FORT SILL, Okla. -- A vehicle maintenance garage transformed into a pro-style boxing arena March 1 when the 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade held its first boxing smoker at Fort Sill.
With a ring announcer, enormous video displays and a raised, illuminated boxing ring, 16 boxers showcased their new skills in eight weight division fights.
Command Sgt. Major Paul Kogut, 31st ADAB CSM, said unit leadership is getting back to basics with unit functions that build resiliency and camaraderie within the ranks. He added years ago smokers were done routinely.
"Soldiers love and thrive on competition, whether in sports or in their Army duties," he said. "Events like this also bring families together, help them feel a part of the brigade and give them time to get to know each other."
Soldiers from all three of the brigade's battalions fought including
10 Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery at Fort Lewis, Wash. Each bout consisted of up to three, 3-minute rounds.
Unlike a postwide smoker a few years ago that had 1-minute rounds, Kogut said brigade leadership wanted to emulate the look and feel of professional fights and that included the longer rounds.
Staff Sgt. Donald Kirchner, a combatives instructor from Fort Bliss, sat ringside judging the fight. He said a scoring blow has to hit the torso above the belt or the head and must hit flush. Blows that glance off an arm aren't scored. He said the three judges have to tune out all the distractions, such as crowd noise or when the referee stopped the fight, and just count scoring hits.
Lightweight
The opening bout featured Pfc. Anthony Stagner, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 31st ADA, against Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Mejil, A Battery, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Air Defense Artillery. Stagner used his reach advantage to pepper Mejil, a shorter, stockier fighter, with scoring jabs in the first round. Mejil countered in the second as he bulled his way inside and rocked Stagner with a flurry of punches. But, the taller man fought back and finished the fight strong.
"I had a good opponent who made it harder than I planned on," said Stagner. "My reach really helped me hang back and keep him off of me -- he's built, and I didn't want to get hit."
Light welterweight
Sgt. David Letellier followed his A Battery comrade into the ring and fought Pfc. Jack Flaherty from C Battery of the same battalion. Early on, Letellier's blows appeared more damaging as Flaherty's face blossomed red with blood. But, Flaherty also punished Letellier and led on points after two rounds. The bout went to the judges, and after a third round rally, Letellier came away the winner.
"My opponent hit like he had bricks in his hands he's a good fighter," said Letellier, who kept his focus despite pummeling Flaherty to a couple standing 8-counts. "There's always a chance, before the bell ends the fight, for him to get some good punches in and take the fight away."
Women's welterweight
Pfc. Cheryl Dixon, E Battery, 4th Battalion, 3rd ADA, won by disqualification over Pfc. Terrosany Ingram, E/3-2nd ADA. The winner credited her training that prepared her to deal with opponents hitting her.
"The first time I took one to the head I didn't feel it, because I trained against guys, and they hit hard," said Dixon, who believes she will box again. "Seventy-five percent of the whole battle is getting into the ring and fighting in front of all those people; the rest is just a matter of endurance and strength."
Andy Pierce, fight referee, has a full resume as a boxing trainer and referee. Since retiring from the Army he devotes his time to a boxing gym he owns and operates in Oklahoma City. He said he disqualified the fighter for talking during the bout, which is against the rules in amateur fights. Whenever a fighter violates rules, Pierce said he first warns the fighter. If that doesn't fix the problem, points, or scoring hits, are subtracted. If the fighter persists with the violation, the referee will stop the fight and disqualify the violator.
"The last thing a referee wants to do is step in and stop a fight, but you want to see good sportsmanship between the fighters. Even though they're not professionals boxers, they are professional Soldiers, and we wanted them to show respect for each other," said Pierce.
Welterweight
Sitting in the medical review area following his fight, a 31st ADA medic asked Spc. Donald Thatcher, E/4-3rd ADA, if his nose felt all right from getting hit. Thatcher, displaying a big grin reminiscent of former NFL standout Michael Strahan replied, "I didn't get hit in the nose."
His opponent, Pfc Ryan Fuss, C/3-2nd ADA, however, did land several hard punches and Thatcher admitted Fuss made him earn the decision.
"Boxing is a good workout -- there's a lot of cardio, but of a different sort. I also can see this will help my stand-up game in mixed martial arts," he added in a high-pitched voice that draws comparisons to former pro boxer, Mike Tyson.
Middleweight
With a name that could propel ring announcer Sgt. 1st Class Chris Thompson into the big time, Private Jorge Altamiranda (pronounced HOR-HEY AL-TAH MEER-AN-DUH in a resonating baritone voice), Thompson whipped the crowd's enthusiasm up for the next fight.
Tyson's legacy of one punch knockouts that seemingly came out of nowhere proved an appropriate comparison to what the crowd witnessed.
Altamiranda, 5-5th ADA, sent Pfc. Dennis Accibal, HHB 31st ADA, to the canvas for the evening's lone knockout in the first round. One second Accibal stood toe-to-toe with the winner; the next moment he toppled backward like a tree crashing to the forest floor.
Speaking of the right cross that turned out the lights, Altamiranda said, "He hit me once, and I got so mad I said the next time he leaves an opening I'm going to get him."
ADA medics, stationed ringside, responded immediately and examined Accibal to ensure he was coherent and not injured seriously.
Fortunately, Accibal stood a short time afterward as the audience clapped in relief. Medical personnel did follow-up checks to verify he was coherent and could respond to directions.
Light heavyweight
Spc. James Walquist, HHB/4-3rd ADA who already won the division, also won this exhibition match, though by disqualification, over Staff Sgt. Luke Valenzuela, HHB/3-2nd ADA. Pierce issued warnings and took points away from Valenzuela for holds and other inappropriate contact. The bout ended when the loser attempted a jump punch, an illegal move.
To his credit Walquist said Valenzuela was a good fighter who just kept coming after him despite taking several punches.
Heavyweight
Pfcs. Daniel White and Robert Davis entered the ring sharing just about everything two Army fighters could have in common. Both Soldiers are from D/4-3rd ADA, work together and hangout together.
"We wanted to put on a good show for everybody, and luckily, I came out on top," said White. "It was a good fight and more importantly, we will stay friends after this."
That care and concern for each other are what Kogut said exceeded his expectations for the success of the smoker.
"After each fight, all the fighters hugged and showed their respect for each other, and that's not something I told them to do. It just goes to show the Soldiers of the 31st Air Defense Artillery truly care about each other and the team," he said.
Super heavyweight
Decades ago the big men ruled professional boxing as the likes of Ali, Frazier, Foreman and Shavers stepped into the ring. Spc. Kenneth Austin, 5-5th ADA, and Sgt. Quintez Williams, A/4-3rd ADA, made their impact felt midway through Round 2 when Pierce dropped into a depression in the middle of the ring. He immediately called time and directed personnel to make adjustments to the supports for the raised ring. Jumping up and down on the suspect spot several times, Pierce made sure it would hold up to the super heavies, then resumed the fight.
Austin, though by no means bionic, fought off a determined Williams to win the bout.
"This was tough, I thought I might get a knockout, but he stayed with me throughout," said Austin. "I lost my wind toward the end of the second round, and he caught me with a couple good shots, but I went to my corner, calmed down and finished it in the third."
Austin said the key to his win was his heart. Even though Williams kept after him, Austin didn't quit and kept fighting until the bell sounded.
Pierce said he could see that determination in each of the fighters, who despite a lack of energy or "no gas in the tank," pulled it together and kept going no matter how tired they were.
"That's what we want to see on the frontline if they go to war," he added. "Those are the types of people you want defending this nation, and I'm proud of the heart each fighter showed tonight."
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