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Oscar Soto/Photo: Ryan Hamilton

Oscar Soto is the current USA Boxing 4 State Regional Champion at 152 Lbs. He will be representing this region at the USA Boxing National Tournament beginning July 11th in Colorado Springs Colorado. He is the Minnesota State Champion at 152Lbs. He defeated a local boxer from White Bear Lake in the finals at the Oak Ridge Country Club. He then advanced to the 4 State Regional Tournament in Lincoln Nebraska which was held May 22 & 23rd where he defeated a boxer from Nebraska in the semi-finals and then a boxer from Wisconsin in the finals to advance to the Nationals in Colorado.

Age: 20 Yrs Old
Gym: Rice Street Gym, St. Paul MN.
Coach: Johnny Johnson
Height: 6’1
Weight: 152LBS.
Stance: Orthodox
Experience: Approximately 100 Bouts

Started Boxing: “I started boxing when I was 10 years old, I liked the sport from the beginning and have had the same coach and boxed out of the same gym throughout my career.”

Training: I train 3 to 4 days a week in the Gym and run several days a week as well.  I used to live above the Gym which was convenient but I now live in Burnsville MN.

Boxing Style: I am a tall boxer and use my left jab to set up my other combinations.  I have a hard right hand and look to set up my fight hand using my jab. I plan on using a lot of straight punches and one-two combinations at the nationals.

Future Plans: Right now I am focused on winning a national title. I have been to this tournament in the past in 2008, I saw the level of competition then and feel confident that this time I will be in a position to not only advance deep into the tournament but to win the tournament.

-Todd Webb

L to R: Emmett Yanez, Oscar Soto

Annie Gonzalez Griffin/Photo: Ryan Hamilton

Griffin, ranked #6 by USA Boxing and winner of  the bronze at the 2009 Women’s National Golden Gloves, will be competing at the USA Nationals in Colorado next month.

Age: 18 yrs. old
Gym: Believers’ Boxing
Coach: Rachel Schley
Height: 5′8″
Weight: 135 (weight class:141)
Stance: Orthodox
Record: 5-1

How she got started: I got started boxing because of my dad. He brought me in when I was 14 or 15 and I started working with a trainer and instantly something clicked… it was weird but it instantly became my passion.  I’ve been boxing for about 4 years.

Training: (I) train 3 to 5 times a week in the gym doing bag work, handpads, lots of sparring, speed work, foot work, sprints, and plyos.  On the days that I don’t go in the gym I do about 3-5 miles running and 20 min to an hour of shadow boxing with some weight lifting but not too much.

Boxing Style: I’m long and I throw a good jab and I throw it a lot.  I like to move forward and (I) don’t ever back up.  I shouldn’t box so much on the inside because of my length but I’m pretty good at it.

Info: It’s hard to find matches as a girl, the win in Nebraska was good but I didn’t really prepare for the fight so I know I could’ve done better.  I’m ready to fight at a national level.  I’m just gonna train very hard.

Annie Gonzalez/Believers Boxing/Photo: Ryan Hamilton

Future Plans: For boxing, just to take it as far as I can.  For life in general, I plan on going to the U of M  medical school to become an oncologist.

Age: 16

Gym: Twin Ports Boxing

Coach: Aaron Resberg

Height:6′2

Weight: 230 lbs

Stance:  Orthodox

Record:  6-0

Training:  My gym is open Mon-Thur and I’m there everyday.  From 5:30 to 7:30.  I jump rope for about 2-3 round in the beginning, then shadow box 2-3 rounds.  Then if I’m sparring, I’ll spar anywhere between 3-10 rounds. Next, I do my bag work for about 5-6 rounds then 2-3 on the double end bag.  Then 2 on a wall bag just throwing nonstop 1,2’s.  Then last I do my ab work out and my push ups.

Boxing Style: I’m a fan of countering but I try to mix it up a bit when I’m in the ring.

