to venture into helping them in areas like school and career.
Botti now spends about 20 hours each week at the gym, getting paid only in the reward of watching the kids succeed from being “in awe” to looking like a star in the ring.
“That’s the reward,” said Botti. “There’s no price on that.”
Thanks and recognition
Former gym member and current assistant coach Vincent Robles thanked Botti on behalf of the many members who have frequented the gym over the years.
“You gave us a home and a family that most of us lacked even at the expense of you being away from your own home and family,” said Robles. “You also gave us a positive alternative to the streets. Although we can never repay you for your many sacrifices, we can tell you that they have not gone unseen and we can deeply and sincerely thank you for having made them. You have changed the course of many lives over the years, including mine.”
Botti was then presented with a plaque on Friday which read, “We, The Past, Present, and Future members of the Union City Boxing Club present you with this plaque in gratitude for your selfless dedication to the youth of our community and beyond.”
Lana Rose Diaz can be reached at ldiaz@hudsonreporter.com.
Talk around the gym
Jose Aviles, 20, of Jersey City said he likes the mental challenge that boxing offers and has learned that fighting in the street isn’t worth the trouble. Aviles, who plans on taking his boxing career “all the way to HBO,” said the gym is a family.
Namkim Robles, a corrections officer in Secaucus, had gotten into a lot of trouble himself at North Bergen High School prior to coming to Union City Boxing Club when he was 15. After 10 years as a corrections officer, he is now working to give guidance to the next generation.
“It’s the greatest thing,” said Robles. “You’re off the streets, get the feeling of winning, [and] get the frustration out on the bag.”
16-year-old Tony Torres, of Union City, was referred to the club by a counselor when he began “messing up in school” and “thinking negative.”
Now, Torres said, he takes his anger out on the bag. His drive must run in the family – Botti actually trained Torres’ father, too.
Felix Tejada, 19, said he has been interested in boxing since he was a kid but it has had a profound effect on him recently – he’s going back to school to get his GED and has found new support in friends and family. “It really changed my life,” said Tejada. “I learned respect from it, you have to have a lot of discipline.”
Nine-year-old Deandre “Dynamite D” Guzman of Union City has been training for nearly two years and fights to win. “I want to be a good boxer and a good pro fighter,” said Guzman.
His mom, Yvette Rosado, tries to sit back and relax even when she’s nerve wracked on the sidelines. But, she said, there’s one thing she’s definitely not allowed to do.
“He says ‘don’t call my name, Mom!’” she said, laughing.
Consuelo Viruet is one of few women who train at the gym, but hopes that other females will be drawn to the sport as well.
Shy and humble out of the ring, Viruet is a full-time massage therapist and single mother – but in the ring, she’s a fighter. “It’s a drug for me,” she said.
Juan Rodriguez, 23, of Union City said upon coming home from jail years ago he decided he wanted to do something positive. Though he first used boxing as something to keep him out of trouble, Rodriguez said he fell in love with it.
“This saved my life,” he said. “I would be in jail or dead right now.”