By Gary Curreri

In one short year, Dangelo Fuentes is making quite a name for himself in the boxing ring.

Fuentes, 15, who lives in Delray Beach and is a freshman at Olympic Heights High School in Boca Raton, said he took up the sport to stay out of trouble and he has racked up seven wins in seven bouts and recently captured the 125-lb., 15-16 Novice Division at the Ringside World Tournament at the Independence Events Center in Independence, MO.

“I’m very glad,” said Fuentes, who turned to boxing after a stint with the Pompano Tigers youth football program. Fuentes defeated Daniel Fulton (Missouri) by unanimous decision to take the title. “It is amazing. I never thought that I would win the world championship in just one year. I have great people around me with Coach Steve (Collazo) and boxers like Jordon (Murphy).”

Fellow Deerfield Beach Broward Sheriff’s Office PAL boxer Jordon Murphy, 14, also captured the 90-lb., 13-14 Open Division championship in the international tournament that featured more than 1,700 participants from 15 different countries. The completion included six rings, seven sessions and over 1,000 bouts.

Murphy’s win came just six months after winning the National Silver Gloves Tournament, also held in Missouri. It marked the second consecutive Ringside World Tournament title for the Deerfield Beach teenager. He won last year in the 85-lb. Division.

“It was cool winning it two years in a row,” said Murphy, a freshman at Monarch High School in Coconut Creek. “There was a lot of pressure on me to win it this year because I had won last year too.”

Murphy won by unanimous decision over Jeremy Adorno (Pennsylvania) in the championship bout. He moved up a weight class this year and won all of his fights by unanimous decisions.

“I focused on my training and what my coaches told me,” Murphy said. “It was more difficult this year than it was last year. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be. This will help me with my confidence going into my future fights.”

All PAL programs are free of charge. All participants must be currently in a school or home schooled. For more

information, contact BSO Deputy Butch Santy at 954-778-0174.

P I C K L E – BALL SLATED FOR SATURDAY

The City of Pompano Beach Parks and Recreation Dept. invites you to take part in a lively racket game for all ages and abilities called Pickle-ball! The Pickle-ball showcase will be held at the newly constructed Pickle-ball courts at Community Park next to the basketball courts on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 4 to 6 p.m. A demonstration will be given so everyone can learn how to play this fast growing sport.

Pickle-ball is a net game that incorporates tennis, badminton, ping pong and racquetball. It is played on a badminton-sized court with special Pickle-ball paddles, made of wood or high-tech aerospace materials. The ball used is similar to a whiffle ball, but slightly smaller.

The lower net and whiffle ball allow the game to be accessible to people of all ages and abilities, while still allowing more competitive players to test their skills. It was designed to be easy to learn and play whether you’re five, 85 or somewhere in between. It is a fun sport that has picked up a lot of popularity in recent years.

For more information call 954-786-4119.

DEERFIELD BEACH GIRL WINS NATIONAL TITLE

Florida juniors won three singles titles and five doubles championships at United States Tennis Association (USTA) Clay Court National tournaments played across the country recently in the 12 through 18 age groups.

Among the winners was Deerfield Beach’s Taylor Russo, who teamed with Miami’s Adriana Reami to capture the Girls’ 16s doubles title in Virginia Beach, VA. The unseeded pair upset the Californian No. 2 seeds Katie Chang and Claire Liu 6-4, 6-4 in the final.

Jordon Murphy boxes in the recent Boxing at the Creek VII card at the StrikeGym in Coconut Creek. Photo by Gary Curreri

By Gary Curreri

Anthony Calix calls boxing the hardest thing he has ever done in his life.

“It was just pure energy,” said Calix, 17, of Margate, who recently graduated from Coral Springs High School and is going to Palm Beach State College. “It doesn’t come easy like school and working. Nothing to me gets more intense than this.”

Calix fell to 0-2 in his amateur career after he dropped a Jorge Torres in the recent Boxing at the Creek VII card at the StrikeGym in Coconut Creek. Calix, who fights for the Deerfield Beach BSO PAL, has been boxing since he was 13 and recently started competitive matches.

Calix said it isn’t nervewracking being in the ring.

“When you are in there, you get the most powerful feeling ever,” Calix said. “It is like everybody is there to see you work and perform. Most people don’t know what it is like to be an athlete. They just see people doing things that you, yourself, as a normal person, wouldn’t do. It is inspiring. It is more energy for me.”

Boxing presents different challenges for Calix than other sports. Calix used to run track.

“Compared to boxing, track is really boring,” Calix said. “It is a really static sport. Somebody is going to run faster than somebody else and that is it. Here, somebody can be losing the whole match and win it back in the last round. Someone might get knocked out of nowhere. It is dynamic. The exciting part about it too is that you could be trailing, and it only takes one punch to win it.”

When Calix first started, he used to take the 2-1/2 hour bus ride from Margate.

“It’s good,” Calix said. “That’s all I got. Without them I wouldn’t be here. It kind of is a team sport. We support each other and we make each other better at the end of the day.”

