Professional boxer Raul Carrillo, 23, was a gang member in Chihuahua, Mexico, at age 15. His neighbor was a member of the gang and most kids in the neighborhood were too. He eventually left gang life behind, along with his family.
Now he’s a member of the Ghost Town Gladiators, a boxing club from Longmont, Colo., and he’s got a shot at a world title.
“Every young child is in a gang,” Carrillo said through interpreter Marcelo Machado. “When you leave the gang, you have to leave the city and Mexico. That’s why I came to the United States.”
Carrillo left his wife and daughter behind. She did not want to come, and her family wanted her to stay. Carrillo came to Longmont to stay with the only person he knew in the U.S. and to work in a steel fabricating plant. He made his way to the gym to work through the pain of his loneliness.
“I started boxing again to be busy, to get the thoughts out of my head,” Carrillo said. “When I boxed, I didn’t think about my family.”
Carrillo is now poised to become the WBC USNBC light welterweight champion of the world if he wins his fight Feb. 17 at Red and Jerrys Event Center in Sheridan, Colo., against Rob Frankel. As part of the fight promotion, the two boxers will have their pre-bout press conference Feb. 4, at the Guadalupe Center at Ninth Street and 12th Avenue in Scottsbluff.
In conjunction with the press conference, The Guadalupe Boxing Club will host a boxing event, with clubs from three states participating. Carrillo said his move to the U.S. has given him a clean slate.
“To be a member of a gang, you have to fight, hurt and do bad things everyday. It is like infierno (Hell).” Carrillo said. “Tell children, that if you are part of a gang, your life is marked forever. It is best to stay in school for their future.”
Carrillo is 9-0 with six knockouts in his professional boxing career. He said his coach saw that he was strong and not afraid. Carrillo works out more than four hours each day in addition to his full-time job. He says his favorite part of training is when he mixes it up with his coach. His coach wears hand mitts and talks him through the workout.
He said that when he came up from Mexico he was very aggressive and knew boxing basics he’d learned as a small child. Longmont coach Raul Utajara was the perfect fit for him and helped him learn the style and skills he needs to be a champion.
“I can’t believe that I have the opportunity so soon, that others wait for so long. I want to fight today,” Carrillo said. “I want to thank my coach, and the promoter for the opportunity for this fight.”
Carrillo’s move to the land of opportunity will give him a chance at a future, at life and at redemption.
“Many people follow me. They motivate me. I want to do this for them,” Carrillo said.
Carillo and Frankel will give their pre-championship bout press conference at the Guadalupe Center in Scottsbluff on Feb. 4. Youth boxing matches will take place at 1 p.m. Tickets are $5 and proceeds will go to defray expenses for the Guadalupe Boxing Club. For more information, contact Bill Green at 308-672-7307.
You can follow 'Uppercuts Inc.' using either your Google login, Email, or RSS feed at the top of the site or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MenMustFight.
See you at the fights!
