MURRAY — Kyle Klus hopes he can do for his son what he was unable to do for himself.
"Having a son changed my whole perspective," said the 23-year old who won his 123-pound bout at the Utah State Golden Gloves Boxing Championship Friday night at the Sports Mall in Murray. "I wanted him to be proud of something that I do."
Klus began boxing at age 12. He loved the sport, and even showed a lot of promise. But by the time he was 16, he was struggling in school and wanted to spend his time partying with friends rather than training for the ring. So he gave up the sport he loved.
It is a decision he still regrets.
"Now that I look back on it, I really regret quitting," he said after defeating Leron De Grafftenreed. "I could be a pro now instead of just beginning to make the transition."
Klus decided to revive his childhood dream of becoming a Golden Gloves champion, an Olympian and eventually a professional boxer after his girlfriend Lara gave birth to their son Christopher, now 19 months old.
"Last year I came here and my fight got stopped in the first round," he said with a smile. "I wasn't in shape. But I really committed myself after that. I go to the gym twice a day, five days a week. I've won eight fights in a row."
The boxer he fights in Saturday's championship round is 16-year-old Jonathan Martinez. Martinez defeated Mike Montoya in the first fight on of the night Friday.
Martinez, who lives in Taylorsville, said he began boxing eight years ago after watching a cousin fight.
He trains at the Pete Suazo/South Salt Lake Police Athletic League gym because, he said, they help him with school, as well as his chosen sport.
The boxers study for an hour after school and then they train.
"They help me," he said. "They push me to do good in boxing and in school."
He said he enjoys boxing because "it relaxes me."
Klus said he enjoys boxing because it requires a level of commitment that is difficult to find in other sports.
"Most sports are seasonal," he said. "Boxing is year-round. It's a challenge to stay committed to something for that long."
The West High graduate found his current coaches when a friend told him about the Fight For Your Life Boxing Gym in Salt Lake City.
"I just went to take a peek around and I was really excited about what I saw," he said. Committing to the kind of training necessary to attain his lofty goals was difficult, especially with a full-time job and a family.
"It is hard because I spend a lot of time away from home," he said. "But when you win, all the hard work feels like it pays off. This is my time to show it. It's one thing to work hard; it's another to be able to show it by coming out on top."
IN THE OTHER BOUTS FRIDAY NIGHT:
At 132 pounds, Suanitu, Hogue, PAL defeated Ignacio Chairez, State Street; At 141 pounds, Aaron Almeda, PAL defeated Mike Kelly, XSI; At 152 pounds, Jonathan Hayes, Park City defeated Matt Valles, State Street; At 201 pounds, Sepi Pahua, State Street defeated Trent Wilbur, Price Elks.
The final round of competition takes place today at 7 p.m. at the Sports Mall. Tickets are available at the door for $12 (adults) or $5 (kids).
In show bouts:
At 51 pounds, Yahir Estrada, State Street defeated Lawson Gardener, Louie's; At 85 pounds, Richard Cures defeated Tasale Tia-Tia, Louie's; At 95 pounds, Daniel Castro, Jr., Louie's defeated Chris Ramierz, Youth Training Association; At 127 pounds, Gabe Chairez, State Street, won by forfeit; At 150 pounds, Alex Boyd, Fight For Your Life, defeated Steven Goddard, Sports Mall.
email: adonaldson@desnews.com