"A step of above this would be to host a CISM (Conseil International du Sport Militaire) tournament or championship. "Our next goal is to host DOD-level sports that would attract military competitors from all the services," he said. Hack and his staff are hoping the success of the Air Force Box-Off will increase their chances to hold other services championships in many sports. The upstairs running track can be used for above-the-event seating." "Instead of purchasing bleachers, we have 12 portable bleachers on wheels that we can conform to events. For this event, it was used for the weigh-ins, physicals and then divided during the fights to hold the red and blue teams," Hack said. "We have a physical training room that can be use for multiple functions. "During the planning of the facility, special events like boxing were taken into consideration. "It's a state-of-the-art facility that opened in June 2011," the director said. Hack said the Fitness Center on the METC Campus is uniquely equipped to handle an event like the box-off. "The Air Force doesn't have a MMA program, so if they compete in that genre, they do it on their own." "I know some the boxers have and do train in mixed martial arts," Hack said. While the teams have gotten smaller over the past few years, Hack said Air Force boxing is alive and well, despite the rise in popularity in mixed martial arts competitions. In the 201-pound class, he defeated Jas Phipps, who represented Miracle Boxing Club. It has been a hard night for us as a team," he added.īrinson is stationed with the 13th Air Support Operation Squadron at Fort Carson, Colo. "It's nice to come out of here with some wins. "I feel good," said Senior Airman Kent Brinson who had just won his match. "It was a good first experience for my first fight," Rush said. Two women led off the boxing competition Saturday, with Sarah Byrd representing Flex Boxing Club and Sarah Rush boxing for Fit Pit. Sanctioned by USA boxing, each match included three, 3-minute rounds with a doctor available to examine each boxer at the conclusion of each bout, as military boxing follows amateur-boxing rules. "This is a great place to host this event here on Fort Sam Houston. We faced some tough opponents, but the hard work is showing and even better, the toughness," Franco said. "We had 16 days to train and learn all the basics of boxing all over again. The fighters trained at the Chaparral Fitness Center at JBSA-Lackland at the beginning of January. The coaches carefully matched the contestants, since the military rules state that open boxers (those with at least five bouts) can't box against novice boxers in regulation bouts. Bobby DeLeon, there were both open and novice boxers at the competition. Steve Franco and his assistant coach Staff Sgt. Selected to compete by Air Force boxing coaches Tech Sgt. Weight division winners at the Armed Forces Championship may advance to an annual international military championship, if worthy." "Boxers also may advance to represent the Air Force at the USA National Boxing Championship. "This is the competition used to determine who advances," Hack said. There were 10 bouts the first night and 12 the second in a number of weight classes, from 123-pound super featherweights up to 201-pound heavyweights.Īt stake in the fights was the chance to advance to the Armed Forces Boxing Tournament at Camp Pendleton, Calif., which takes place from Jan. "All branches of the services were at the event and also included family members, active duty service members and Department of Defense civilian employees."Ī total of nine Air Force boxers took part in the two-day competition, with a fight card filled out by amateurs from San Antonio and South Texas boxing clubs. "The Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines packed the house," said Ken Hack, the center's director. In what Air Force officials called a "grand slam" for the Fitness Center on the Medical Training and Education Center Campus, the Air Force Box-Off tournament Jan. JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
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