Charles Huerta, “The Pride of Paramount,” Looking to Win World Championship
Over the decades, the City of Paramount has produced many fine athletes in a variety of sports. But achievements of the past might be eclipsed in a few short years if things go well in the realm of fisticuffs. Paramount could become known as home to the featherweight champion of the world.
Charles Huerta, nicknamed “The Pride of Paramount,” is at the dawn of a boxing career that has many knowledgeable sages of the sweet science trumpeting his quick fists and praising his ultimate potential. After 11 professional bouts, he is undefeated – and boasts seven technical knockouts.
The 22-year-old local resident certainly knows his way around a ring – his amateur career began at age 8. “But I’ve been boxing since I can remember,” he said. “I’ve been going to the gym since I was about two or three years old with my dad.”
and I wiped him out. So we’ve had some tough competition. We’re moving up pretty good.”
Perhaps surprisingly, the boxer sees the match itself as the least difficult aspect of the process. “I think the toughest part is the ring walk,” he remarked. “When you’re walking to the ring and you hear everybody yelling and hear my music playing.”
His father Victor (known to everyone as “Mando”) had fought as an amateur. He now trains and manages his son. “Once I was born, it was kind of a given that I was going to be a boxer,” Huerta noted.
The young pugilist, whose first training sessions were at the City’s old Spane Park GRIP gym, battled all over the world during his amateur run. He garnered a whopping 200 wins versus a mere 20 losses, and gained numerous titles, including two Under-19 National championships and recognition as the number-two-ranked 119-pound amateur in the U.S.
Now, as a pro, he is already ranked eighth in his division in America by Boxrec.com. Plus, in a true testament to his chances, he was put under contract last year by Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions. “It’s big, man,” Huerta related. “There’s a million fighters out there but only so many get signed to a good promotional company. To be signed with Golden Boy is huge.”
Of course, Golden Boy officials feel pretty good about the addition to their stable, too. This is how their website describes him: “Charles Huerta has been the talk of the local boxing scene for years and the Paramount, California, featherweight has boxing insiders looking at him as one of the game’s most promising talents.”
The ultimate objective for all involved is grabbing that elusive brass ring – a world championship. “Our goal is to fight for a world title in two years,” Huerta said.
Having a plan is one thing, and being talk of the town is another. But there’s a brutal work ethic involved in this kind of accomplishment. “It takes sacrifice, dedication, a lot of hard work and time,” Huerta said. “And you need to have decent opponents. I’ve fought guys who have had over 30 fights, 50 fights – and I’m knocking some of them out. The last guy was another undefeated prospect
Once that bell rings, however, preparation and instinct take over. “I just zone out. I don’t hear anybody else. I go out there and do my job. The fight is the easy part. I mean, it’s not easy …but it’s like studying for two months and finally getting to take your test.” And when that test comes up an A+, courtesy of a TKO, it’s top of the world.
“It feels great after working so hard. After my last fight, some people were saying, ‘You get paid for just three rounds?’ But they don’t see all the work and training, which is a lot harder than the fight.”
The road to a possible championship belt began with Huerta’s firstround knock out of veteran Yoshifumi Momoki on September 27, 2007. His most recent dance a few weeks ago was another TKO, this time in round three, at Club Nokia in Los Angeles over Noe Lopez, Jr. Recently, Huerta returned to the L.A. site in the evening’s main event, which was televised on the Versus Network.
As his success broadens, the young competitor is attracting an ever-growing fan base. “We went to the Staples Center recently for a fight and people started coming over to me, yelling ‘Paramount! Paramount!’ and taking pictures,” he recalled.
“Things are going good, & I’m hoping to put my hometown on the map.”
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Featherweight Charles Huer ta hurls a mean r ight dur ing his latest r ing victor y Huer ta is undefeated in his professional boxing career