Deerfield Beach’s Jordon Murphy, 14, won his bout in the Coconut Creek event. Murphy, a six-year veteran of boxing, won Ringside World and Nationals and was hopeful of repeating this year.

Murphy, a freshman at Monarch High School, improved to 56-10 with the win.

“My coach and I don’t really worry about the local shows,” Murphy said. “It is all about practice. He wants to see what we can do before we go to the big shows. I wanted to work on my footwork and beating him to the punches. I don’t think I did that good. I could have worked on more. I think I could have done better.”

As long as he wins, it’s okay.

“If he were to lose at a local show heading into a big competition, it would give me a bad reputation and people would be thinking other stuff about me,” Murphy said. “They would say that I slacked off.”

His favorite fighters are Manny Pacquiao and Canelo Alvarez.

“I like how they are smart fighters,” Murphy said. “Manny works punches and Canelo hits hard and fast.”

Simply Soccer camp

Local residents have an opportunity to take advantage of World Cup soccer fever this summer as the Simply Soccer camp closes out its 26th year in Coral Springs.

There have been record numbers this year for the camp, which was also previously held in the city of Pompano. The soccer camp is for boys and girls, ages 5-14, of all skill levels, who will be taught a variety of soccer skills from dribbling to shooting.

Remaining dates are July 28-Aug. 1; August 4-8; August 11-15. There are three sessions each day ranging from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; extended hours camp from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a Tiny Tot program for kids ages 5 and 6 from 9 a.m. to noon. Full day campers must bring a soccer ball, swimsuit, shin guards, water bottle and lunch. For information, call 954-345-2200.

By Gary Curreri

Jordan Murphy loves fighting.

The Deerfield Beach teenager recently won his third national Silver Gloves boxing championship and said he plans to join the military when he turns 18 and fight for his country.

Murphy, a 14-year-old eighth grader at Lyons Creek Middle School in Coconut Creek, and a member of the Broward Sheriff’s Office’s Police Athletic League (PAL) boxing program, recently won top honors as in the 80-lb., 14/ 15 age division at the National Silver Gloves boxing tournament in Independence, Missouri when he defeated Patrick Fair (Ohio) by unanimous decision.

Murphy has three national titles (2010 National Junior Golden Gloves, 2013 Ringside World and now 2014 National Silver Gloves), in addition to four state and four regional titles just for the silver gloves tournaments. He has also accumulated several Junior Olympic state titles and Police Athletic League titles.

“I absolutely believed I would win the championship,” said Murphy, who will compete in the upcoming State Golden Gloves competition on March 27-29 in West Palm Beach and the State Junior Olympics competition in Boca Raton on April 12.

“I knew that I worked hard and that I worked hard for a reason and that was to win,” said Murphy, who has been boxing in the PAL program in Deerfield Beach for the past six years. “Boxing has taught me to behave in school and not to let anything get to you. It has also taught me to work hard to achieve what you want.”

Murphy trains three days a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) for 1-1/2 hours each day. He said the rigorous training gives him confidence when he is about to go one-on-one with his opponent.

“When I walk in the ring I am a little nervous at first,” said Murphy, who has compiled a 52-8 record. “As soon as the bell rings, I know that I have confidence in myself that I am going to win the fight most of the time.”

It was redemption of sorts for Murphy who fought a close fight last year in the finals of the 75-lb., 12/13 age division, but dropped a split decision to Malik Nelson (New Jersey).

Murphy competed in a series of national boxing competitions and came out as the national champ for his class. Murphy trained extensively with his coach, Steve Collazo, and had to win several local and regional boxing matches in order to make it to the nationals.

“Jordan has worked long and hard to achieve one goal, to be the best,” said his coach, Collazo. “He was very determined to win this year, especially after falling short in the finals last year.”

In order to reach the nationals, Murphy captured the Silver Gloves State Tournament in early December 2013 in Ft. Pierce, making him the Florida State Silver Glove 80 lb., 14- 15 years-of-age champ. Murphy then won the Regional Silver Gloves competition in early January in Maryland, making him the Region 3 champ to advance to the Silver Gloves Nationals held in Independence, Missouri.

When he turns 18, Murphy is going to be fighting a bigger cause.

“I am going to join the military and box in the military before I go pro,” Murphy said. “I want to help our country out and fight for freedom and our rights. I kind of think about that when I go into the ring now.”

Murphy also plays baseball in the Junior Division of the Deerfield Beach Little League. He is a pitcher and shortstop for the White Sox and has been on the diamond for the past seven years.

“I like boxing more,” Murphy said.

Collazo said BSO’s Police Athletic League provides youths an opportunity to stay out of trouble by participating in sports and other activities after school or during the summer.

The activities are structured to attract all youths regardless of their previous athletic abilities. PAL’s goal is to provide them with activities that build character and self-esteem, foster positive relationships, enhance self-awareness and promote good citizenship.

All PAL programs are free of charge. All participants must be currently in a school or home schooled. For more information, contact BSO Deputy Butch Santy at 954-778-0174.

