Omar Juarez started boxing at age 8 under a father’s watchful eye at gyms in Brownsville.
Rudy Juarez was an amateur boxer as a youth in Matamoros before family responsibilities obligated him to work and give up the sport. The elder Juarez wanted something different for Omar. Rudy then began taking young Omar to tournaments and other boxing-related activities where the youngster could sharpen his skills.
Some of those treks to tournaments were long ones, however Omar kept at it. He would be ranked top 10 nationally by USA Boxing. Omar built up more than 120 amateur fights en route to both state and national tournament wins. Turning pro, the 23-year-old Rio Grande Valley boxer today has a 14-1 record and is also the World Boxing Council‘s International Americas Welterweight Champion.
Additionally, Juarez enjoys being a motivational speaker. In late August, some younger boxers from Brownsville who look up to the professional boxer accompanied him to a press conference in Harlingen. A major amateur boxing event was coming soon to the city. The Sugar Bert Boxing WBC Green Belt Tournament will take place Oct. 6-9 at the Harlingen Convention Center.
Making Harlingen The Main Event
“This will be huge for Valley boxers,” Juarez said. “They won’t have to travel hundreds of miles away to get to a big event. It will be close to home, right here, in Harlingen.”
Four rings will be set up at the convention center with each having 50 bouts throughout the course of the tournament. Organizers expect more than 400 amateur boxers from Harlingen and all over the United States, as well as other countries. It’s what Bert Wells of Atlanta envisioned when he started his Sugar Bert tournaments in 2016. He wanted to bring WBC-supported amateur boxing tournaments to cities large and small.
“My goal is to take tournaments to where the boxers are,” Wells said. “The Valley has a lot of young boxing talent. Look at what Omar has done. There are more like him coming up. This kind of event brings a lot for local boxers, and for the communities that host a Sugar Bert tournament.”
Economic Impact
For Harlingen, it will mean an economic impact comparable to what the yearly Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival brings to the city.
About 5,000 boxing fans are expected to attend the Sugar Bert Tournament in Harlingen later this month. It’s simultaneously the first time Wells has held one of his tournaments in Texas. At the press conference, he praised Harlingen city leaders for the welcome given. Likewise, Wells hopes to make the tournament a yearly event in Harlingen.
“It’s going to be an economic generator for the city,” said Gabriel Gonzalez, the Harlingen city manager. “It’s a major event when you look at hotel stays and money spent at our restaurants and stores. This will be a major event for our city.”
Harlingen Mayor Norma Sepulveda was enthusiastic as she took photos with Juarez and other young boxers at the press conference.
“I’m really excited,” the mayor said. “This event is going to bring people to Harlingen from all over the Valley, Texas and other parts of the country. Our visitors will be here multiple days. Hotels will be filled up. I think we’ll see a huge impact.”
Wide Exposure
Wells reaffirmed those expectations based on his years of hosting amateur boxing tournaments.
“Boxers will travel to get to events like this one,” he said. “It’s a great experience for the kids involved. They get to box against competition from all over the United States. We also attract boxers from lots of other places like the Virgin Islands, the Philippines, so these local boxers get a great experience and lots of exposure.”
USA Boxing and the Texas Local Boxing Commission are sanctioning the Green Belt tournament in Harlingen. It is being sponsored by Sugar Bert Boxing, USA Boxing, World Boxing Council Cares and the South Texas Amateur Boxing Association. There is a $15-to-$25 fee to attend the tournament. Visit www.sugarbertboxing.com for registration and ticket information.