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02/25/2008 Archived Entry: "It’s ‘Macho’ Time for Kids in Cicero!"
It’s ‘Macho’ Time for Kids in Cicero!
‘Macho’ Miguel Hernandez runs a youth boxing program in Cicero
Photos and report by Juan C. Ayllon
Miguel Hernandez talks with students in his youth boxing program at Manor Park
CICERO, Ill.—It’s not as if he has time to spare. He juggles three jobs—full-time with the railroad, part-time with Cicero’s auxiliary police force, and boxing professionally as a middleweight. And, along with his girlfriend, Yolanda, he raises their three boys.
Yet, after working out at JABB Boxing Gym in Chicago these Friday nights, “Macho” Miguel Hernandez, 33, travels down to Manor Park in Cicero, his boys in tow, and runs a youth boxing program from 7 to 9 PM.
“I just want to give something back—I’ve been blessed,” says Hernandez, who sports a record of 20-7 with 10 knockouts that includes winning the Illinois State Middleweight Title, the WBC United States Middleweight Title, and participating in this last season’s boxing reality TV show, The Contender.
“Look at what I did,” he continues. “I had a lot of doubters and I accomplished a lot. If I can help one or two kids, that’s an accomplishment. If I can help all of them, that’s even better!”
Hernandez runs the program with a veteran trainer—who asked to remain anonymous. It’s a growing program run on a shoestring budget and founded by the mayor of Cicero, Larry Dominic. They have two heavy punching bags on stands, a handful of boxing gloves, and punching mitts that are used for target practice in punching drills.
“Dominic Pesoli from ‘8 Count’ donated some gloves and stuff like that,” said a thankful Hernandez. “Hopefully, we can get into a bigger room where we can put a ring, heavy punching bags and more boxing equipment.”
This Friday night, a dozen kids ranging in age from about six to 15 years old train in a side room that’s roughly 30 feet by 30 feet. There’s institutional green linoleum on the floors, white painted brick walls with a long mirror running the length of one wall, and a ballet rail set about three feet high on an another.
Sitting on metal folding chairs near the room’s entrance, mothers look on as Hernandez—who’s wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, jeans and leather gym shoes—gives them a pep talk. Then, holding a long pointer stick, a stocky, elderly trainer with gray hair lines them up facing the mirror, barks orders and runs them through a battery of calisthenics.
Above, Josh Hernandez (right) holds a mitt while another participant practices his jab, while below, younger kids practice their jab
Next, trainees are divided into two groups by age: pre-teens and teens, and the small kids. Pairing off, half the members in one group don boxing gloves on their left hands and work on their jab and hooks, while their partners hold and move their a punching mitt for them to target. The other group works on stance and form while practicing their jabs in front of a long mirror. Then the groups switch. Hernandez and the trainer supervise and make corrections, as necessary.
Above, Hernandez makes some corrections on a small student's form, while below, he looks on as a young girl hits the mitts with an uppercut
Hernandez also works one-on-one with students, wearing the mitts and then a pair of gloves. He and his oldest son, Josh—who already at the age of twelve, has 13 amateur fights with eight wins and four losses—don the gloves and mitts and demonstrate a lively mitt punching session.
Father and son put on a lively demonstration for the kids
Then, a rawboned heavyweight 30-something with sloping shoulders from the community who’s been assisting and training a little, puts on the gloves and hits Miguel’s mitts hard with ponderous swings. Someone suggests that the two duke it out for real in a live sparring session. Miguel loudly ponders the idea and asks the kids who they think will win. To his surprise, a few kids pick the big guy.
Hernandez (left) works the pads with the big guy
“Hey, my money’s on me,” says Hernandez, laughing. He then tells the guy that they can spar, just hitting to the body next time.
Drawing the kids together, he reminds them that in order to participate, they need to keep their grades up.
“School is first—it has to be the first priority,” says Hernandez. He also tells them to practice at home and, if they want to train additionally, they can go to JABB Boxing Gym—where he trains—or other gyms, like Rick Ramos' and Sam Colonna's Chicago Boxing Club (which is scheduled to open soon), or park district gyms like Scottsdale Park and Garfield Park in the city of Chicago.
The big guy works gently with a younger protege
Talking afterwards, Hernandez says, “We really don’t have the space right now that we want. Hopefully, we’ll get a bigger place and more equipment.” Their wish list of items includes jumping ropes for the kids.
Hernandez makes no bones about it: He’s thankful for Mayor Larry Dominic’s commitment for creating programs for youth, such as building a soccer field several blocks north of Cicero Stadium this last year. Still, he’s hoping that as he sees his youth boxing program in action, he’ll provide additional resources so his kids can really soar.
A student tees-off hard on Hernandez's mitt
“These kids motivate me,” says Hernandez. “A couple kids have natural talent and hit very hard. Josh has been working with them. If they decide to stick with it, they could become world champs.”
Could that be a future world champion in the mirror?
In the meanwhile, Hernandez plans on slogging down to 5800 Park Avenue in Cicero on Friday nights, his boys in tow, and try and make a difference as best he can, one kid at a time.
Miguel's boys, Justin and Josh, work the pads
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If you’re interested in donating equipment to the program, email me at JuanCAyllon@yahoo.com , and I’ll forward your information to Miguel.
You’re also welcome to stop by and visit the boxing program on Friday nights.
Directions:
From the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290), take Austin south. Go past Roosevelt Road, 22nd Street, and past Ogden Avenue. Turn left (east) onto 34th Street and go three blocks to 58th Court. Turn left (north) onto 58th and go to Park Avenue, where the road hits a dead end. Turn right (east) onto Park Avenue.
Manor Park. 5800 Park Avenue, Cicero, Ill.
* * *
The youth boxing program is run through the Clyde Park District, which is located in the Cicero Stadium at 1909 S. Laramie, Cicero, Illinois.
If you have any questions about the program, contact Mark Kraft at (708) 682-3545