By Gary Curreri

Deerfield Beach’s Jordon Murphy has enjoyed success in and out of the boxing ring. The 13-year-old Murphy recently took second place in the National Silver Gloves Championships in Independence, Missouri and was also presented a proclamation at the March 5 City Commission meeting.

“It is very humbling,” said Murphy, who has been boxing for the Deerfield Beach BSO-PAL for the past five years. The two-time national boxing champion has logged more than 500 community service volunteer hours. “I go around picking up trash and help with art festival and do other things around the community.”

It is a tall order for Murphy, who dropped a narrow decision to New Jersey’s Malik Nelson in the championship bout of the 75-pound division.

Murphy, who won the state and regional silver gloves titles to reach the national finals, is also an outstanding student in the classroom with a 3.4 GPA at Lyons Creek Middle School.

Murphy, a seventh-grader, runs track for Lyons Creek Middle School, wrestles for the Deerfield Beach BSOPAL and plays Little League baseball.

“I like (boxing) a lot,” said Murphy, who won national titles in 2010 and 2012. “It is the best sport I do. I like fighting and training to get ready for the big tournaments. I train Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for two hours a day. I want to be a professional.”

“I think the best part is training for a fight because it helps me get conditioned,” Murphy added. “It helps me in school, and if I am doing track, it helps me with my energy and stuff in other sports.”

Murphy said he wasn’t disappointed with his performance at this year’s national competition because he tried his best.

“It has been a pleasure to watch him grow as a person and as a boxer,” said Deerfield Beach BSO Deputy Butch Santy, who heads the PAL program. “The one constant about Jordon is his desire to win and his willingness to put in the hard work to be one of the best boxers, poundfor- pound, in the country.”

Murphy’s coach, Steve Collazo, said he’s proud of his boxer’s accomplishments.

“He’s been tremendous,” Collazo said. “Jordon is one of the hardest workers in the gym and then he gives back to the community. He’s at everything … the DJ Program, the tutoring program … He boxes, does wrestling and baseball. He’s always busy.”

The program is free and Collazo said there are 10 boxers in the competitive program and between 35-40 in the recreational program. Collazo also said there were about 10 who just train.

“We work hard to give these kids the opportunities,” Collazo said with a smile. “The price they pay is the community service to the people who help us keep this going. They pay with their sweat and effort, so it really isn’t free.”

By Gary Curreri

Pompano Beach’s Chasity Martin has always idolized Laila Ali.

The 15-year-old has taken a similar approach to boxing legend Muhammad Ali’s daughter as she first noticed women’s boxing on television. Martin, who is homeschooled, ran into problems at her local high school and started boxing.

“I had problems in school with fighting so I went to home-schooling to stay on track and not get caught up in all of the street fighting and get in trouble,” Martin said. “Boxing is very important to me. It is 50 percent of my life. This is what I focus on other than school and my schoolwork. Boxing is one of my main priorities.”

Martin turned to Stacy McKinley, who spent 10 years as Mike Tyson’s trainer, to help guide the local teen in the boxing ring. She said she feels like Hilary Swank in the 2004 Clint Eastwood movie “Million Dollar Baby.”

“That’s crazy,” Martin said. “It is a once in a lifetime thing to get someone like him to train me. I am his first female fighter he ever trained. He calls me a female Mike Tyson. It’s a good thing.” The admiration is mutual.

“It is hard to find girls who want to fight her,” McKinley said. “She is strong and she is fast. She reminds me of Mike a little bit. When the bell rings, she goes through a transformation and she is a different person.”

Martin said she hopes to fight in the Olympics someday and eventually turn pro.

“I still have to stay humble and keep my attitude in check,” said Martin, who trains every day of the week, four hours a day. “I would like to go to the Olympics and box before I try and go pro. I get up and do my schoolwork and then it is nothing but boxing. When I get in the ring, I am a whole different person. I don’t remember much of what happened in the fight.”

She said she also looks past the stigma of being a female boxer.

“I don’t worry about what other people say about me,”

Martin said. “I enjoy what I am doing. That is what keeps me calm and that is what keeps me on track. It doesn’t really matter what everyone else says. That’s just what I focus on. If you were to see me on the street and I am not in my workout clothes … It is very discreet and I tend to have a lot of people know about it, but in a good way.”

SOCCER CAMPS SLATED

For the first time ever, Simply Soccer will hold four summer camps in the city of Pompano. The dates are: June 11-15; June 25-June 29; July 23-27 and Aug. 13-17. Registration will be held at the Pompano Beach Civic Center. Camp is for boys and girls, ages 5-14, of all skill levels, who will be taught a variety of soccer skills from dribbling to shooting.

There are three sessions each day (for the Pompano camp) ranging from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (cost is $100 weekly); extended hours camp is available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $125 each week, and a Tiny Tot program is offered for kids ages 5 and 6 from 9 a.m.to noon for $55 weekly.

Campers must bring a soccer ball, swimsuit, shin guards, water bottle and lunch. For more information, call the city of Pompano Parks and Recreation Department at 954- 786-4119 or 954-786-4111.