High Schooler Looks To Box In Olympics
DETROIT (WWJ) - His name is one you might not be familiar with, but those who know 19-year-old Erick DeLeon from Detroit's Kronk Gym believe he is a professional boxing champion in the making.
He already is a champion, on the amateur level, having won three consecutive Golden Glove titles in the 132-pound weight class. And now, after graduation this month from Lincoln Park High School, his sights are set on the U.S. Olympic boxing trials in July.
WWJ's Jon Hewett caught up to the young boxer to ask about his aspirations:
"I am in love with the sport, you know, I enjoy what I do, and I enjoy winning, so now I just train to get stronger and more speed. For the Olympic trials ... that's what I've got to go win," says DeLeon.
A native of Mexico, DeLeon recently became a U.S. citizen, making him eligible to compete for the U.S. team ahead of the 2012 London Olympics.
"I guess I have it in my blood," says DeLeon.
"It's a very difficult thing to do, as a boxer, going from junior to top adult level, he goes at (age) 17 and beats the guys that are 17 through 34 years old and does it three years in a row," says trainer Javan "Sugar" Hill.
DeLeon says that he wants to turn professional and to be ranked at the top -where he belongs.
