Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Kenneth Robinson | Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Vargas (right), builder, assigned to for Naval Mobile...... read more read more
By Petty Officer 2nd Class Kenneth W. Robinson
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 17
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 17 delivered knockout performances at Fight Night, May 16. The bouts, held every 3rd Saturday of the month, are hosted by 325th Army Combat Support Hospital and Moral, Welfare, and Recreation at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq. The bouts are open to military as well as civilian DoD employees.
Representing NMCB 17 for the evening were builder Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Vargas, utilities man Petty Officer 3rd Class Zachary Bowens, builder Petty Officer 3rd Class Ed Collins, and construction mechanic, Petty Officer 3rd Class Andre Agbayani.
The Seabee trainer and corner man, religious program specialist Petty Officer 3rd Class Manuel Leal, commented on the evening.
"It's a great morale booster for all service members that choose to participate. It gives all the boxers an opportunity to participate in a competitive sport that they otherwise might never do back home."
Leal, a boxer himself, tends to the boxers of NMCB 17.
"As the trainer and corner man, I pump up the competitor to make them feel confident. Like Rocky's coach said, 'You're gonna eat lighting and crap out thunder.' That's what you want in a corner man, you want to give the competitor the confidence that he can take on the world, and the rest is up to him," said Leal.
The competitors officially weigh in the day before their bouts. On the day of the bout competitors are given a medical brief, competition rules, and are reminded that the bouts are meant to be safe and are intended to promote fair competition and good fun.
Capt. Miller King, event coordinator, said, "12 months ago I would have never thought I would have anything to do with boxing."
As the event coordinator, King is responsible for weighing in the competitors, bout assignments, program production, recruiting volunteers to work the bouts, and her favorite, protocol for the VIPs.
"All activities are a benefit to the service members, but I do believe the boxing events bring a little more spice to Al Asad. Kind of interesting that the base hospital would be hosting the boxing event, but it brings us all together under one roof, per say," said Miller.
The three round bouts are closely monitored by a CSH medical staff member. After each two minute round, a medical physician performs an assessment of each fighter's well being before the bout is continued. The referee also monitors each competitor during the bout to maintain safety and fairness. If all three rounds of a bout are completed without a knock out or stoppage by the referee or doctor, the judge's score cards determine the outcome.
UT3 Bowens, who participated in the 2nd bout of the evening said, "I'm trained in mixed martial arts. This was my first boxing bout, and I only trained for a week. I feel that boxing requires more conditioning than MMA, and you don't have as many tools at your disposal. You have to commit to every punch and jab. You can't just do a wrap technique on someone and stall for rest time."
Boxing differs from MMA in that you cannot use any kicks, knees, elbows, or choke holds.
"At times, I almost reverted back to my MMA techniques," said Bowens. "He rocked me a couple of times and I had to physically hold myself back from taking him down."
CM3 Agbayani competed in the ninth bout of the evening.
"I love boxing; it's a great way to release stress, and it's also a great way to represent the battalion and get out and have some fun," said Agbayani. "It was nice to see everyone there from the Battalion there supporting us. I don't think people realize how much it helps having all the Battalion there cheering for us".
Agbayani was very excited and anxious about the bout.
"During weigh in and right before the bout, I tried to remember all the training I had done," said Agbayani.
BU3 Collins, boxing in one of the heavier classes at 188 pounds, stepped into the ring that night with nothing but boxing on his mind. Collins, just twenty years old, ended his bout in the first round by a technical knockout.
"Abayani told me about the bouts and I thought I would give it a try," said Collins. "I have always loved the sport, and since this was my first match, I didn't want to let the battalion down".
Collins trained for over a month and a half for the bout; doing heavy cardio weight lifting, medicine ball training and heavy bag work.
"I'm going to keep boxing till the end of the deployment. It felt great to have the other Seabees supporting me."
BU1 Vargas is no stranger to the boxing community and he competed in the final exciting bout of the night.
"I started boxing in 1980, and was on the east coast all navy team. I was the New York State Military Boxing Champion two years in a row," said Vargas. "I haven't been in the ring in 15 years, but I have been inspired by the youth around me; they make me feel younger every day."
At the age of 46, he is the oldest competitor, competing with boxers half his age.
"To me, a win is just completing three rounds. I enjoy every minute and am happy to participate as an inspiration to our junior troops. Last month, I was the only boxer from NMCB-17 to participate, and this month we had four," said Vargas. "Next month we will have two more ready to compete."
These hard charging Seabees gave a new meaning to the "Fighting Seabees." Displaying top notch NMCB 17 "Can Do" spirit, these men showed what a few Seabees could accomplish. All in all, the bouts are a great morale builder and bring the different services together for a night of fun and physical competition. There are no winners and losers, just comrades having a great time.
| Date Taken: | 05.16.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 06.10.2008 11:14 |
| Story ID: | 20308 |
| Location: | AL ASAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 417 |
| Downloads: | 209 |
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