The First USAF boxing championship I covered was shortly after the dark day we will never forget 9/11/01. I remember clearly hearing Toby Keith’s voice “This big dog will bite” it was at Bennett fitness center. Joe Souza was quite alive and active. Now 10 years later….well things have changed….we know May 1 1991 another one Toby Keith’s warnings rang true “We’ll put a boot in your……..” and the word joint has become the once again active word in the US military. Joe Souza can be found in the garden of stone in the company of heroes at Sam. Mark Caloy is now president of staba. The Color Guard is joint. The theme of joint service cooperation was repeated by the Army Colonel who gave a speech on Ft Sam. Ft Sam by the way is the site of the very first US military flight. Naturally a Marine Corporal and Army Private would be eager to help the 2 ring girls enter and exit through the ropes. Had one stepped in a time warp from the Carter era walking Ft Sam one might have been surprised by some of the new construction but you would recognize some of the age old traditions. The USAF boxing/ www.staba.org relationship remains true its form…..despite well (staba may be a friendly host but do you think local civilian boxers will lay down for Americas best) The event was also Art Sousa's return to the ring as an official that beauty was not lost Art Sousa son of Joe Sousa reffed the first three bouts not far from where his father rests in peace.

Patrick Cuevas won his open division senior bout at 123 lbs narrowly. Kenny Cruz was not without his moments. Patrick though in round 2 have Kenny Cruz a wallop that forced a standing 8.Galley of the bout!

Another close bout Dustin Southichack who normally keeps pests and weeds under control for the US military won by 3-2 decision 132lbs.

A fill in bout Angel Garcia of won 123lbs….senior open division Angel and his opponent are both civilians.

Shadi Shawareb from Sims won a narrow 3-2 decision over Adam Hassan senior division 141lbs Gallery of the bout

Efrain Lorado out of champion fit continued the non laying down by eaking out a 3-2 decision on aggression alone.

After Efrains bout there was a brief intermission where I saw Jessie James Leija sign two t-shirts commemorating the event that local soldiers purchased and posed with the two boxers involved giving no doubt a treasured memory of the two defenders of his freedom.

Kevin Conrad won a 3-2 decision senior 165lb weight division additional gallery of the bout

Eric Guajardo dominated his USAF opponent to win a 4-1 decision. Eric Guajardo fights out of Castillo boxing gym…..one of his coaches is National Guard.  additional gallery of the bout

Aggression and endurance were USAF boxers Irby Burnett’s tool to win a 4-1 decision senior 178lb weight class.Additional gallery of the bout

Kent Brinson at 201lbs USAF showed what smart bombs can do when they land on the body or the head. Some of those body shots I would have hated to eat!