{"id":795307,"date":"2019-04-29T21:28:00","date_gmt":"2019-04-30T03:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/vail-valleys-mean-streets-boxers-earn-state-golden-gloves-titles\/"},"modified":"2019-04-29T21:28:00","modified_gmt":"2019-04-30T03:28:00","slug":"vail-valleys-mean-streets-boxers-earn-state-golden-gloves-titles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/local-news\/vail-valleys-mean-streets-boxers-earn-state-golden-gloves-titles\/","title":{"rendered":"Vail Valley\u2019s Mean Streets boxers earn state Golden Gloves titles"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery\" readability=\"6.8104166666667\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-365224-616\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/VailBoxing-SDN-043019-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/VailBoxing-SDN-043019-4.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Randy Wyrick \/ randy@vaildaily.com | Jaime Chavira works with Mike Pisciotta during a training session at the Mean Streets Boxing Club in Eagle. Chavira was one of five Mean Streets boxers to fight in the state Golden Gloves championships, and was one of three who won state titles.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"7.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/VailBoxing-SDN-043019-4.jpg\" alt=\"Jaime Chavira works with Mike Pisciotta during a training session at the Mean Streets Boxing Club in Eagle. Chavira was one of five Mean Streets boxers to fight in the state Golden Gloves championships, and was one of three who won state titles.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>Jaime Chavira works with Mike Pisciotta during a training session at the Mean Streets Boxing Club in Eagle. Chavira was one of five Mean Streets boxers to fight in the state Golden Gloves championships, and was one of three who won state titles.<\/strong><br \/>Randy Wyrick \/ randy@vaildaily.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/VailBoxing-SDN-043019-4-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/VailBoxing-SDN-043019-4-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Randy Wyrick \/ randy@vaildaily.com | Robert Castillo, right, won the 123-pound novice division at the state Golden Gloves tournament.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"7.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/VailBoxing-SDN-043019-4-1.jpg\" alt=\"Robert Castillo, right, won the 123-pound novice division at the state Golden Gloves tournament.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>Robert Castillo, right, won the 123-pound novice division at the state Golden Gloves tournament.<\/strong><br \/>Randy Wyrick \/ randy@vaildaily.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/VailBoxing-SDN-043019-4-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/VailBoxing-SDN-043019-4-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Randy Wyrick \/ randy@vaildaily.com | Edgar Morales takes his turn in the ring with Mike Pisciotta during a training session at Eagle's Mean Streets Boxing Club.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/VailBoxing-SDN-043019-4-2.jpg\" alt=\"Edgar Morales takes his turn in the ring with Mike Pisciotta during a training session at Eagle's Mean Streets Boxing Club.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Edgar Morales takes his turn in the ring with Mike Pisciotta during a training session at Eagle&#8217;s Mean Streets Boxing Club.<\/strong><br \/>Randy Wyrick \/ randy@vaildaily.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/VailBoxing-SDN-043019-4-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/VailBoxing-SDN-043019-4-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Randy Wyrick \/ randy@vaildaily.com | Francisco Gomez was on his way to winning a Golden Gloves title in his weight class when he injured his arm in the second round. The referee stopped the fight in the third round.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"7\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/VailBoxing-SDN-043019-4-3.jpg\" alt=\"Francisco Gomez was on his way to winning a Golden Gloves title in his weight class when he injured his arm in the second round. The referee stopped the fight in the third round.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><strong>Francisco Gomez was on his way to winning a Golden Gloves title in his weight class when he injured his arm in the second round. The referee stopped the fight in the third round.<\/strong><br \/>Randy Wyrick \/ randy@vaildaily.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/VailBoxing-SDN-043019-4-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/VailBoxing-SDN-043019-4-4.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Special to the Daily | David Muruato won a state Golden Gloves title, scoring multiple knockdowns. The referee stopped the fight in the second round.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"7\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/VailBoxing-SDN-043019-4-4.jpg\" alt=\"David Muruato won a state Golden Gloves title, scoring multiple knockdowns. The referee stopped the fight in the second round.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><strong>David Muruato won a state Golden Gloves title, scoring multiple knockdowns. The referee stopped the fight in the second round.<\/strong><br \/>Special to the Daily<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/sports\/vail-valleys-mean-streets-boxers-earn-state-golden-gloves-titles\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/sports\/vail-valleys-mean-streets-boxers-earn-state-golden-gloves-titles\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">EAGLE \u2014 Boxing is like life. You try not to get hit but sometimes you do. You\u2019re going to get smacked around a little. And in addition to your opponent, you\u2019re also fighting yourself.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s the ability to keep fighting when you\u2019re down, to get up when you\u2019re down,\u201d Mike Pisciotta said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Pisciotta has been teaching these lessons through boxing for three decades. His latest charges are the young men he trains at Mean Streets Boxing Club in Eagle<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe took five brand new kids to the state Golden Gloves tournament and brought back three champions. We\u2019re onto something here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Pisciotta preaches safety first, which is the No. 1 priority of any contact sport.