Photo By Sgt. Maj. Andrew Porch | Staff Sgt. Reyes Marquez, indirect fire infantryman, Headquarters and Headquarters...... read more read more
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FORT CARSON, Colo. – Feet shuffling back and forth as blows are traded, with sweat and blood hitting the canvas, is just a scene out of a movie for some, but for Staff Sgt. Reyes Marquez it is his everyday life.
During his seven year Army career, Marquez, indirect fire infantryman, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, has spent time in the Old Guard, served a tour in Afghanistan, and competed at highest levels of amateur boxing as a part of the World Class Athlete Program.
Marquez is now with the WCAP for his second time, and knows he’s lucky to get the chance to do what he loves.
“I feel a sense of pride knowing that I deployed, and now I am boxing for the Army,” said Marquez.
Coaches welcomed Marquez to the boxing team because of his devotion to both the sport and the Army.
“His dedication is above par compared to a lot of soldiers,” said Staff Sgt. Alexis Ramos, assistant boxing coach, WCAP.
Marquez first boxed in the Army in 2008 when he won the All Army tournament, later joining WCAP in 2009, and plans to compete in the 2016 Olympics.
“As a boxer he is going to get far,” said Ramos. “He has tremendous potential to make it to the top of the nation, and possibly make it to the Olympics in 2016.”
Marquez strives to own the ring, and always does his best.
“There is something about knowing it’s just you and one other guy in the ring,” said Marquez. “It depends on if you want it more or if he wants more; that’s what makes me strive to be the best boxer in the ring.”
Fighting at 152 pounds, down from his normal weight of 165, Marquez captured the senior men’s title in the welterweight division at the USA Boxing Nationals held in Spokane, Wash., April 1-6.
“The competition this year was steep,” said Marquez. “At the end of the day you have to push yourself. There are a couple fights that you have to go through, and whether you have the will or they have the will, that’s who will win the fight.”
Being an elite boxer doesn’t come easy.
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday are sparring days, said Marquez. Atheletes have to watch what they eat, and cutting weight is hard when it is time to get ready for a fight.
All the work he puts in is worth it.
“Every morning we get up and run, or do strength conditioning with the coaches,” said Marquez. “That is something I enjoy doing; I don’t really count that as being hard. When you get in the ring, that is what is going to pay off in the end.”
Marquez brings more to the team than just his love of the sport.
“I think he makes the team better by providing experience,” said Ramos. “He has been there before. He has a lot of mentorship he can provide to the younger boxers coming into the program.”
Marquez knows he can’t stay in the ring forever.
“One of my future goals is becoming a coach at WCAP,” he said. “If not, I want to open my own gym. Boxing is one of those sports that keeps a lot of young kids from getting in trouble.”
| Date Taken: | 05.01.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.09.2013 13:14 |
| Story ID: | 106643 |
| Location: | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, US |
| Web Views: | 94 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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