Sonny Westbrook’s young fighters have been growåing restless, seeing the same, old faces and practicing only against each other. ADVERTISING Sonny Westbrook’s young fighters have been growåing restless, seeing the same, old faces and practicing only against each other. After
Sonny Westbrook’s young fighters have been growåing restless, seeing the same, old faces and practicing only against each other.
After years running around under the employ of Duane Chapman or his preferred title “Dog the Bounty Hunter,” Westbrook is back home.
He’s putting on his first show in more than eight years with the Kona Boxing Club Presents Fight Night, which runs Saturday at Kealakehe High’s gym.
“My dad has been traveling a lot with Dog Chapman, and while he was gone we’ve had so much kids for training,” said Natalie Westbrook, the event’s promoter. “Why not give the kids something to do? They’re looking forward to some type of competition. They train hard every day, and want to win something.”
Two names from the Kona Boxing Club to watch for are Cloey Hanato, 9, and Jonah Perez, 6. The club has more than a dozen youngsters.
“My dad thinks Cloey looks like a little Ronda Rousey, and he sees a lot of heart in Jonah,” Natalie said.
In the Department of Everyone Grows Old and Youngsters Take Your Place, there’s Sergio Mamone.
Mamone fought back on Westbrook’s cards more than 20 years ago. Now, he’s an old-timer and coach for the Hawaii International Boxing Club.
Mamone doesn’t need to look at a mirror to find gray hairs and notice the passage of time. The 1998 Waiakea graduate can chart the growth of his kids.
“I fought on a bunch of Sonny’s shows when I was 13 years old, both boxing and kickboxing,” Mamone said. “When I was a kid, he was a coach and always used to match me against his guys.”
His son, Ricky, 11, and hanai son/nephew Stanford Mamone, 7, will follow in Da Monsta’s footsteps and compete in a Westbrook kickboxing production.
The old-timer Mamone is no longer cracking coconuts in MMA or kickboxing. He works at Panaewa Gym, coaches at HIBC, and guides the development of his boys at Pop Warner football in Panaewa.
Ricky (7-1) is experienced while Stanford is making his debut.
“Ricky loves Mike Tyson. He watches a lot of video,” Mamone said. “He likes to mimic what Tyson does, except he has to put in kicks.
“Stanford is learning. When they’re that young, it’s cute to watch. I remember when Ricky was that little. The punches are slow, and there’s no power on it.”
If Ricky isn’t watching an old Tyson video, he’s tuning in to Hawaii’s favorite quarterback, Marcus Mariota. Ricky is a QB, too.
Ricky is on the Panaewa Pee Wee team while Stanford is on the Mighty Mites.
Mamone’s HIBC practices Monday through Thursday at Waiakea Rec Center. The long hours spent on the sweet science don’t bug Ricky, who’ll face a tough foe in James Hale from Oahu.
“My favorite sport is boxing,” Ricky said. “I like how Mike Tyson always comes forward and never backs up. I’m excited to fight.
“My dad taught me how to move around, and control my breathing. I remember watching my dad fight. He was super aggressive and good at moving around and countering.”
Ricky is a sixth grader at Kua O Ka La, a Hawaiian charter school in Kapoho. He’s almost as tall as his dad, and already has his life plans figured out.
“My favorite subject is math,” he said. “I’d like to be a doctor, a pediatrician, because I would like to help kids.”