Were you nervous going into the Regional JO’s with only 6 matches under your belt?:  I get nervous before every fight, but once I get taped up, it all goes away and I just focus on what I need to do.  Going in there with only 6 matches  made me feel inexperienced when I’m there with guys who have 80 or 90 bouts, but that will come in time.

How did you get started in boxing: Two years ago my dad and I found the gym by accident.  I found a paper with Twin-ports boxing,  so we decided to check it out.  I went into the gym only wanting to work out and shed a couple pounds.  When I started, I weighed 270lbs.  After training for about 6-8 months I got bored of just training and I wanted to box.  But at my age and size it was really hard to find matches in MN.  So me and my coach did a little traveling and got my 5 fights in so I could compete in the Junior Olympic tournament.

Any other sports: I’m big on football and I play for Duluth Central high school.  Growing up, football has always been #1 and I would try out other sports to get in shape for it.  I tried basketball, lacrosse, soccer, baseball and track.  Nothing really compared until I got involved with boxing.  Now, I’d have to say Boxing is my #1.

Goal & Future plans: In my future I would like to win Nationals and be a very well known boxer.  My #1 goal would be to make the USA Olympic Team.

Manny Contreras in the Red Gloves

Age: 19

Gym: Rice Street Gym

Coach: Johnny Johnson

Weight: 165 lbs

Stance: Orthodox

Record: 26 wins & 7 losses

Favorite Boxer(s): Roy Jones Jr. and Miguel Cotto.

Tournaments & Titles:  2008 Under 19  Bronze Medal, 2009 USA State Champion, 2009 Golden Gloves Region 2 champion, 2008 Region 2 champion.

Training:  Runs 3 to 5 mile twice a week
shadow box 3 rounds with 2 pound weights
jump rope 3 rounds
heavy bag 4 rounds
double end bag 4 rounds
pads 4 to 6 rounds
“I work out two 3 min rounds with 30 sec breaks.”

Info: Manny started boxing when he was 16 years old.  ” I always wanted to box since I was a little kid, ” he remembers,  “and my mom said I could start boxing when I  got my braces off.  So the same week I  got my braces off, I went to the Rice Street Gym.  A couple weeks later, Johnny told me I had a lot of heart and I was going to be a champion.”

Contreras, now a 19 year old college student, attends St. Paul College.  He likes to play hockey, football and baseball.  He also likes to fish a lot.  Manny “thinks” he’s an outgoing person and likes “making people happy.

Being a role model to his family is important to him.  “I have five little sisters and two little brothers.  I’m the oldest out of all of them and I try to be a good role model for them ’cause they all look up to me.”

His plans for the tournaments this year are to make it to Golden Gloves & USA Nationals and win.  He also plans to turn pro after the 2012 Olympics.

-Ryan Hamilton

*Editors Note* After witnessing his impressive win (by retirement in the 4th) over hard hitting Robbie Loyde (Uppercut) in the St. Paul vs Minneapolis Tournament, I’m convinced that Contreras will be the man to beat at 165lbs.

Age: 26

Weight: 165

Height: 6′1

Record: 5-2

Gym: St. Cloud Golden Gloves

Coach: Started out with AD from Circle of Discipline, then Jeremy Valentine and Lee Ruiz

Style: Orthodox.  I usually stay on the outside working my jab.  I only come in when I know the other guy is not ready for it. But after working with Lee and Jesse Ruiz,  I’m ready to do some good damage on the inside.

How did you get started: A relationship break up inspired me to want to punch somebody.  I didn’t want to go to jail or deal with drama so I joined the boxing gym.

Training: 4 years. 3-4 days a week at the gym and 7 days a week.  At home I do a hour or so of stretching and the same for shadow boxing. Thirty minutes of light punching on a heavy bag and twenty minutes of hard punching. Five to six minutes of arm circles and Push ups.  Then I run a couple miles and then I do leg bicycles.  I try to do all of my workouts with little to no breaks between.

