Photo By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry | Indiana National Guard Pvt. Steven Perry, a recruit and amateur boxer, raises his hand...... read more read more
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INDIANAPOLIS - An Indiana Guardsman and amateur boxer took the state Golden Gloves title in an uncontested bout at Tyndall Armory in Indianapolis, Thursday, April 19, 2012.
Indiana National Guard recruit Pvt. Steven Perry, 19, a junior welterweight from Anderson, Ind., was set to face off against his opponent, Onesimo Perez, who withdrew about two hours before the scheduled bout.
For Perry, whose talent and reputation within the Indiana boxing community precedes him, this was nothing new.
"The last two boxing championships, he's won unopposed. Nobody wants to fight him," said Rodney Cummings, Perry's trainer for eight years.
Cummings, a former boxing champion and the Madison County Prosecutor, has been training boxers for more than 20 years. He said Perry's unopposed wins are atypical.
"He's won unopposed, and you don't see that at his weight level," said Cummings.
Yet Cummings said it wasn't just Perry's talent that got him to champion level, but also the hours he's trained.
"For all his hard work, he's been rewarded," said Cummings.
Perry, five feet, seven inches, 140 pounds, said he normally trains three days per week for about two to three hours to keep his body in boxing shape. About 30 days out from a match, he increases his training workload to four hours per day for six days per week.
His reward for all that training? Sixty wins and nine losses.
After winning in Indiana, Perry's next step will be the national tournament scheduled to start April 30 in Mesquite, Nev. His next step after that will be Army basic training in May at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Perry said boxing training will benefit him at basic training.
"The boxing training will help me a lot," he said. "It takes training and discipline to be in the Army, and boxing is training and discipline."
While Perry isn't concerned about the physical requirements - the road marches, timed runs, push-ups and sit-ups - of basic training, he does have some concerns over other issues.
"I don't know what to expect, it's going to be a different environment, drill sergeants, different personalities to get along with," said Perry, who is scheduled to become a military police soldier with the 38th Military Police Company in Danville, Ind.
His advanced training to become an MP will also be at Fort Leonard Wood. Perry's long-range goal is to become a federal agent. To give him the tools he needs, he’s also studying criminal justice at Anderson University and he's working part time at the Madison County Circuit Court with Judge Dennis. D. Carroll.
Perry will miss a semester of school while attending basic and advanced training, but he’ll gain a secret clearance and learn military police skills through his Army training.
“It’ll be a perfect spring board into law enforcement and political science as well,” said Sgt. 1st Class Ian Shutt, an Indiana National Guard recruiter, who brought Perry into the Guard.
Carroll and Brent Baker, Anderson University, a vice president and dean of students, see great things for Perry, who grew up in a troubled area in Anderson, in and out of the boxing ring.
“He’s making good grades, and he’s got a good attitude,” said Baker. “It’s a great story for him and a great story for Anderson University.”
Baker also praised Perry’s boxing skills.
“Steven has my respect to be in those matches and be a Golden Gloves champion,” he said.
Yet Carroll who employs Perry part-time as a court clerk doesn’t see him as boxer.
“He doesn’t strike you as a boxer,” said Carroll. “He’s shy, quiet and very polite. He’s just an easy-going guy with a winning smile, a big, broad grin. He’s going to be a winner.”
Cummings, Perry’s trainer, agrees.
“In boxing, he’s in the top three or four, but in character, he’s our best fighter.”
| Date Taken: | 04.19.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 04.23.2012 11:25 |
| Story ID: | 87182 |
| Location: | INDIANAPOLIS, IN, US |
| Web Views: | 381 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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