Arizona Boxing News & Notes With Don Smith:
Boxing Fans, Boxing trainer Wily Borchert made his boxing career mark as a Phoenix, Arizona gym owner and trainer after opening Wily’s boxing in 1970 until his retirement in 2005. His prestigious list of highly motivated protégé’s included world champions Louie Espinoza, Paul Banke, Diego Corrales, Johnny Vasquez and Earl Butler sr. ironically; Borchert left his deep footprint in boxing while pursuing a career as a union electrician and serving as a devoted husband for 2 years shy of 5 decades. In addition, he managed to find time to attend Phoenix College, 1988-89.
Borchert Turns 72 in July and although he admits to a noticeable loss of hearing, he has lent his name and energy to the creation of Phoenix Sports Academy, a project he shares with former boxing pupils Ray Martinez Jr. and Anibal Deciga. The facility, located on Grand Avenue in Phoenix, will offer kids and young people a place to train and develop into responsible adults. The long range goal is to provide, computers, counseling and mentoring in addition to teaching discipline and teamwork.
Wily was in Phoenix recently to pass on his ideals and mentoring suggestions to his two partners before returning to his home in Tennessee with his wife of 48 years. She worked for the state of Arizona while functioning as the chief fundraiser for Wily’s boxing. I talked to Mr. Borchert via phone and at his request I emailed him the following questions to which he responded without hesitation. We eliminated two of the questions forwarded to the coach/trainer because they were answered in our lea-in to the interview.
ABNN: Your professional boxing record was 1-1. In your last fight you were knocked out by Roy Jones Sr., did the knockout motivate you to become a coach and trainer?
WB: No, I was training boxers long before I became pro. I fought one fight in my own weight class and the second one, I weighed in at 152 and Roy was 165; but, since I had a contract, I had to fight per my manager. Boy, did I learn my lesson. When I signed any pro t a contract, I included a clause to ensure the boxer had the right to pull out of a fight if the weight was not correct.
ABNN: You served 5 years in Marine Reserve, did that experience help you work with boxers?
WB: I learned to follow orders, never quit and respect.
ABNN: When you worked as a trainer and coach, you were known as a disciplinarian; did that fact ever rub any of your students the wrong way?
WB:yes, of course there were a few who did not like the discipline but once they realized everyone, no matter how long they had been in the gym was treated the same and with respect, they came around. One or two over the years did not conform and therefore left the gym.
ABNN: Can you explain the role of a trainer and coach?
WB: A trainer does the physical conditioning. A coach teaches the “Art of boxing.” A good coach is polite but firm and always ends a workout on a positive note. A good coach and a good trainer, one without the other means you are not a good coach or trainer.
ABNN: The Olympics now permit no headgear…what are your thoughts on the subject and do you have an opinion on why US men rarely winOlympic Gold in boxing?
WB: Amateurs should always wear a proper fitting headgear. No opinion as to why our young men rarely win gold.
ABNN: You trained and coached Louie Espinoza (Arizona’s first native born boxing champion). When did you know he would become a world champion?
WB: I knew Louie would be a World Champion the day when he said he wanted to go pro. Louie is a very strong willed person. When he sets his mind to do something, nothing will stop him. If he did not want to be a World Champion, he would not have gone pro. He had the support of the gym, his girlfriend at the time, now his wife, and all of his friends.
ABNN: Arizona doesn’t have a boxing commissioner, should it and would you be in favor of of the sport selecting or electing a National Commissioner?
WB: Arizona needs a strong, honest commission. There are so many ramifications of selecting a National Commission. The state with the strongest commission, which I think is Nevada, would take over and run the commission.
ABNN: MMA is now more popular than boxing according to fan surveys. Is boxing a dying sport?
WB: I firmly believe boxing will rise to the top again when real good boxers emerge. The skills of a good boxer will shine and the public will once again realize the sport of boxing is a skill not choking, kicking and demolishing an opponent.
ABNN:What were your 3 main gym rules adhered to when Wily’s Gym existed in Phoenix 1970-2005?
WB: No racial slurs, no drugs, no guns/weapons, no cussing, no bullying and no disrespect. Can’t is not a word used in the gym.
ABNN:You officially retired from boxing when you left Phoenix in 2005, how has the sport changed since your departure?
WB: Just from the sidelines, it appears the pros are taking over the amateurs, which s really sad. I really wish the Olympics would stay amateur. The kids work so hard with the Olympics as a goal to represent the USA then must compete against a pro for a chance to fulfill their dream.
