Alfonso Rey says there’s a need in Lake Havasu City.

David Bell/News-Herald Photo. Alfonso Rey trains Adrian Castaneda Thursday. Rey has brought his South West Entertainment Group boxing club, from Alamogordo, N.M. to Lake Havasu City and has started training fighters.

The former U.S. Amateur Boxing Federation and New Mexico Golden Gloves champion has brought South West Entertainment Group, his boxing club, from Alamogordo, N.M. to Mohave County in the hopes of developing a strong boxing program here.

“I train kids of all ages, from 8-years-old and up. But I especially like to work with the kids in need,” Rey said. “There a lot of trouble kids can get into in a small town and boxing keeps them out of trouble. We teach self esteem, self respect and discipline.”

He started with 11 students about three months ago and seven have shown the discipline to stay with the program. Including Brandon Eddy and Christian Lizardi, both 9-years-old.

“My mom said this would be the way I can learn how to defend myself,” Lizardi said.

Jeremy Gutierrez, 18, and Adrian Castaneda, 16, both said they jumped at the chance to train as a boxer.

“I’ve always had a passion for it but couldn’t find any classes,’ he said. “I like the discipline. Like I said, I have a passion for this.”

Rey is teaching his students the skills he learned in 34 USABF bouts, including his championship fight in 1989 and his Golden Gloves win in 1990-91.

“I tell them this is a thinking sport. It’s not a guy running out and throwing the biggest punch. It’s using your head and thinking,” Rey said. “That means keeping good grades and not getting in trouble.”

After nine years of training in New Mexico, he made the move to Arizona. And while there are solid Mixed Martial Training facilities in the area – such as Havasu’s Arevalo Academy – he said that without any established boxing-only gyms the county can support his program.

“I’ve fought MMA, I had 14 MMA fights. But if I didn’t know boxing before I fought MMA I would have been in serious trouble,” he said. “And boxing is one of the oldest sports in history. We’re not going anywhere.”

Rey, currently training his students out of a garage, has lined up four sponsors and is looking for more – and more student – to get the program in a gym and ready for their first bouts. He’s hoping for a January show date.

“There’s definitely enough interest here. Between Havasu, Bullhead, Laughlin, Parker, there are plenty of kids interested and ready to learn,” he said.

For more information, contact Rey at 928-713-9975.

You may contact the reporter at dbell@havasunews.com.