PURPLE Magazine September Issue

7th Street Boxing Club
Just off the freeway on the outskirts of Modesto, CA, is the 7th Street Boxing Club, named for professional
boxers, Joey “Li’l Bad” Garcia and Tony “Bonz” Avila. In April of 2003 Avila had turned professional
after working out for many years at the local public gym alongside his dad, Tony, who is not a
boxer, but knows the ins and outs of good training. With this step they both lost their welcome at the
gym they had
previously called home.
At the same time their friend, Joey Garcia, who subsidizes his boxing career with his earnings as a
telecommunications contractor, had trained in
San Jose for the last two years. Garcia,
married with two children, is now 28
and has been competing since
he was 12. He says he learned from the best
trainers in Northern California
– Candy Lopez, coach of the 2000 Olympic Boxing Team and Robert Salinas,
coach of Kings Boxing Gym in Oakland. In 1995
Garcia was on the National Team
and ranked #2 in the nation in the 112 weight
class as an amateur. He has 20 pro
fights to his credit, but has taken time off
to focus on keeping the
Bad to the Bonz Boxing Club growing.
Both Garcia and the senior Tony Avila share a dedication to kids and the sport of boxing, so it was
natural that they join forces to provide a wholesome atmosphere for both. It was their conviction that
there needed to be a place that gave direction for life and helped kids get off the streets by teaching the
fundamentals of boxing, both aerobic and anaerobic, bag drills, etc. They say it is a misconception that
boxing is all about getting in the ring. Most of their kids are just learning the sport and how to defend
themselves. A very important factor for them is the option of scholarships to colleges such as Northern
Michigan University, which is the primary goal for one of their hardworking boys.
www.badtothebonz.com