This is the Oakland Local Archive. Please visit our current site at http://oaklandlocal.com.
Login has been disabled on the archive.

Oakland to celebrate amateur boxing, Bay Area's finest fighters - Saturday, Nov. 10

Published on Friday, November 09, 2012
Last updated on 07:09PM, Saturday, November 10, 2012
Photo courtesy of Pacific Ring Sports Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Ring-Sports/44100863031)

Located at 493 40th St. in Oakland - across the street from the MacArthur BART station - a 6,500-square-foot martial arts/fitness center named "Pacific Ring Sports" is home to many aspiring professional Muay Thai Kickboxing, Boxing, MMA and Jiu Jitsu fighters.

Started by Michael Regnier and Alfie Duque, Pacific Ring Sports is equipped with speed bags, double end bags, 600 pound full body bags, focus mitts, Thai pads, uppercut bags and a full-size USA Boxing sanctioned ring.

Over time, because the place is so spacious, it has hosted numerous amateur boxing events.

For the eighth time in Oakland and the last time this year, Pacific Ring Sports will host 'Showdown in Oakland #8' - a showcase of 20 amateur boxing bouts this Saturday, Nov. 10.

"They are all USA Boxing amateur fights," Regnier said. "Your going to see all your local talent; fighters from Sacramento, San Jose and Oakland."

The "Showdown in Oakland #8" will start at 1 p.m., with fighter's weigh-ins scheduled for 9 a.m. The price of admission for adults is $15; children 8 and under are free. Large crowds are expected, so early arrival is suggested.

"This is a very family event. Everyone is invited," Regnier said. "You are going to see a lot of children, boxing enthusiasts and members of the gym."

According to USA Boxing Northern California, all coaches and boxers competing in this event must be currently registered for 2012.  

Regnier also said that the participants at "Showdown" will be both men and women, including Pacific Ring Sports' own Jan Pfenninger and Rich Stachowski.

"It is definitely going to be an Oakland event," he added. "It should be pretty action packed. We have a good mix. People can expect to see a good level of experienced Gold Glove champs to first timers."

For more information, visit pacificringsports.com/ and or the gym's Facebook page.

If You Go

Pacific Ring Sports presents "Showdown in Oakland #8" amateur boxing

When: 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10 

Where: 493 40th St. in Oakland (across the street from the MacArthur BART station)

About Juan Antonio Martinez
Born and raised in Oakland, Calif., Juan is currently the community editor/assistant managing editor and a part time general assignment, sports and feature writer for OaklandLocal.com. He studied Print/Online Journalism and graduated from San Francisco State University and earned two Associates degrees in Liberal Arts and Language Arts from Laney College in Oakland. Juan previously was a Communications Associate at Full Court Press Communications and interned for Newswire21.org. As a part of the latter's team, he won the 2010 Award for Excellence in Community Reporting from the Society of Professional Journalists in Northern California. Juan also wrote extensively for SF State's Golden Gate Xpress, which won the 2011 Associated Collegiate Press Newspaper Pacemaker Award. He also enjoys writing about sports and community events and spending time with his family. Juan speaks Spanish fluently and is the first person in his family to graduate from college.