Veronica Hernandez Graduates
Happy to say that Veronica Graduated from Los Altos High school and will be attending Mt. Sac. this fall. Congrats Veronica on a job well done. Here are a few of the pictures of the graduation.
Veronica is still on a mission to be the best she can be in her sport of boxing and muay thai. So you will see her back in action very soon!!!!
I set some high goals for Veronica in 2005 for 2006 and we are now planning for 2007. I can't wait to see what the future will bring for this outstanding athlete in and outside of the ring. Go V....
Tough Cheerleader
SPORTS
TOUGH CHEERLEADER
Nataly Jerez, cheerleader at La Habra High, competes as an amateur boxer.
By LOU PONSI STAR-PROGRESS
La Habra High senior Nataly Jerez is as adept at leading cheers as leading with a right hook.
Jerez stands 4-foot-9, weighs 121 pounds and flashes a dimple-wrapped smile that could soften Godzilla. She’s a cheerleader at La Habra High School but says her true passion is boxing against other athletes, not cheering for them.
bbr> In a La Puente gym boxing ring, the 18-year-old punches, blocks blows and round-house-kicks her sparring partner. She spends most evenings training since she started kick-boxing a year ago.
Jerez’s dedication landed her in a variety of amateur competitions. She won a unanimous fiveround decision in her first state-sanctioned amateur bout at Fight Night 8 on March 11 at the Marconi Auto Museum in Tustin. Her contest was the semimain event.
“She has a whole lot of heart,” said Jerez’s trainer John McPhail, who runs the boxing gym where she trains. “I can teach everything else but either you have heart or you don’t and this girl had heart.”
McPhail said Jerez will spar with anybody and never backs down.
“I’ve seen her take shots that would knock other guys down. There is nothing in her that says give up,” he said. She’s even gotten the better of a few boys in the gym. “When you beat them up, it’s kind of fun,” Jerez quips.
Jerez, who grew up in Los Angeles, says she’s loved boxing ever since childhood and recalls playfully sparring with her brother, sister and brother-in-law.
About a year ago, Jerez discovered a boxing gym located in the Hacienda Christian Fellowship, a church in the same neighborhood as her family’s restaurant, Casa Jimenez. (Nataly, incidentally, serves at the restaurant on weekends.)
She met McPhail and said she was interested in boxing.
Jerez said she wasn’t intimidated at all by the environment.
“I get along with people right away so it was easy to get along with people here,” she said.
McPhail has about 60 boxing and kick boxing students. Twenty of his students are fighting in bouts. He knew that being a cheerleader, Jerez would be flexible and know how to kick, but “thought it might take her a while to teach her the different kicks.”
Jerez fought a series of nonsanctioned bouts, called smokers, against fighters from other gyms, winning most of them before taking her skills and advancing to the next level.
McPhail is hosting a boxing show within a few months and said Jerez will definitely be one of the main events.
Jerez said her family has been supportive the entire time and she credits her mother and father for helping her “dream big.”
Antonio and Ivanoe Jerez said their daughter was always drawn to physical activities. She rides dirt bikes and horses (the family owns four horses).
Nataly’s parents were not surprised she wanted to box, but were apprehensive.
“I told her it was not a girls’ sport,” said Antonio. “ She’s always looking for something tough.”
Nataly’s father said he gets nervous at her fights but it doesn’t stop him from getting pumped up and yelling from the outside the ring.
Her mother, says she is screaming and praying at the same time.
“On the outside, she’s a lady, but in the boxing ring, she’s a tough girl,” said Ivanoe. “The only thing I tell her is to take care of your nose.”
After graduation comes Jerez’s next challenge — the National Guard.
She’ll be going to two months of boot camp beginning July 18.
She’s hoping for a career in forensics with emphasis on crime scene investigating.
Whatever she pursues, Nataly sees boxing in her future.
“I want to get some leather (a championship belt),” she said.
McPhail believes Jerez has a legitimate chance to win championships in the amateur ranks and has the ability to turn pro.
“So far, she’s stepped up in everything I’ve asked her to do,” McPhail said.
She has a good attitude in everything she does I wish I had 20 girls like her.”
NATALY JEREZ won a unanimous five-rounds in her first state-sanctioned amateur bout at FightNight 8 on March 1 1 at the Marconi Auto Museum in Tustin. She hopes to box professionally.
