BAKERSFIELD, CA- For more than 20 years, the Bakersfield Police Activities League has been the premier program to help at-risk youth stay off the streets. The non-profit's boxing program has produced a number of standout fighters. In two weeks, two kids will get to go toe to toe on the national stage.
The Bakersfield Police Activities League has turned these at risk youth into fighters. But they do their fighting in the ring and not on the street.
"It's taught me a lot. It introduced me to boxing and I fell in love with it and I'd like to make a career out of it one day. It's taught me a lot, it kept me off the streets and out of trouble and provided a lot," said PAL kid Miguel Contreras.
The boxing program at PAL has produced some knock-out youth fighters in the past, now it's time for 15-year-old Miguel Contreras and 10-year-old Richard Salcido to test their metal on the national stage.
"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
"A professional boxer," Salcido said.
"How do you think you're going to get there? What do you have to do?"
"Don't quit," Salcido replied.
Out of the four Bakersfield PAL kids that competed in the state competition last year, three made it to regionals. There, Contreras and Salcido qualified for the National Silver Glove Competition in Missouri at the end of January.
Boxing coach Daniel Alcala grew up in the PAL program and sees a lot of himself in the kids he trains. In his first year as coach, what he takes the most joy in is seeing these boys transform into young men.
"It's had a big change on a lot of them some of their attitudes have changed school-wise has changed. Boxing has a big impact on them so they're doing pretty good all the way around," Alcala said.
This will be the last time Contreras can compete in this particular competition so he's looking to take it all. His message to his competitor?
"Good luck with second place I guess!"
It's going to cost at least $3,000 to get to the national competition. There will be car washes at the PAL Center for the next two Saturdays but they are also accepting donations.
If you'd like to donate to the trip, you can visit the PAL Center at 301 E. 4th Street in Bakersfield or call 283-8880.
The Bakersfield Police Activities League has turned these at risk youth into fighters. But they do their fighting in the ring and not on the street.
"It's taught me a lot. It introduced me to boxing and I fell in love with it and I'd like to make a career out of it one day. It's taught me a lot, it kept me off the streets and out of trouble and provided a lot," said PAL kid Miguel Contreras.
The boxing program at PAL has produced some knock-out youth fighters in the past, now it's time for 15-year-old Miguel Contreras and 10-year-old Richard Salcido to test their metal on the national stage.
"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
"A professional boxer," Salcido said.
"How do you think you're going to get there? What do you have to do?"
"Don't quit," Salcido replied.
Out of the four Bakersfield PAL kids that competed in the state competition last year, three made it to regionals. There, Contreras and Salcido qualified for the National Silver Glove Competition in Missouri at the end of January.
Boxing coach Daniel Alcala grew up in the PAL program and sees a lot of himself in the kids he trains. In his first year as coach, what he takes the most joy in is seeing these boys transform into young men.
"It's had a big change on a lot of them some of their attitudes have changed school-wise has changed. Boxing has a big impact on them so they're doing pretty good all the way around," Alcala said.
This will be the last time Contreras can compete in this particular competition so he's looking to take it all. His message to his competitor?
"Good luck with second place I guess!"
It's going to cost at least $3,000 to get to the national competition. There will be car washes at the PAL Center for the next two Saturdays but they are also accepting donations.
If you'd like to donate to the trip, you can visit the PAL Center at 301 E. 4th Street in Bakersfield or call 283-8880.