ABNN: Thank you for your time and good luck with the Phoenix Sports Academy.
Boxing Chatter: Heavyweight Malcolm Tann’s return to boxing is still on hold after Matchmaker Peter McKinn tried valiantly; but, failed to find a suitable opponent for the 37 year old who retired from boxing, 9 years ago. Tann (23-4) was tentatively scheduled to fight in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Saturday, June 18….. Arizona State Boxing/MMA Commission is scheduled to meet on July 21 at 10 am; call 602-364-1721 to reserve a seat…….Middleweight Andrew Hernandez was seen sparring at Central Boxing recently and he reports his ankle, injured in his last fight, is healed and the 30 year old Phoenix fighter hopes to engage in ring action, soon…..Fight Hard Promotions will present a Pro/Am fight card on August 26 at the Legends Event Center on Camelback Road in Phoenix, Arizona. Rumored amateurs considered card possibilities include Fernando Martinez, Zeus Pinder, Maximus Castro and Ariel Arismendez. It is an A list of Arizona amateurs and all of the young fighters have a strong following…. Arizona’s summer heat wave may deter some fans from attending area boxing events and indirectly dampen the advancementof Arizona’s premier professionalboxers and force them to fight out of state…..Casa Grande Arizona amateur Jesus Ramos (nephew of Abel Ramos) travels to Indio California to compete in a tournament beginning on July 19…..An attempt to unveil the plea agreement between the Arizona Superior Court and defendant Damien Stone failed and the public may have to wait until the official pronouncement on August 3 at 8:30 AM. …last week we reported the murder of two women while a third woman was critically wounded and taken to a local hospital in Phoenix. The 911 call was turned in by a Phoenix boxer and our policed contact reports the third woman is still alive and there is some speculation that the suspect might be a serial killer. The shooting took place near 63rd Avenue and McDowell Road in Phoenix….. Just in, Arizona super lightweight Abel Ramos (16-1-2) may fight back east (New York) at the end of July; noting definite.
Iron Boy 34: On Saturday, July 16, Iron Boy Promotions will present Iron Boy 34 at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona with the first bout commencing at 6 PM and doors at the comfortable venue will open at 5 PM. We received a bout sheet with 11 planned bouts and we caution readers to monitor Iron Boy’s website for potential changes.Main Event: Daniel Valdivia 11-0 vs. Janks Trotter 9-3 – 8 rounds 154 lbs.Co-Main: Carlos Castro (15-0) vs. TBD 8 rounds 123 lbs.Under Card: Luis Espinoza 3-0 vs. TBD 4 rounds 115 lbs. Emanuel Nieves 3-0 vs. TBD 4 rounds 130 lbs. Daron Williams 3-0 4 rounds 130 lbs. Edgar Ortiz 0-1 vs. Jhonathan Ramos 0-1 4 rounds 115 lbs. Sean O’Malley (debut) vs. David Courtney 1-2 4 rounds 135 lbs. Cliff Jordan 2-1 vs. Miguel Gloria 1-3 4 round 143 lbs. Ryan Riddell 1-0 vs. Leonardo Reyes 3-9 4 rounds 118 lbs. Juan De Madrid 1-0 vs. Erik Lopez 0-1 4 rounds 135 lbs. Daniel Garcia 3-0 vs. TBD 4 rounds 154 lbs.
More Chatter: There is a move on to pair Lightweights Victor Castro (17-0) vs. Rashad Ganaway (17-5-1) for Gangway’s WBC United States (USNBC) super lightweight title. Whispered talks suggest the bout, if agreed upon, will take place in this fall……bantamweight Ryan Riddell returns to ring action after more than a year’s inactivity. Ryan (1-0) will fight at 118 lbs. against Leonardo Reyes (3-9) in a 4 round contest at the Celebrity Theatre on Saturday July 16. Angel Montoya called to alert our assignment desk that the Iron Boy Website is incorrectly advertising the Iron Boy 34 event to be held on July 17 instead of the correct date, Saturday, July 16. I hope our printed correction will be passed on by all of our readers……Arizona boxer Edgar Brito, is still engaged in a boxing “sit-out” until his contract with Iron Boy elapses in July……The smoker scheduled for 6/18 at Greenfield Elementary was cancelled for undisclosed reasons….super lightweight Ivan Baranchyk 10-0-9 knockouts is a real talent and the only fighter standing after the last round with Ivan was Arizona boxer Luis Olvera (7-2-1)…… Good news, publicist Emily Pandelakis is lout of the hospital and feeling better. ..Until Next Time!