After a two-year hiatus due to COVID, the Lemoore Recreation Center will be rumbling again.
Boxers from across the valley, including Bakersfield, Tulare, Visalia, Merced, Madeira, Hanford, Armona and of course Lemoore, will be on September 17th It’s a showdown on Saturday during the annual rumble comeback at Rec.
“It’s a very big day for Lemoore and Hanford. You rarely see live boxing here unless you’re in [Hanford Police Activities League] Or we — this time it’s us,” said Lemoore Boxing Club coach Jason Glaspie.
There are already over 20 races on the card for various age and weight classes, with more to be added.
Every fight will be sanctioned by American Boxing, which means that every fight will have consequences and every boxer will fight to improve their official win-loss record.
All battles will be three rounds. However, young fighters will fight one-minute rounds, teens will fight two-minute rounds, and adults will fight full three-minute rounds.
Championship belts will be awarded to the fighters of the night.
Glaspi will coach three fighters during the fight – James Moran, 18, David Weir, 14, and Eric Santamaria, 29.
Boxers at the Lemoore Boxing Club train five days a week. Glaspie coaches about 30 boxers a day, mostly children, about 10 of whom are training for boxing matches.
“We’ve grown some great people from here,” Glaspi said. “It’s a really good outlet for the kids. Not everyone wants to play. I would say 10% want to play, and the other 90% come here to exercise, learn self-defense and shape up Personality – that sort of thing.”
Glaspie has been coaching at the club since 2010 and helped start Rumble at Rec in 2013. During that time, he helped shape a lot of fighters, some of whom went on to have notable careers.
“Our key fighter is a fighter named Eddie Sanchez who has been fighting here for about 10 years,” Glasspi said. “Just last year, he was on ESPN at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.”
The event will also feature local food vendors.
The competition starts on September 17 at 2pm at the Lemoore Rec Center at 711 Cinnamon Avenue in Lemoore. Weigh-in times are scheduled from 8 am to 10 am. Spectator admission is $15. Children 5 and under are free.