Hobbies: I drag race a sweet 1966 El Camino and teach my daughter things years ahead of her age group.

favorite boxer: I just started to watch pro boxing in the last few years.  I like the guys who stay classy through the whole fight.

Info: I’ve been working in construction for 10 years.  I was building and selling a few of my own houses before the market crash.  I have a 4 year old girl that has taken on my personality in almost every way.  The things I’m learning in boxing seem to be a benefit in every portion of my life.  I hope I can find a way to teach it to my daughter and give her a head start.

Aaron Green, Uppercut Gym. Photo: Ryan Hamilton

Age: 27 years old (5/4/82)

Gym: Uppercut Boxing Gym

Coach: Pete Daszkiewecz

Weight: Super Heavyweight (270lbs)

Stance: Orthodox

Record: 10-3

Tournaments Titles:

Ø  2008 Ringside World Champion- Super Heavyweight (Novice Division)

Ø  2009 USA Boxing State and Regional Champion

Ø  2009 Golden Gloves Regional Champion

Ø  Currently ranked #6 in the Super Heavyweight division by USA Boxing

Training: Train 4-5 days a week: Run 9-12 miles a week. I do weight training 3 days a week.  I also do a 12 round routine which includes – 3 rounds heavy bag, 3 rounds on the double end bag, 3 rounds on the wrecking ball, 3 rounds on the speed bag

Boxing Style:

Counter puncher but can also be first.

Who is Aaron Green: I am a laid-back person most of the time. Very friendly, even though I do not look it most of the time. I am also a family man.

Future Plans: My plans for the future are to take boxing as far as I can go and that includes turning pro.

Tell us about yourself: Very confident person, modest, thoughtful and a family man.

How I got started boxing: While working at a Health Club as a Personal Trainer, I saw a couple of people doing some shadow boxing. I approached them and asked if they were boxers. They said they did MMA but they were learning how to box at a local gym. They gave me the address and told me when the class was and the rest is history.

Where do you hope this boxing thing takes you: Become the Heavyweight World champion.  Be financially stable.  I would like to have state recognition, national recognition, and worldwide recognition.  I would also like to be in Movies or TV shows.

Family: I have a 7-year-old daughter that lives in Indianapolis. I am married to my wife of 4 years. I have three brothers and one sister. My parents also reside in Indianapolis.

Dustin Mason (left) vs Jose Hilario / Photo: Ryan Hamilton

Age: 18 years old

Gym: White Bear Lake Boxing

Coach: Emmett Yanez

Weight: 125 lbs

Height: 5’ 6 inches

Record: 69-20

Began boxing: 2001 in Duluth, MN

Tournaments: 2005  State and Regional Silver Gloves Champion
2005 placed 6th at the National Silver Gloves
2006 Tournament of Champions
2007 National Black Gloves Champion
2008 State Silver Gloves Champion
Currently ranked # 8 in the featherweight division by USA Boxing.

Biggest influence: My dad. He isn’t here for me right now,  but he has and will always be my biggest fan.

How did you get involved: My dad signed me up one day and I fell in love with the sport.

Greatest strength: My will to be the best and my power & strengths in and out of the ring.

Favorite Boxers: Mike Tyson, obviously Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather and b-hop.

Training: I train everyday and (I do) everything my coach tells me to do.

Goals: I am ranked 8th and have goals of being the best and going to the 2012 Olympics, then turning pro and going to the top of my weight class!

Age: 21

Weight: 155lbs

Height: 5′7

Record: 12-1

Gym: Hastings Boxing Academy

Coach: Fernando Ortiz

Began boxing: Summer 2007

Style: boxer/puncher

Training: shadow box 3 rounds, double-end bag 3 rounds,
sparring 6-8 rounds, heavy bag 4 rounds, run 3miles 3x a week

Hobbies (besides boxing): soccer, hanging with friends, bar-b-qing

Favorite Boxer? Why?: Marco Antonio Barrera. “Cause he’s a warrior.”

Goals outside of the ring: Wants to be champion of the world