By Bob Hamar
bob.hamar@theindependent.com

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Independent/Barrett Stinson Joe Garcia of Joešs Gym in Grand Island (right) talks to Travis Thompson, 9, in-between rounds in his fight against Jeff Schlotfeld of Omaha Saturday afternoon during Golden Gloves boxing at the Heartland Events Center. Independent/Barrett Stinson Tyler Garner, 14, of Joešs Gym (left) exchanges punches with Juan Garcia of Fremont during Golden Gloves boxing Saturday at the Heartland Events Center in Grand Island. Garcia went on to win the three-round junior bout. Click Thumbnails to View

It's still in the same 32-by-30 garage owned by Joe Garcia of Grand Island, but when Garcia opened the boxing club two years ago, there were just two members his son, Joe Jr., and a young neighbor.

For Garcia, a former boxer and longtime fan, it's all about giving the youngsters something to do and keeping them out of trouble.

"I've had a few kids who have never felt so happy," Garcia said. "I took some fighters to Norfolk and had a couple of my guys tell me they're only 14 years old they said they've never felt so happy.

"That's good to hear when they say that to you. Other than that, I do it because I enjoy it."

Joe's Gym was well represented at the Golden Gloves Tournament Saturday at the Heartland Events Center. The club had 13 boxers compete, including 10 juniors in the afternoon and three seniors at night.

Boxing isn't an easy sport. Garcia said his fighters work hard. They train just about every day when getting ready for a fight. Practice starts about 5:30 p.m., and Garcia said he's usually sitting down to supper by 8:30 to 8:45 p.m.

"They train hard," Garcia said. "There aren't many of them who miss practice, especially before a fight. Everybody is there. Not only that, but it helps us as a team."

That sense of team is important to Garcia and his boxers. They may all be ready to box at an event, but if there's not an opponent for each one, then some may be left out.

"They build each other up," he said. "Some of them will get to fight and some of them don't. The ones who don't get to fight, they build up the guys that get to fight.

"We come together as a team no matter if we all fight or not."

Garcia wants to make sure that every youngster who wants to box gets that opportunity. Some come from families who don't have a lot of money to spend on athletics.

Garcia said there are ways to cut costs. He and his assistants Travis Thompson and Dominic Moreno find ways to get the equipment and supplies needed.

"If you're after the top brand stuff, it's very expensive," he said. "Prices aren't bad, but they aren't cheap either. Luckily the guys that are helping me all pitch in and take them wherever we need to.

"With gas prices, it's hard to go anywhere to fight."

Garcia took seven fighters to Norfolk three weeks ago and six of them came home with victories. Last week, he took some fighters to Omaha. Next week, they'll travel to Lincoln.

Garcia began boxing at Eli's Boxing Club in Grand Island at the age of nine back in 1976. He later joined the Home Federal Boxing Club until he moved to Texas.

Garcia returned to Nebraska four years later. His last fight came in 1989 when he won the Central District Championship.

Garcia said it was great to see Golden Gloves return to the Heartland Events Center for the second straight year.

"I've always been into boxing," Garcia said. "I was just waiting for my boy to tell me he wanted to do it. I started doing it, then after the turnout last year here, everybody got to know I was doing it. That's how I ended up with all these boxers.

"I enjoy it. That's why I do it. This is like my time away from work."