TYLER SENN, 8, a student at Manaugh Elementary School in Cortez, gets his gloves fitted by Cortez Boxing Club owner Wes Short. The local club, located at 1127 S. Broadway, is open from 4-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The club provides a place for boys and girls to go after school.

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

With the release of the motion picture, "Ali" based on the life of former heavyweight champion Mohammed Ali, boxing is coming back into popularity.

Cortez has a boxing club. The Cortez Boxing Club, 1171 S. Broadway (across from M&M Truck Stop), was started a year ago on shoestring budget.

"We were in another location. We had to even sell our portable 20X20-foot ring (to Ignacio Boxing Club) in order to stay open," owner Wes Short explained. "With a little lower rent, we are managing to stay afloat. We recently built an almost-square 16X20 ring which is permanent."

Two years ago, Short moved with his family to Cortez.

"We found it to be a friendly and beautiful place to live. But we also found a need for children to have some place to go after school. Statistics show that between the hours of 4-8 p.m. are the most dangerous and tempting hours for children ages 5-18. Parents have got to make a living but they need supervision for the young children. Kids need guidance, role models, and something to belong to," Short said.

"I grew up in a small town (Kingsport, Tenn.) where I belonged to a Boys Club. I boxed amateur. We had Silver Gloves there. But I always had some place to go after school. There is no Boys and Girls Club in Cortez," he added.

That’s where the Cortez Boxing Club comes into the picture, according to Short.

"The club provides this (guidance and place to go). It is open to anyone between the ages of 5-105. We have all types of programs for adults as well," he added.

The club currently has 30 area children participating.

Short reported the club has Golden Gloves, physical fitness exercise training, self-defense courses, and some just-for-fun programs. The club is open 4-8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.

Short charges adults (18 and up) $25 per month and children (12-17) $15 per month. He said if a child doesn’t have all the money, he is not going to turn him or her away.

"We are coming into a new year with unlimited possibilities (for the club). The possibilities are unlimited but the funding is not. We are for-profit organization but we are not making a profit. Right now we are barely covering expenses," he remarked.

"We would like to extend our gratitude to all our sponsors who have helped us to stay open in 2001," he said.

Short reported that sponsors are needed to help the club to stay open in 2002 and to grow. He can be reached at 565-8872. He also wanted to extend an invitation for all members of the community to come and check out the club in 2002.

He would like to sponsor some smokers (amateur boxing nights) in Cortez once a venue is found. Short said his club is just too small to hold matches. He has sent several boxers to Ignacio for some smokers.