ISLE PROFILE
Boxing trainer turns wayward kids into champs

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Deutsch Pu'u, left, hopes Bruce Kawano can help him realize his goal of making the Olympic qualifier. "He's a real technical guy," Pu'u says of Kawano. "He pushes me. He's not getting anything out of it. It's all voluntary." Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser Kawano file Born: Aug. 2, 1966 Occupation: Nightclub manager at Red Lion Sports job: Boxing trainer at Evolution Boxing Club Secret to his success: "My assistants (Dave Tangjian, Jeffrey Pelen Sr., Daniel White and Chanel Valdez)." What they're saying: "Bruce is like one of the coolest coaches around," said Chad Coloma, a Campbell High freshman. "He helps me get into shape, helps with sparring. He cares a lot about his fighters. He tells us what to eat, what to drink."

In Hawai'i, he's Bruce Kawano, a one-time professional boxer who has trained underprivileged Wai'anae kids and developed them into Hawai'i's national champions.

During his 10 years as a boxing trainer, Kawano, 36, has taught gang members and homeless kids how to throw a straight jab, and more important, kept them on life's straight and narrow.

Some of his star pupils include national champions Kini Sofa Jr., Glenn Miyose Jr., Antonio Rodrigues and Samson Guillermo.

"What gives me satisfaction is turning these kids lives around," Kawano said. "To take a kid from Wai'anae or from a low-income situation and make him into a success story. We had kids in gangs come in and train. Not all of them will stay, but a couple of them will stay, quit the gang, get married, have children and have a productive life."

One of Kawano's greatest success stories has been the rise of Wai'anae's Guillermo, the top-ranked U.S. boxer in the 119-pound class. Guillermo started at the Wai'anae Boxing Club and earned a full college scholarship from Northern Michigan.

"He's the first one to graduate from high school in his family," Kawano said. "He's making almost $1,000 a month. In USA Boxing you get paid now. He's on the national team and he gets to travel all over the world."

Kawano spent nine years teaching boxing in Wai'anae and recently switched to the Evolution Boxing Club in Pearl City. Several Wai'anae boxers, including 14-year-old Kawika Tangjian, followed Kawano to Pearl City.

"I feel that he's the best coach as far as guidance and overall boxing in this state," said the 90-pound Tangjian, who attends Wai'anae Intermediate. "He's been to a lot of places where other coaches have never been before."

Tangjian said one of the best things about Kawano is that he's tough, but caring.

"No matter if you're losing, he'll tell you good things and encourage you to stay in the sport," Tangjian said. "But if he sees you standing around, not doing anything, he'll scold you. If you're in the gym, he'll make sure you're in here for a reason."

Boxing was not Kawano's first sport. He learned judo when he was 9 and became a six-time state champion. He won O'ahu Interscholastic Association titles in judo and wrestling as a Pearl City High freshman. Then, he quit, because he "wanted to party and have fun."

Later, he had a change of heart and upon graduating from Pearl City he regained his competitive spirit and learned boxing.

"My goal was to be a state champion in boxing," Kawano said. "I used to watch boxing on TV. That's what made me get the fire back. In fact, boxing made me quit partying and all that. I gave myself total dedication and discipline."

As an amateur, Kawano won three Golden Gloves titles, three Aloha State Games titles and two state championships. He also competed in national tournaments at Wisconsin and Colorado.

Kawano turned pro in 1994 and won his first fight, but the sport fizzled in Hawai'i and he couldn't find any fights.

He eventually accepted an assistant coaching position at the Wai'anae Boxing Club from his then-coach Douglas Westbrook.

Since becoming a boxing coach, Kawano has earned numerous training camp coaching positions, including spots at the world championships, the Goodwill Games, the Junior Olympics and the U.S. national team.

He said a good corner man can mean the difference between winning and losing a fight.

"A lot of people think boxing is just going in there and throwing blows," Kawano said. "Sometimes, if your boxer is not as good as the other boxer — if you coach him right and coach him well — you can beat the (opposing) boxer because of the little adjustments you can make. The coach can make a difference, if the boxer listens."

Through it all, Kawano said the best compliments come from opposing coaches.

"We used to go to the nationals and we all used to lose their first fight in the preliminaries," Kawano said. "The opposing coaches used to be happy when they drew Hawai'i. They saw it as an easy win.

"Now when I go to the nationals, the other coaches say, 'Oh man, we have to box a Hawai'i fighter. Oh man, we're going to have to work,' " Kawano continued. "Hawai'i's program has really turned around. Brian Viloria opened the door and now we have so many good boxers. The whole United States respects us now."