NATALY JEREZ spars with fellow kick boxer and friend Veronica Hernandez, 1 7, at the gym inside the Hacienda Christian Felowship in La Puente.
TOUGH CHEERLEADER
Nataly Jerez, cheerleader at La Habra High, competes as an amateur boxer.
By LOU PONSI STAR-PROGRESS
La Habra High senior Nataly Jerez is as adept at leading cheers as leading with a right hook.
Jerez stands 4-foot-9, weighs 121 pounds and flashes a dimple-wrapped smile that could soften Godzilla. She’s a cheerleader at La Habra High School but says her true passion is boxing against other athletes, not cheering for them.
bbr> In a La Puente gym boxing ring, the 18-year-old punches, blocks blows and round-house-kicks her sparring partner. She spends most evenings training since she started kick-boxing a year ago.
Jerez’s dedication landed her in a variety of amateur competitions. She won a unanimous fiveround decision in her first state-sanctioned amateur bout at Fight Night 8 on March 11 at the Marconi Auto Museum in Tustin. Her contest was the semimain event.
“She has a whole lot of heart,” said Jerez’s trainer John McPhail, who runs the boxing gym where she trains. “I can teach everything else but either you have heart or you don’t and this girl had heart.”
McPhail said Jerez will spar with anybody and never backs down.
“I’ve seen her take shots that would knock other guys down. There is nothing in her that says give up,” he said. She’s even gotten the better of a few boys in the gym. “When you beat them up, it’s kind of fun,” Jerez quips.
Jerez, who grew up in Los Angeles, says she’s loved boxing ever since childhood and recalls playfully sparring with her brother, sister and brother-in-law.
About a year ago, Jerez discovered a boxing gym located in the Hacienda Christian Fellowship, a church in the same neighborhood as her family’s restaurant, Casa Jimenez. (Nataly, incidentally, serves at the restaurant on weekends.)
She met McPhail and said she was interested in boxing.
Jerez said she wasn’t intimidated at all by the environment.
“I get along with people right away so it was easy to get along with people here,” she said.
McPhail has about 60 boxing and kick boxing students. Twenty of his students are fighting in bouts. He knew that being a cheerleader, Jerez would be flexible and know how to kick, but “thought it might take her a while to teach her the different kicks.”
Jerez fought a series of nonsanctioned bouts, called smokers, against fighters from other gyms, winning most of them before taking her skills and advancing to the next level.
McPhail is hosting a boxing show within a few months and said Jerez will definitely be one of the main events.
Jerez said her family has been supportive the entire time and she credits her mother and father for helping her “dream big.”
Antonio and Ivanoe Jerez said their daughter was always drawn to physical activities. She rides dirt bikes and horses (the family owns four horses).
Nataly’s parents were not surprised she wanted to box, but were apprehensive.
“I told her it was not a girls’ sport,” said Antonio. “ She’s always looking for something tough.”
Nataly’s father said he gets nervous at her fights but it doesn’t stop him from getting pumped up and yelling from the outside the ring.
Her mother, says she is screaming and praying at the same time.
“On the outside, she’s a lady, but in the boxing ring, she’s a tough girl,” said Ivanoe. “The only thing I tell her is to take care of your nose.”
After graduation comes Jerez’s next challenge — the National Guard.
She’ll be going to two months of boot camp beginning July 18.
She’s hoping for a career in forensics with emphasis on crime scene investigating.
Whatever she pursues, Nataly sees boxing in her future.
“I want to get some leather (a championship belt),” she said.
McPhail believes Jerez has a legitimate chance to win championships in the amateur ranks and has the ability to turn pro.
“So far, she’s stepped up in everything I’ve asked her to do,” McPhail said.
She has a good attitude in everything she does I wish I had 20 girls like her.”
NATALY JEREZ won a unanimous five-rounds in her first state-sanctioned amateur bout at FightNight 8 on March 1 1 at the Marconi Auto Museum in Tustin. She hopes to box professionally.
NATALY JEREZ spars with fellow kick boxer and friend Veronica Hernandez, 1 7, at the gym inside the Hacienda Christian Felowship in La Puente.
Training
Amateur Tournament
16 Man amateur Tournament May 14th in Upland, Ca. weight class 155-160 pounds!!!