The arena was quite different for 12-year-old Mykquan Williams August 17.
Instead of the steady ‘whap-whap-whap' of the punching bag, the whirr of ropes and sound of bells and buzzers as boxers went toe-to-toe at his gym, Bare Bones Boxing on Silver Lane, there were television cameras and microphones in his face - not leather gloves.
The Tolland Street 95-pounder was before nothing but friendly faces in his home ring as he proudly passed around the heavy championship belt he brought back to town from Kansas City, Mo in the 11-12 Open Class. He and trainer Paul Cichon rode all night to get there, and stayed a week as Mykquan fought in three bouts in his class in the largest amateur event which attracts 1,300 boxers from throughout the nation and overseas.
Williams took the championship besting George Vargas in 3 1-minute rounds. The more experienced Vargas had a record of 33-5 coming into the fight compared to Williams who was only in his 15th bout of his young career. Add the fact that Vargas is a lefty, and Williams has only faced left-handed fighters twice in the ring and the advantage would seem to be all in favor of the tough fighter from Mesquite, Texas.
But Cichon, who works for East Hartford Public Works but brings his love of the sport of boxing to the gym, both as the director of Manchester's Police Athletic League program and as a trainer, has all the confidence in the world in his young charge. He has been working with Williams for three years now, and , pound-for-pound as the like to say in boxing, has enough faith in his young fighter to drive all night and day halfway across the country. No one other than Williams was as proud of seeing him hold up that hefty Champions belt from the 10th annual Ringside Amateur Boxing Tournament.
"Vargas had more experience, but I had more speed," related Williams softly.
He said he had his speech to the Town Council ready for later in the day as Mayor Melody Currey came to the gym to congratulate Mykwan and Chicon. The mayor presented the young champ with a proclamation in his honor, and the youhg champ, in turn, passed his heavy championship belt around allowing each member of the Town Council the opportunity to give him a congratulatory word, advice and encouragement.
"Thank you for bringing this back to East Hartford," said the mayor. "You really put our town on the map. We hope to hear great things about you in the future."
Mykquan credits his coach for teaching him the skills he needs, and also thanked his aunt, Addy Irizarry, who is also a boxer of considerable accomplishment and boxes throughout New England and the northeast. It was Addy that got him into the sport. The young fighter is staying with his aunt at the moment, and attends 6th grade at Noah Webster School in Hartford.
Next up is a match they hope to take in Nomads in South Windsor October 16th against an opponent from Massachusetts with 20 fights.
Cichon said before that finding opponents for Williams was difficult, but that might change now that he is getting older and has more experience.
Meeting the other fighters and watching their bouts might have provided some pointers, right, Mykquan was asked?
"I didn't notice anyone's fight but my own," said Williams with a soft voice, looking down. He was that focused on his bout, Cichon said.
"He is really able to stay very focused on what he has to do," said his trainer. Mykquan goes about his workouts at Bare Bones Gym the same way, running, working on the exercise equipment and doing push-ups. On April 6 he will celebrate his 13th birthday. But this is a young man who already acts much older than his years.
He aspires to become a police officer - a K-9 officer in particular after attending the police K-9 Olympics and seeing what the dogs and officers could do.
"He'll do well if the streets don't get him," says his trainer who knows from experience that is the one un-hittable, relentless opponent for all young fighters.
The Champions tournament also gets its share of scouts with international coaches approaching the young fighters asking them to consider training in their country's tournaments or go to boxing academies.
But for Williams, he remains committed to East Hartford. He thanked the Town Council for its support.
"Thank you for letting me come here tonight," said Williams as he rose and shook each Council member's hand not once, but twice. The elected leaders all had words of encouragement to the young fighter.
"You are representing our town well. Keep up the good work, and come back here again with news of your next championship," said Mayor Currey.
