RIVERSIDE, Calif. – A Riverside boxing academy that aims to instill confidence, a work ethic and good-decision making skills in its young members recently received a financial boost from a public-benefit agency in Santa Ana that supports nonprofits and small businesses statewide.
On May 21 during an open sparring event complete with catered food, music, and a jump house for kids, Small Business Development Corporation of Orange County (SBDC-OC) administrators stood in a boxing ring and presented a ceremonial check for $2,000 to Raincross Boxing Academy leaders. The infusion of funds is helping the nonprofit academy cover operational costs as they aim for a late summer facility expansion, and assisted the organization in sending some of its coaches and five competitive boxers to the 2023 USA Boxing National Junior Olympics & Summer Festival in Lubbock, Texas in June.
“We are excited to be able to help support Raincross Boxing Academy,” said Michael A. Ocasio, SBDC-OC’s chief executive officer. “This organization is making a significant impact in the lives of its members and providing capital for nonprofits that function as changemakers in the world, particularly in communities of need, is part of our mission.”
SBDC-OC Chief Executive Officer Michael Ocasio, third from left, and Chief Financial Officer Carrie Miller, second from right, present a $2,000 grant to Raincross Boxing Academy in May. Far right, Raincross Boxing Academy Chief Executive Officer Celia Miranda, and Head Coach Henry Ramirez, back row, second from right. They helped establish the nonprofit academy in 2014.
The development corporation offers the California Small Business Loan Guarantee program and other capital access resources for nonprofits, small businesses and entrepreneurs with a particular focus on serving people of color, women business owners, veterans, and the disabled.
“They surprised me with $2,000. I didn’t expect that at all,” said Celia Miranda, Raincross Academy’s chief executive officer and a co-founder. The original donation was to have been $1,000, but SBDC-OC doubled the amount just before the contribution. “I was so grateful. I want to thank Mike and Carrie for providing this funding,” she said, referring to Ocasio and SBDC-OC’s Chief Financial Officer Carrie Miller who presented the check.
“It's great, It's what keeps this program going, generous donors,” said academy head boxing coach Henry Ramirez, seated at a table in the academy’s tutoring classroom. “But it's also [important] if they come and see what we're about, see what we're providing for the kids.”
What the nine-year-old academy provides to its youth and young adult members is a framework for building healthier lives, for setting and achieving goals, and an opportunity to avoid the pitfalls that often stem from a lack of opportunities and dangers prevalent in marginalized neighborhoods. Its offerings include an afterschool program in which volunteer tutors from the University of California, Riverside help academy members keep up with their homework, a one-hour requirement before workouts. Its boxing programs including amateur and professional training and coaching and chances for participation in local, state and national events.
The academy is currently expanding into about 1,600 square feet of additional space next door to its current facility on Chicago Avenue. The extra space is needed for strength and conditioning activities and will be outfitted with exercise machines and other equipment. The expansion is also needed to accommodate growth as the organization aims to increase enrollment to 200. It’s all focused on academy members’ development into responsible and motivated young people and adults.
““It’s what keeps this program going, generous donors.””
Said Ramirez, “Not every kid is going to stay with the program, but we're hoping that whatever they learned from here, whether it be in boxing or just hard work, making good decisions, dedication -- we're going to hope that kids come out of here thinking ‘I am better for the experience, I am better for the time I spent there.’”
Raincross Boxing Academy was spearheaded in 2014 by Riverside police detective Mario Dorado who drew in Miranda and Ramirez to establish the organization. Around 15 university students volunteer as academy staff and plans are in the works to increase the volunteer base through connections with Riverside Community College.
The academy’s coaches maintain certification with USA Boxing, noted Ramirez who has been a pro trainer and manager for more than 20 years. Miranda, also a certified boxing coach, previously co-founded a boxing club at UC Riverside while studying political science as a first-generation undergrad.
The academy is currently expanding into about 1,600 square feet of additional space next door to its current facility on Chicago Avenue. The new space is needed for strength and conditioning equipment and to accommodate current and future programming as the organization aims toward increasing enrollment to 200.
The academy’s afterschool program serves between 40 and 50 youth during the school year. Around 15 young people are involved in Raincross Boxing Academy’s amateur team, while 14 are professional boxers. Financial backing arrives mainly from Riverside city and county law enforcement organizations.
Raincross Boxing Academy members learn to work toward their goals.
Nationally ranked top RBA boxers, left to right, Paolo Barredo, Jesse “Lobito” Gonzalez, and Isaiah Hughes pose for a photo during a sparring event.
Jesse “Lobito” Gonzelez began his career as a 17-year-old amateur at Raincross Boxing Academy after falling in love with the sport of boxing at age 15 during high school. As part of a military family, his childhood had been burdened by frequent moves. Occasional aggression on the part of classmates sometimes required self-defense with Gonzalez besting his challengers. Now at age 21, Gonzalez is a professional boxer with eight pro bouts and a six-win, one-draw, one-loss record. He aims to move up in the ranks to pursue title championships.
“I started training with Henry and we were fighting almost every weekend, staying active, staying busy. I think it’s a big impact because it kept me off the streets and keeps me focused on something,” he said. “You learn a lot of discipline, a lot of respect, a lot of learning how to listen. You get really mentally strong. I learned how to push through a lot of the pain, the trouble, keep moving forward, and at the end there’s always a reward.”
Isaiah Hughes, a 12-year-old boxer has been enrolled at Raincross from age five. He is now a three-time national boxing championship, Junior Olympic gold medalist in his ranking category and was among the young contenders who competed at the boxing Junior Olympics in June. “It’s a good gym,” he said, “ boxing, it’s a good kind of thing for discipline, it keeps you out of the streets.”
““...it just makes me want to improve myself, personally and in boxing.””
Hughes says he focuses on training as hard as he can so that he can achieve his goals which serve as his motivation. “I want to be a world champion and take care of my family,” he said.
At the Junior Olympics in Texas, Raincross Boxing Academy member, 16-year-old Paolo Barredo for the second time ranked as the national champion gold medalist in the 110-pound weight category. Over the years he has competed in and won close to 100 matches and trains at the academy gym around five hours a day, six days a week as well as runs four or five miles daily, in addition to strength and conditioning exercises. He and his father commute to Riverside from Walnut, about an hour away. It’s all worth it in the pursuit of his goal of becoming a professional fighter, he says. “That’s my dream. That’s what I want to do,” Barredo said.
Father and son pointed out how the academy has helped a naturally shy Paolo hone his social and self-defense skills while uncovering a career path. But Paolo’s world opened up in an even bigger way. “Everyone here is to me my family and I love them all. And it just makes me want to improve myself, personally and in boxing.”
