Grand Forks Boxing Gym Sends Five Young Fighters to State Tournament

Combat Cardio Club will send five youth fighters to the North Dakota State Silver Gloves Tournament on Nov. 7 at the Ramada in Grand Forks, with 18 fights on the card. Doors open at 3 p.m., the first bell rings at 4 p.m., and tickets cost $20. Teams from Canada and Wisconsin are also entered.

Victor Ramirez, who owns and coaches at Combat Cardio Club, said the hometown date gives his fighters something they rarely get. "It's really nice, because you get to showcase your gym," Ramirez said. "You get to let the town know, hey, we're here." He added that the event puts the fighters in front of family, noting that the gym has often traveled to Minneapolis for bouts because Grand Forks is a smaller boxing hub.

The state tournament feeds into the regional round, held in Minneapolis, which feeds into the National Silver Gloves tournament for amateur boxers ages 8 to 17. Ramirez has trained fighters for 10 years and has run the gym for six. The gym moved to its current Washington Street location last year and has about 25 kids and 15 to 20 adults training there.

Two of the five youth fighters will make their first appearance in a bout. Brody Flood, 15, a student at Grand Forks Central, started boxing a year ago and trains two to three hours after school. He said he has sparred with his brother for years. "Fighting has always been a part of my life," Flood said. Asked whether he is nervous for his first fight, he replied, "Kind of, but not really."

Felix Garcia also debuts at the Ramada. "My family and all the people I know are going to be there, so they're going to be rooting for me," Garcia said. The other youth fighters are Dominic Ramirez, Felix Garcia, Reed Friesen and Carlos Carranza. Carranza has one fight behind him. Dominic, Victor's 12-year-old son, has several bouts and qualified for the National Silver Gloves tournament last year.

Ramirez tells his fighters they can join the kids' classes and put in extra work. "When they see you working your butt off, it makes them want to work their butt off," he said. He said he told them it comes down to hard work, discipline and consistency.

The card also carries adult amateur bouts. Miles Moore, Johnny Moreno, Robbie Kellogg and Matt Flanagan will compete for Cardio Combat. Kellogg has 16 fights to his name and has lived in Grand Forks for four years. "It's definitely nicer to be home," Kellogg said, adding that the last show required a five-and-a-half-hour trip.

Moreno, who has competed in several bouts, is set for the main event. "There's a little bit of nerves, but just gonna deal with it," Moreno said. "Gonna go with the flow.. It's a main event now, so it's a different feeling. I'm looking forward to it."

Moore, 21, drives from Crookston, Minnesota, to train at the gym. He has fought for three years and will make his third bout. "I'm not really nervous," Moore said. "Whatever he gives, I give back two times harder."