Bellport College Grad and Former Golden Glove Champion Alex Vargas Follows Dream Back to The Ring To Make His Pro Debut – by Coach K

(September 19th) About seventeen years ago you could have found Bellport, Long Island’s now 23-year-old, Alex Vargas at any one of local boxing clubs eagerly working on his new-found love boxing.  Turned to boxing by his father Mike Vargas at age six, Alex very early on imagined and had dreamed about fighting for a world title. Closely guided by his inspiration father / coach, Alex from the very start was taught to be able to adapt and fight different ways. Staying busy working several minor jobs, while lettering in high school football and wrestling, the “gym rat” developed his skills through the junior, novice and open amateur ranks winning a New York Junior Olympic and a 2013, 165lb, New York Gold Glove title beating heavily favored Henry Beckford in the finals. Graduating Read more [...]

From Knocking Out Opponents to Knocking Down Trees “The Beast” Joe Smith Jr. Opens Up on Future Plans in and Out of the Ring! – by Coach K

Uniquely aware that sports and in specific terms boxing careers don't last forever, pro boxer and former WBC International Light Heavyweight Champion Joe “The Beast” Smith Jr. gives us some input on his future plans.  Recovering from an in the ring injury Smith Jr. has joined with his father, Joe Sr. building a full-scale tree service on Long Island. While some pro athletes wait until retirement, the twenty-eight-year-old Mastic/Shirley resident, also a laborer with Local 66 has not hung up his gloves but like he does in training, he is planning ahead. Promoted by Joe Deguardia's Star Boxing Smith, 23-2, 19Ko's as a pro, holding knockout wins over Andrzej Fonfara and future Hall of Famer Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins, Smith is currently recovering from surgery after having battled Read more [...]

Team Won’t Allow Second Lightning Strike to Hold Smith Jr. Back! by Coach K

(July 24th) Saturday night, July 15th, Mastic/Shirley New York former WBC International Light Heavyweight Champion Joe Smith Jr. boldly faced once beaten Sullivan Barrera on HBO’s Boxing After Dark. Amongst all the criticism after the bout it was diagnosed for the second time in his young career with a broken jaw. With Shenandoah National Park Ranger Roy Cleveland Sullivan holds the Guinness Book of Records for being hit by lightning seven times in boxing the idiom “Lightning Never Strikes Twice” took another hit. The second “lightning strike” came Saturday night July 15th at the Forum, Inglewood, California, when after flooring challenger Sullivan Barrera in round one the 27-year-old power punching Smith Jr. trained and managed by the “Fighting” Capobianco’s was forced Read more [...]