WAILUKU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Members of Maui's boxing community feel they've been treated unfairly.
They want to hold the event at a county facility but keep getting turned down.
Chaz Moreta, president and head coach of Central Maui Boxing Club, has been boxing since he was 5 years old. The club was founded by his father in 1993 and Chaz took over in 2017.
Chaz says the talent on Maui is unmatched.
“These kids practice really hard. They're so proud to represent where they come from. They practice so hard because they know we come from a rock in the middle of the ocean,” Chaz said.
Chaz said he has tried to hold events at county facilities to draw larger crowds, but keeps being told “no.”
So they have to use a gym off Ka'ohu Street in Wailuku in front of smaller crowds or travel off-island.
“I love competing, I love competing, especially here in Hawaii, right in front of my home, especially here on Maui, where all my family is here,” said CMBC boxer Jalen Gonzalez.
“They want to show their families. Some of their families fly in and watch them fight, but they want to show their classmates, their friends, their teachers,” Chaz said.
Maui Parks and Recreation Director Patrick McCall said the county will support all sports and recreational activities.
“This is about having a facility that can accommodate our sporting needs. We have to be careful about the equipment we bring into county facilities because we don't want to cause damage to the facilities that our community shares,” McCall said in a statement.
Most gyms in McCall County can't accommodate equipment like boxing rings because the gym floors aren't designed to withstand the impacts.
“Pressure points on the floor need to be distributed and the flooring has to be adequate or the floor will be damaged. Certain gym floors, such as War Memorial Complex, can withstand it, but others, such as South Maui Gymnasium, cannot,” McCall said.
McCall said he would be open to considering using the Eddie Tam Gym in Makawao if certain criteria were met and the dates were right.
Chaz hopes that will become a reality soon.
“I don't know if they think it's barbaric, but this sport teaches you discipline. It prepares you for life,” he said. “Boxing leads to the Olympics. It gives you scholarships.”
“It's a fun environment. It's a loving environment. It can be tough because of the rigorous training, but I think it makes us better as boxers and as people,” Gonzalez said.
CMBC hopes that when the county gives the go-ahead to hold large events, everyone will come out to show their support.
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