Boxing program raises generations

The quiet darkness outside the Sammy Burke Youth Boxing Center on this Wednesday night conceals the bright, enthusiastic activity taking place inside the old building on Solano Drive.

Nearly 40 participants, ranging in age from 8 to 23, work on their craft under the watchful eyes of volunteer coaches.

 The city of Las Cruces and the Burke family helped create the Police Athletic League Boxing Club in 1972 and Louie Burke was among the first team members. He went on to stardom as a world-rated contender and an ESPN champion in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Burke recently retired after 25 years with the Las Cruces Fire Department. Through the years, he has maintained his connection to the program, training all levels; from beginners to champions such as Austin Trout.

“Early on, we never had a stable gym,” Burke said. “We trained in back yards, my dad’s paint shop, a church. This has been a legacy for our family. It’s not just about the competition. There’s something deeper to it. This program has done so much for the community and helped so many people.”

The program found a home in its current location in 1986 and in 2001, the gym was named in honor of Louie’s father, Sammy Burke. Louie’s brother, Rocky, also a former boxer and referee, serves on the program’s board of directors.

The gym has two elevated boxing rings and punching bags of all sizes and shapes. The walls are decorated with flags, promotional posters of past events and iconic boxing photographs. The young boxers go through hand and foot drills in groups after going for a run, and get in some individual work on the bags.

The leader in group drills is 21-year-old Alvaro Garcia, whose story inspires everyone in the gym, including the coaches. Garcia joined the club about five years ago after a series of tragic events in his life. He had no boxing experience and weighed 316 pounds.

Garcia said the program and the gym “give color to my life.”

“When days are black and white, I come to the gym and it turns to color,” he said. “Here, I learn key factors in what it means to be a man. Discipline. Hard work. It’s not talent; it’s work ethic. In this sport, whoever gives the most, gets the most out of it.”

Garcia, a college student now, lost 140 pounds and last year won the state Golden Gloves championship.

“Boxing does attract a lot of at-risk kids and lower-income people,” Burke said. “It gives them an avenue to move forward. A lot of kids get inspired here and Alvaro is a perfect example. He inspires me, too.”

At 97 pounds, 16-year-old Nysse Rivera is ranked sixth in the nation in her weight class after two years at the gym. “I love doing this so much,” she said. “I really like the discipline that boxing teaches you.”

Osvaldo Villa, a 13-year-old with two years of boxing experience, said the sport and the program have helped him learn to concentrate in school and be a better student. Sixteen-year-old Jorge Corral has been boxing for three years, but moved to the PAL gym a year ago to work specifically with Burke. “The younger kids are learning the basics here,” Jorge said. “It’s a great environment for teaching.”

Burke said alumni from the PAL boxing club have gone on to become lawyers, engineers and business leaders. Many of them continue to support the program to help make a difference.

“And I couldn’t do this without the help of our volunteer coaches,” he said. “They make this work and they deserve a lot of praise. We’ve never had this many kids in the program.”