Youth Boxing in Beaumont: Coaches Mentor Teens, Prepare for Exhibitions

Several Beaumont teens who started boxing a few months ago have formed a club to train and prepare for fights with the help of coaches, parents and mentors.

The Pass Boxing Club is in its infancy and for now the young fighters train in a garage near Noble Creek Park. They are preparing for boxing exhibitions in Victorville on Sept. 28 and in San Bernardino on Nov. 9.


"We're here to help keep the kids off the street," coach Leo DeLara of Cherry Valley said. "We're with a nonprofit. We're up and running a few months.

"We're working with city parks and rec and hope to get a building over at Noble Creek," DeLara said. "Meantime we're here. We don't have a ring, we're still shy of sparring gloves, stuff like that, but we're doing with what we have."

Members of the club include Alfonso Rodriguez, 14, and Rene Estrella, 14, who attend Mountain View Middle School, Ben Crotwell, 10, of Three Rings Ranch Elementary, Dion Ortega, 15, of Banning High, Jocelyn Silvey, 15, of Beaumont High, Daniel Lobato, 17, of Hope Academy, Ray Castro, 14, of Beaumont High, and Ronnie Gomez, 16, and Owen Silvey, 14, who attend Julian Charter School.

Jocelyn is the only girl in the club so far, and her presence motivates the boys, coach Robert Rios of Beaumont said Thursday night.

Parent Dan Crotwell offered his garage as a place for club members to train because he knows DeLara and he believes in what the coaches are doing.

"My kids enrolled and they had some complications at the place they were at and they moved to the park," Crotwell said. "I've known Leo 10 years, Here we have plenty of space, me and my wife re really into giving back to the kids and community as much as we can.

"We want to give the opportunity to stay out of trouble and learn how to defend themselves," Crotwell said. "Why not? Somebody has to."

Membership in the Pass Boxing Club is free, DeLara said. For more information call Rios at (951) 973-9839 or DeLara at (951) 337-7200.