Near John Jay high school near where some local boxing of note has taken place lays a boxing gym. You can pass by it and not realize one of the best but untold stories of local boxing is going on as you zip by not noticing. Perhaps you are unaware that a potential Olympian is in building that you go by.

                                          Barrios hand wrap dad click for larger photo                                                        Salina hand wrap solo click for larger photo

Salina handwrap dad                                                                                    Salina hand wrap dad 2

50-3 every loss has varying degrees of controversy, Part of multiple time brother and sister victory at national tournaments…, she has four ringside title belts. The trouble is few know about her. Lets face in hindsight there were notable botches in the Armed forces boxing championships…If you invite a boxer allow them to compete if you are not sure their competitors will want to enter the ring with them do not invite the boxer.  This quiet soft spoken young woman from Southwest High school was more then likely in the head Carrie Barrie as she sued USA boxing.  San Antonio meanwhile was unaware of this force that trains between Sea World and Lackland AFB. 

salina hood 1 click for larger photo                                                                

Salina looking down hood                                                                               Salina shadow boxing no hood 1

Salina Barrios partially by my error has been denied the spotlight. Lets face it she has a better long term record as an amateur then even Bianca Ledezma, her record has been more consistent then Patricia Cuevas and she has been quietly notching firsts for a while. Of all the national prospects and potential Olympians she is the best chance from San Antonio. Kendo when I did the shoot had lost at National Golden gloves and it is my opinion Adam Lopez is trying too hard to stay artificially light…

Click for larger picture final one of Salina shadow boxing                               Salina gloving up by dad

So now what……its time to train and train hard its time to work and pursue glory. That is what Salina Barrios did when I caught up with her last week. Alamo City boxing has changed some since I last visited. It is becoming more of community boxing gym more faces. In one respect there were other aspects working on sportsmanship parents getting involved idle hands are the devils workshop.

Barrios heavy bag 1 click for larger photo                                                      Salina heavy bag work 2 click for larger photo

salina Heavy bag three(click for larger photo)                                              Barrios double end (click for larger photo) 1

brother and sister working together

Also noticed was a strong bond between brother and sister. The intensity for training for nationals has picked up. Salina has to put up. She will be forced to answer in the ring and prove she was robbed conclusively she visibly knows this. An Olympic birth is the focus and since it is clear she will not get breaks from the judges and bitterness of Golden Gloves has become a fuel.

Barrios Double end 2 click for larger picture                                                 Barrios double end 3 click for larger photo

                                                                                                                       Salina Barrios Double end four click for larger photo 

Salina Barrios double end 5 click for larger photo                                         Salina Barrios double end 6 click for larger photo

Barrios Degloved 1 (click blue for larger photo)                                                    Barrios ab wheel click for larger photo

In a previous fight report I photographed John Whisler with the German words chained hound. This was a historical reference to how Goering aided the RAF in defeating his own forces. The chained hound was the name Luftwaffe fighter pilots game themselves when ordered to escort the bombers far closely. This strategy gave RAF fighter Command a couple more advantages. With John Whisler making an appearance as a fan in Poteet I am suspecting there are other stories he would want to tell of the local boxing world. Salina Barrios might be one. There is a whole lot more to boxing then the formidable writers is allowed to cover. The story of Salina and her brother merits being told. She is working to claim the glory that can be argued is justifiably hers.

(Bro JO boxer and Sis)

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