More than 300 Santa Barbara residents crowded a dense and humid Eastside Boys and Girls Club on Sunday, July 3, as the basketball court was transformed into a makeshift boxing ring for a U.S.A. Boxing–sanctioned showcase.
More than 20 fights were held for the sold-out “A Day of Unity” event, which included youth and adult amateur boxers. Challengers from around the state included Compton Boxing, KnuckleHeadz Boxing (Ventura), ASG Boxing (Moreno Valley), and King’s City Boxing.
As recently reported by the Independent, brothers Jairo and Zico Gonzalez have revived the boxing community in Santa Barbara, where nearly a decade has passed since the city’s last organized event. The brothers own and operate Five Directions Community Club and hosted the event to debut the club’s up-and-coming fighters and put on a show for local boxing fans.
Nine boxers from Five Directions participated in the event, with Tomas Arzate, Jaiden Moctezuma, Jonathan Lopez, Vincent Terrazas, and Anthony Vazquez taking home wins for the local club.
The Gonzalez brothers said they plan on hosting up to three showcases a year, starting in 2023.
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