In and out of the ring,
the Holguin family stands together

By Paul de la Peña-Franceschi

The name Holguin is practically synonymous in South Texas with boxing. Over the span of three decades, boxer, trainer, coach, and family patriarch Alfonso Holguin has been in or near the ring. He is mentor to his son Gabriel, who now ranked 93rd in the world by the United States Boxing Association, is currently quickly working his way toward a world championship
Raised in Laredo's El Cuatro, Alfonso (Poncho) entered the ring at the age of 12. He is a four-time Golden Glove competitor with a record of 35 wins and two losses. He has had only two coaches and trainers in his noteworthy career -- Puvilo Casillas and Gilberto Molina, who recently died. Holguin credits Casillas and Molina with being great influences on the direction his life took as a young man.
Holguin quit boxing at 28 and became the assistant trainer for young boxers at the Laredo Boys Club. He has coached hundreds of Laredo young men at the club since 1982. In 1988, he became a trainer for the Laredo Boxing Club (LBC) under director Sergio Reyes, Sr. From 1992 to 2002, he became the assistant director of the LBC and recently retired to become the full-time trainer and coach for his sons Gabriel and Cesar who were then as now quickly approaching professional status.
Throughout his tenure at the LBC, Poncho pulled his entire family into the world of boxing. He has always enjoyed tremendous support from his family, and that continues today. Gabriel's older brother Jorge, 1998's Golden Glove Champion and State Champion, is now Gabriel's second trainer. Jorge was also a National Olympian boxing participant in 2001. Cesar Holguin, also an assistant trainer for brother Gabriel, was a Silver Glove Champion in 1997, a Golden Glove Champion in 1998, and in 2002, he was the National French Sevate Champion in his division. Cesar, an up and comer in boxing, is also working his way into the professional boxing arena. The youngest in the boxing family is Ricky Holguin who was a Silver Glove Champion in 1998.
Gabriel "Huracán" Holguin's most recent fight ended as a no-contest against an opponent who head-butted him, resulting in a gash above Holguin's left eye that required stitching by ring physician Dr. Manuel Gonzalez. With Poncho Holguin as his son's primary trainer and manager, Reynaldo Infante and Pime Rodriguez team up as Garbriel's coaches.
Gabriel, 21, and his wife Michelle Paredes Holguin, have recently become parents to Gabriel A. Holguin, Jr. Garbriel, Sr., believes that as their family grows, so will grow the participation of more Holguins at ringside or in the ring. Gabriel, Jr., already has a pair of baby boxing gloves. Grandmother Patricia Holguin observed that Gabriel, Jr., "has big hands, naturally made for boxing."
Gabriel, Sr., a dispatcher for Swift Transportation, plans to enter the police academy in March 2004.
With a bright future ahead in the ring. Gabriel (El Huracán) holds the title for the Texas super welterweight champion and the Miller Lite super welterweight champion. Recovering from his last fight, he is under doctor's orders to rest and limit training until his eye heals properly. He said of his early successes, "It is something I have wanted all of my life, since I was young. It's exciting to be in this position and to have your whole family behind you -- my father as coach, my two brothers in my corner, and my family in the audience cheering me on."
According to Robert Spagnola, a professional boxing manager with credits for seven world championships behind him, including a long history in Laredo working with many great fighters including Orlando Canizales, Gabriel Holguin is "the next solid prospect coming out of Laredo."
Spagnola observed, "If you don't mean anything to your home crowd, you won't mean much out of town either." Spagnola.said, "Gabriel is now a 10- round boxer and at this stage is making a run for something greater. Once he is completely healed, we'll get him the re-match he deserves." According to Spagnola, "There's a lot of sacrifice in boxing, and Gabriel is making all of the right decisions in his life. Your support group is very important in and out of the ring, and Gabriel has that perfect combination in his wife and family, plus the entire Holguin family in his corner. He is very likely to go places."
El Huracan will resume training in April and. has a re-match with his last opponent to set the record straight.
Gabriel's professionalism has not gone unnoticed. Both he and brother Jorge were honored in 1999 with the coveted John Gentile Memorial Award for courage, skill, and sportsmanship. Gabriel also received the 1999 Golden Glove Tournament Roger Sanchez Award for giving the sport of boxing a positive name and acting as a positive role model for other boxers. Additionally, the entire boxing family was entered into the Golden Glove Boxing Hall of Fame in San Antonio in 1998.
Gabriel volunteers as a Precinct 4 mentor with the Gang Unit S.O.S. "If the city and county would build more parks and activity centers for the youth of Laredo, we would see a decrease in gangs and violence in Laredo," said Gabriel. "My parents have been my role models for my entire life. If I can help get one young person who is in trouble off of the streets and into boxing or some other activity, then it'll be worth it," he continued.
"We come from a long line of boxers," reflected Alfonso Holguin. "My brothers José Angel and Victor M. Holguin continue to be a support to the family. Even though Victor retired early from boxing and now lives in Alice, he always comes in for the fights and is a great help."
There's no disputing that in and out of the ring, the Holguin family stands together. "Our family is very united, we do everything together and this is our strength," the patriarch said with unfettered pride.
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