Representing U.S. Virgin Islands Boxing, the St. Croix Gym struck gold over the weekend, winning the gold medal at their very first Florida Golden Gloves Tournament.
The three-day tournament began on March 28 and ended on March 31, where junior men’s athlete Yomar Ortiz won the gold medal. Other athletes participating in the tournament and weight class categories were intermediate novices Cristian Diaz and Luis Jaca.
The team competes regularly throughout the year, something that is vital in every sport not only to remain physically and mentally sharp but also because there is limited competition on island, said certified boxing coach and trainer Oto Ortiz. Ortiz also competed in boxing for over 20 years but has been certified in boxing since 2014 and training since 2017.
A team press release said, “Many have said boxing in the Virgin Islands, particularly St. Croix, is dead, but this cannot be further from the truth.”
For this to remain true, travel is inevitable yet extremely necessary to keep the momentum going. Ortiz said the team has been fortunate enough to remain consistent every two months, taking a group of athletes to various national and international tournaments since 2021.
“Oftentimes, our athletes and coaches cover their own travel and registration expenses but as you can imagine, doing so limits the number of tournaments we can attend as this affects many families’ personal finances. Which is why we believe these athletes, along with their parents, families and supporters deserve to be recognized,” said Ortiz.
“In our community, there is nothing more important than fostering our youth and giving them a means of exposure and experience through the world of sports,” he said.
The gym where the men train has been in operation since 2017 and is located in Orange Grove at the “Old Bingo Building,” across from the J.F. Kennedy housing community near downtown Christiansted. It has been under the tutelage of the U.S. Virgin Islands Boxing Federation and its president Tony Rosario.
“We have been developing young athletes in the sport of boxing and exposing them to the highest level of competition while teaching them pride and self-confidence. Many of our athletes have competed in various national and international boxing tournaments around the world, representing our islands and broadening horizons,” said Ortiz.
Other athletes training at the gym include elite men Eric Thompson, Wesley Santana, and Keyinde McIntosh, elite novices Donde Dubois and Christian Perez, and intermediate novice Yael Munoz.
Donors interested in assisting the team with their travel expenses are encouraged to contact USVI Boxing at 340-227-3158.
The team is now getting ready to attend the Florida State Junior Olympics Boxing Tournament, which will be held from April 20-21 in Brooksville, Florida.
