September 2009
www.paramountcity.com
CITY OF PARAMOUNT
Charles Huerta, “The Pride of Paramount,” Puts Hometown on the Map ment. “It takes sacrifice, dedication, a lot of hard work and time,” Over the decades, the City of Paramount has produced many Huerta said. “And you need to have decent opponents. I’ve fine athletes in a variety of sports. But achievements of the past fought guys who have had over 30 fights, 50 fights – and I’m might be eclipsed in a few short years if things go well in the realm knocking some of them out. So we’ve had some tough competiof fisticuffs. Paramount could become known as home to the tion. We’re moving up pretty good.” featherweight champion of the world. Perhaps surprisingly, the boxer Charles Huerta, nicknamed “The Photo: Raymond Rodriguez sees the match itself as the least Pride of Paramount,” is at the dawn difficult aspect of the process. “I of a boxing career that has many think the toughest part is the ring knowledgeable sages of the sweet walk,” he remarked. “When you’re science trumpeting his quick fists walking to the ring and you hear and praising his ultimate potential. everybody yelling and hear my music His 12 professional bouts include playing.” seven technical knockouts. Once that bell rings, however, The 22-year-old local resident preparation and instinct take over. “I certainly knows his way around a just zone out. I don’t hear anybody ring – his amateur career began at else. I go out there and do my job. age 8. “But I’ve been boxing since I The fight is the easy part. I mean, it’s can remember,” he said. “I’ve been not easy …but it’s like studying for going to the gym since I was about two months and finally getting to take two or three years old with my Featherweight Charles Huerta hurls a mean right during his latest ring victory. dad.” Huerta participated in the Paramount’s GRIP boxing program as a youngster. your test.” And when that test comes up an A+, courtesy of a TKO, it’s top of His father Victor (known to the world. everyone as “Mando”) had fought as an amateur. He now trains “It feels great after working so hard. After one fight, some and manages his son. “Once I was born, it was kind of a given that people were saying, ‘You get paid for just three rounds?’ But they I was going to be a boxer,” Huerta noted. don’t see all the work and training, which is a lot harder than the The young pugilist, whose first training sessions were at the fight.” City’s old Spane Park GRIP gym, battled all over the world during As his success broadens, the young competitor is attracting an his amateur run. He garnered a whopping 200 wins versus a mere ever-growing fan base. “We went to the Staples Center recently 20 losses, and gained numerous titles, including two Under-19 for a fight and people started coming over to me, yelling ‘ParaNational championships and recognition as the number-two ranked mount! Paramount!” and taking pictures,” he recalled. 119-pound amateur in the U.S. “I’m hoping to put my hometown on the map.” 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 For more information about Council and million fighters out there but only so many get signed to a good Commission meetings, please call (562) 220-2225. promotional company. To be signed with Golden Boy is huge.” Of course, Golden Boy officials feel pretty good about the 9/9/09 - 6:30 PM addition to their stable, too. This is how their website describes Planning Commission him: “Charles Huerta has been the talk of the local boxing scene for years and the Paramount, California, featherweight has boxing 9/15/09 - 5:00 PM insiders looking at him as one of the game’s most promising City Council talents.” The ultimate objective for all involved is grabbing that elusive 9/16/09 - 6:00 PM brass ring – a world championship. “Our goal is to fight for a Recreation Commission world title in two years,” Huerta said. 9/22/09 - 6:00 PM 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 accomplishPublic Safety Commission
Upcoming Meetings