Let's get ready to rumble

Photo By Sgt. Dennis Gravelle | These two fighter inflict some pain on each other during a Friday night Boxing Smoker at Forward Operating Base Sykes, Tall Afar, Iraq. Photo by Army Sgt. Dennis Gravelle, 138th MPAD  

TAL AFAR, IRAQ

04.17.2006

Story by Sgt. Dennis Gravelle 

138th Public Affairs Detachment

Sgt. Dennis Gravelle
138th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

TALL AFAR, Iraq (April 14, 2006) - Soldiers got to inflict some pain on each other during a Friday night boxing match held at Forward Operating Base Sykes on Apr. 14.

The boxing matches were put together to build competition and give Soldiers something to do while deployed to Iraq.

"We put the boxing matches together to motivate Soldiers and let them see that even in a combat zone we can have fun," said Sgt. 1st Class Alexander Roa, co-coordinator, S-1 HHC 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division and referee from Brooklyn, N.Y.

According to Roa, he matched each Soldier by skill level and weight. The fighter that wins two matches advances to the finals. Roa said the boxers fight three rounds for 90 seconds each.

The ring announcer got the crowd interested immediately when he yelled into the microphone, "Let's get ready to Rumble" which is said before the start of every professional boxing match and told them, "Beat time is here."

"The crowd really gets into it. They get very excited," said Roa. "We're here to put on a show and everyone knows we are here to have fun."

Spc. Josue Ten, Charlie Company, 110th Aviation from West Palm Beach, Fla., was the winner of the first boxing match by unanimous decision.

"It was a tough fight. It was real tiring," Ten said. "I did my best out there and fortunately I won. My opponent fought a great fight."

"This was my first fight so I was a little hesitant, but I feel good," said Capt. Brett Bardo, HHC, 1st Bde., 1st Armored Division. "[When my unit saw me fight], going toe-to-toe in the ring they see a different part of me and [that I] might be someone they want to follow."

Spc. Malaia Vioau, 16th Engineers, and from the American Samoa, won the only female Soldier bout of the night. She won by a split decision.

"I was very nervous in the fist round," Vioau said. "My fellow Soldiers came here to support me and I appreciate them. I did my best and I could not let them down."

Vioau said her opponent put up a good fight and thanked everyone for the encouragement she received.

"It makes me feel wonderful to see Soldiers out here having a good time," said 1st Sgt. Efram Evans, HHC 2nd Battalion, 37th Armor and native of Greenville, Miss. "This gives Soldiers a break from the heavy load [when they are] outside the wire, and it's great to see them relax."

• Date Taken: 04.17.2006
• Date Posted: 04.17.2006 15:26
• Story ID: 6059
• Location: TAL AFAR, IQ