Local Gym Fights in Home State Qualifier

Combat Cardio Club will field nine boxers in the North Dakota State Silver Gloves Tournament on Nov. 7 at the Ramada in Grand Forks. The event serves as a qualifying round for the National Silver Gloves tournament, which is open to amateur boxers aged 8 to 17. The club is sending five youth fighters and four adult amateurs to the 18-fight card.

Victor Ramirez, the head coach and owner of Combat Cardio Club, has led the gym for six years. He has trained fighters for a decade. The club moved to its current location on Washington Street last year. It currently serves roughly 25 youth members and 15 to 20 adults. Ramirez said the state tournament allows the gym to showcase its program locally. He noted that smaller boxing hubs often must travel to Minneapolis for regional competition.

Brody Flood, a 15-year-old student at Grand Forks Central, will make his professional debut at the event. He started boxing a year ago and trains at the club for two to three hours after school. Flood said he has always enjoyed fighting, a habit that began with daily sparring matches with his brother. He described feeling prepared for his first bout after putting in extensive hours at the gym.

Felix Garcia will also debut in the ring. He said his family and gym members will support him. He expressed confidence in his ability to win based on the encouragement from those around him. The other three youth fighters representing the club are Reed Friesen, Carlos Carranza, and Dominic Ramirez. Carranza has one previous fight. Dominic, who is 12, has fought several bouts and qualified for the national tournament last year.

Ramirez encourages experienced youth fighters to train with the younger members. He said seeing veterans work hard and earn belts motivates the newer boxers. He told the fighters that success requires hard work, discipline, and consistency. The youth division path leads from the state tournament to a regional event in Minneapolis.

The adult amateur card features four fighters from Combat Cardio Club. Miles Moore, Johnny Moreno, Robbie Kellogg, and Matt Flanagan will compete. Moore, 21, commutes from Crookston, Minn., to train at the club. He has been fighting for three years and this will be his third bout. He said he is not nervous and plans to respond aggressively to his opponent.

Kellogg has 16 fights to his name. He said it is preferable to fight in Grand Forks rather than traveling long distances. He mentioned that his last trip covered 5.5 hours. He has represented Grand Forks for four years and considers the city his home. Moreno will fight in the main event. He acknowledged some nerves but said he will manage them and look forward to the bout.

Doors at the Ramada open at 3 p.m. on Nov. 7, and the show starts at 4 p.m. Admission costs $20. Teams from Canada and Wisconsin will also compete in the tournament. The state tournament is the first step in the amateur boxing circuit for the participating clubs.