LIHU‘E — Tickets to the First Annual Ken Oki Memorial Boxing Event will be available at the door, Saturday, said Mark Ozaki, the Kaua‘i Police Activities League coordinator. Doors to the first-ever K-PAL boxing event will open at 5 p.m.
LIHU‘E — Tickets to the First Annual Ken Oki Memorial Boxing Event will be available at the door, Saturday, said Mark Ozaki, the Kaua‘i Police Activities League coordinator.
Doors to the first-ever K-PAL boxing event will open at 5 p.m. with the first matches starting at 6 p.m.
“I’m a little nervous,” said Melvin Alcantara, 13, when he showed up for practice, Wednesday at the K-PAL Lihu‘e Boxing Gym.
Alcantara started boxing about a month ago, Ozaki noting the middle school student started right after New Year’s, but has been diligent about attending practice.
Wednesday’s practice was not meant to be heavy, Ozaki said. The ring was taken down in preparation for installation in the Kapa‘a High School gym, and most of the boxers were on a light regimen.
“Usually, practice takes about an hour, but half of that time is spent on warm-ups,” Ozaki said. “The other half is spent working on technique.”
Kristopher Alcos, 12, will also be facing his first fight, Saturday. He was with his younger brother, Keli‘i, 11, who has a 2-1 win-loss record entering the ring, Saturday.
“These boys came from the K-PAL flag football program,” Ozaki said. “When Brian Viloria came down, they were two boys who came over from across the street. They liked boxing and have been coming to practice ever since.”
Kevin Bernardo, a 12th grader at Kaua‘i High School, is also looking ahead to his match at home. Bernardo said he has been boxing since he was in the 8th grade and has just one loss entering the ring, that loss coming against a mis-matched opponent.
“There are a good mix of students in all ages,” Ozaki said. “Latisha Alo is the sole Kaua‘i female boxer and may not fight because her partner can’t come. But we have two other girls from the Outer Islands who will be fighting that night.”
Ozaki said the Kaua‘i K-PAL boxers have made at least six trips to the different island to fight and he understands the issues involved in traveling.
“This isn’t like other team sports where you get discounted prices for traveling,” he said. “You’re like the independent traveler. There are no breaks.”
Ozaki said there should be about 22 matches on the card for Saturday — most will involve Kaua‘i boxers matching up against boxers from O‘ahu, Maui and the Big Island.
“The matches should move pretty fast,” Ozaki said. “It’s not like MMA where there is a lot of other things happening between matches. We’ll also have an intermission where we will present the Ken Oki award.”
Each match is a three-round affair and the younger boxers have 1-minute rounds so it should move quickly.
Pre-sale tickets are $10 and available at Oki Diner in Lihu‘e, the K-PAL Boxing Gym in Lihu‘e and Hanapepe, Dynamic Tinting, Sweet & Sassy in ‘Ele‘ele, Wong’s Restaurant in Hanapepe, and Kujo’s in Kalaheo.
There are limited ringside seats available at $20 each and tickets at the door are $12 each.
