Posted on: Tuesday, September 3, 2002
Wai'anae pair hits mark in, out of ring
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| Glenn Miyose Jr., left, and Kini Sofa Jr. brought Under-19 National boxing titles to Wai'anae from Reno, Nev.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser |
Wai'anae boxers Glenn Miyose Jr. and Kini Sofa Jr. have conquered the nation, and this month one of them will battle the world.
Miyose and Sofa made history by becoming Hawai'i's first dual national champions in the Under-19 National Championship last month in Reno, Nev. By winning the nationals, Miyose and Sofa, both 17, qualified for the 19-under World Championships Sept. 12 to 23 in Santiago, Cuba.
But Miyose, a senior at Wai'anae High School, turned down the all-expenses-paid trip to Cuba fearing he would fall behind in school and ruin his 4.0 grade point average.
"My teachers told me I can't miss any more school," said Miyose, who has already missed two weeks because of boxing commitments, and would have missed more than three weeks at the championships. "I want to graduate."
So now, that leaves only Sofa, a senior at Nanakuli High School, to compete in the world championships. Sofa, who maintains a B-average in school, said boxing has allowed him to see different Mainland cities, and now the sport invites him to Cuba.
"I like to travel," said Sofa, who started boxing at age 6. "All the other boxers can't go to the world championships."
Sofa will travel with Wai'anae boxing coach Bruce Kawano, who was selected as an assistant coach for the U.S. team. Kawano called Miyose and Sofa two of the best young local boxers he's seen along with Brian Viloria, Samson Guillermo and Tony Rodrigues.
Born: Dec. 31, 1984 Kini Sofa Jr., 17, of Wai'anae Born: April 15, 1985 He said Miyose and Sofa have made immediate impact in the sport by routinely beating veteran boxers.
"They surprise me because some of the opponents they box against have 150 to 200 boxing matches," Kawano said. "In Hawai'i, we don't have the numbers (of bouts), the number of athletes."
Growing up in hard-scrabble Wai'anae, Miyose and Sofa are familiar to hard work and making tough decisions. Glenn Miyose Sr. said he was impressed with his son's decision to stay in school and forgo the world championships that would have provided him thousands of dollars worth of free travel, boxing equipment and spending money.
"He works very hard in school," the father said. "He does his homework every day and he trains every day. He made the right choice."
Likewise, Kini Sofa Sr., who was a boxer in the 1970s and 1980s, believes his son made the right choice to compete in the world championships.
"He's going to places I've never gone," the father said. "He has found ways to win and captured his dream. It's a dream come true."
Kawano said Sofa will face two obstacles in the world tournament: quality opponents and stingy international scoring judges.
"If (Sofa) boxes smart, like he did in Reno, and gets in shape at training camp, he has a good shot," Kawano said. "Hopefully we'll get some fair decisions. I think on U.S. soil, they would have a good chance, but on Cuban soil, it's going to be hard because a lot of countries are against the U.S."
The addition of Hall of Fame boxing trainer and manager Emanuel Steward as a U.S. coach might change that animosity, Kawano said.
"(Steward) has the presence and the respect," Kawano said. "So some of the judges might give us some decisions."
To become champions, Miyose and Sofa have sacrificed their bodies and their stomachs. In a diet that would make a cardiologist proud, the two boxers have avoided steaks, french fries, hamburgers and ice cream for a healthier spread of fruits, vegetables, fish, spaghetti and pasta.
"There's plenty of things I can't eat," Miyose said. "Because I got to make my (boxing) weight."
Kawano said Miyose and Sofa have represented Wai'anae well and serve as good role models for youth.
"They do good in school, they don't get into trouble, they know right from wrong and they have common sense," Kawano said.
Glenn Miyose Jr., 17, of Wai'anae
School: Wai'anae High
Weight: 125 pounds
Won-loss record: 18-3
Boxing style: Defensive whiz, counter puncher
Favorite boxer: Roy Jones Jr.
Hobbies: Diving, fishing, hunting, football
Road to fame: Decisioned Damon Murillo of San Fernando, Calif., 11-5, in 125-pound division at the Under-19 National Championship final on Aug. 17 in Reno, Nev.
School: Nanakuli High
Weight: 112 pounds
Won-loss record: 11-3
Boxing style: Boxer-puncher.
Favorite boxer: Fernando Vargas
Hobbies: Basketball, swimming
Road to fame: Decisioned Oscar Venegas of Maywood, Calif., 34-21, in 112-pound division at the Under-19 National Championship final on Aug. 17 in Reno, Nev.
