www.masbakersfield.com

Beyond the gloves

larger view

Manuel Quezada.
Just who is this guy?
The man is somewhat of a phantom in the local boxing scene.
Like a superhero in a Marvel comic book, he enters the ring, gets a victory and disappears from the public eye.
Every time I ask local fight insiders about Manuel Quezada, it’s the usual response: “Oh he’s good. He’s a heavyweight from somewhere … Wasco, Delano, or McFarland.”
And that’s about all they know about the boxer, known inside the ring as Manuel “El Toro” Quezada.
Fortunately, I have been able to track him down and get to know Kern County’s very own heavyweight champion. Manuel Quezada, who holds a record of 27-4-16 KOs, can be found training at Body Exchange in Bakersfield.
Quezada is a guy of few words, but lots of action.  During our interview, I got a sense of modesty, as well as dedication. This guy is intense.
Of his toughest opponent, Quezada points to Mika Gergen (10-1-6-8kOs).
 “He was strong and quick,” Quezada said. “He caught me in the first round but I came back for the win.”
Quezada spent his younger years in Pond, a small community near McFarland and Delano. When he reached his teens, his family made the permanent move to the city of Roses, Wasco. (Side note: I will profile the SAL program in Wasco in an upcoming issue).
Even though the 31-year-old lives in Bakersfield, he still considers Wasco his home.
Quezada grew up admiring certain pro boxers.
“In the past, (it was) definitely Julio Cesar Chavez,” Quezada said. “I still consider him the best that stepped in the ring. Biggest heart, never-say-die attitude, and he would take on any challenger. Presently, it’s Juan Manuel Marquez. His style and counter-punching are the best in the game right now.”
But just how did he land into the boxing ring?
Quezada says he has always been a fighter.
From a young age, he always enjoyed contact sports. When he was 9, Quezada took up kickboxing, learning his craft from someone he considers to be the best, his dad, Roque Quezada, a fifth-degree black belt.
The training paid off. He served on the United States Tae Kwon Do Junior National Team, which is a feeder program for Olympic hopefuls. His sight was to conquer the kickboxing scene, but it proved to be a short-lived career. Quezada enjoyed the sport but it had sporadic viewing on sporting channels and lacked enough viewers or sponsors to thrive. Throw in the new mixed martial arts madness and Quezada realized he had to find a new kind of sport to succeed.
In comes boxing, and Quezada transitioned with ease.
Quezada credits Abe Belardo, a local kickboxing judge who is a licensed judge for the California State Athletic Commission. Belardo owns Way of Japan martial arts academy, a landmark in Bakersfield since 1975. Quezada also pays respect to promoter Roy Ingelbrit as another key player in his introduction to boxing.
Quezada admits he had to find his momentum in the beginning. He lost four of his first 15 fights. A slow start, however, is more common than you think.
Former welterweight champ Antonio Margarito started off losing his first few fights. Reasons vary. Fighter is too young, lacks the right promoters, and finds himself going through the motions of training.
Quezada took his lumps early on but he sees them now as valuable lessons.
He even ran into promoters who were pressed to set him up with top undefeated contenders signed by a major promotional outfit. Quezada opted to wait for his moment. He wasn’t going to be used as a stepping stool for others.
It paid off.
He is now on the right track, running off 13 consecutive victories and signing with Goosen-Tutor promotions, in association with the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore.
Things are definitely looking good for Quezada this year. He holds the Caribbean Boxing Federation, (CABOFE) WBC Heavyweight title, and with the heavyweight division being wide open he is on the radar screen.
“Now that I’m with Goosen-Tutor promotions, I have better opportunities and bigger fights I see myself moving up the rankings in the heavyweight division,” he said.
Being in the pro heavyweight ranks with greats like Riddick Bowe would be an honor.
“He was big and he was bringing it to you,” Quezada said. “He was trying to take you out.“
Quezada said he continues to push himself, drawing his inspiration from his mother.
“She is a very strong person,” he said. “She never misses a fight.”
His message to young Latinos who are getting into the boxing game?
“Stick with it,” he said. “Anything that’s worth doing or fighting for is going to be hard. It’s real easy to quit. Anyone can do that.  We need to teach our young that we have to work hard for what we want. If you want it bad enough, you’ll do it, and you can do it.”

UPCOMING EVENTS

Saturday, April 11, 2009
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
HBO Boxing
Winky Wright (51-4-1-25 KOs)
vs Paul Williams (35-1-25 KOs)
Jameel Mcline (39-9-3-23 KOs)
vs Chris Arreola (26-0-23 KOs)
 
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino, Lemoore, Calif.
Manuel Quezada (27-4-16kos)
vs TBA