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">There are lots of ways to win fights. Primary among them is to keep from getting hit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Subhead\">Local golden boys<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">David Muruato of Gypsum won his championship bout in the 8-9-year-old, 85-pound division. Muruato scored four standing eight counts and two knockdowns during the championship bout against Noel Diaz. The referee stopped the bout in the second round.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Jaime Chavira Jr. of Gypsum won the 12-13-year-old, 101-pound division.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Robert Castillo won the 123-pound novice division.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Castillo, 23, was born and raised in the valley and graduated Eagle Valley High School. He lived behind the school and always had boxing gloves around the house. School starts later on Wednesdays, so Castillo and his friends would pass the extra hour boxing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe thought we knew how to box, but we didn\u2019t,\u201d he said. \u201cWe didn\u2019t know how to throw a punch, or take a punch. Coach does a good job preparing us and keeping us focused.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Muruato, 8, is energetic and animated most of the time, and especially when he hits something, whether it\u2019s a speed bag or a sparring partner. The Eagle Valley Elementary School student\u2019s smile could light the night when he talks about winning his Golden Gloves title and the trophy he earned.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">He was in trouble for a few seconds, on the ropes in the second round. Some aggressive action got him out of it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI started going super fast on him and he backed away,\u201d Muruato said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Take action when it\u2019s called for: Yet another life lesson, Pisciotta says smiling.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Chavira, 12, plays soccer and wrestles at Gypsum Creek Middle School. Chavira said it helps that Pisciotta has them on the same roadwork schedule as the 1988 Olympic boxing team.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">They\u2019re in the Mean Streets gym twice a week. In between they\u2019re running, swimming and eating right.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Edgar Morales, 20, remembers nerves and excitement when he stepped into the ring.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cOnce you get in the ring it all goes away,\u201d Morales said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Morales fought valiantly, but lost a split decision. Like all split decisions, from the Supreme Court to a panel of Golden Gloves boxing judges, this one was a matter of interpretation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt can happen,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Boxing teaches all kinds of life lessons, Morales said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cYou learn perseverance. No matter what\u2019s happening you still have to throw your punches. You have to try, even if you miss. A missed punch is better than no punch at all,\u201d Morales said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Francisco Gomez, 24, was excited but pragmatic for his Golden Gloves bout.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s not that complicated. Don\u2019t get hit and hit him harder,\u201d Gomez said smiling.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">His fight was stopped in the third round after he injured his left arm in the second, while hammering away at his opponent. In his corner between the second and third rounds he and Pisciotta talked about stopping the fight. Gomez was having none of it. He answered the bell for the third round, but the referee decided that Gomez\u2019 injured arm was not allowing him to protect himself adequately.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Gomez said he\u2019ll be back in the ring soon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI like it and I\u2019m going to keep getting better,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Subhead\">Why Mean Streets<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Mean Streets Boxing Club is so named because the goal is to keep kids off the mean streets, Pisciotta said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIf they\u2019re in the gym they\u2019re not out on the street. That\u2019s a good start,\u201d Pisciotta said. \u201cWe point them in another direction, toward something positive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Pisciotta stresses education, because you\u2019re going to need one. In the long run, education will be more important than an uppercut.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Pisciotta started with the program in 1990 in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he was working in a penitentiary. He saw all kinds of inmates who needed someone to give them either a gentle nudge or a swift swat \u2014 whatever was called for \u2014 in the right direction.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">These days Pisciotta works in Colorado\u2019s court system, based out of the Fifth Judicial District in Eagle.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Pisciotta\u2019s boxers are unfailingly polite. They shake hands firmly and smile as they look you in the eye when they\u2019re introduced. They\u2019re also all business when they strap on the gear and get to work.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">They\u2019re also all novices, 10 bouts or less.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI\u2019m cautious with my kids. I don\u2019t need to put a kid in the ring to show how tough they are,\u201d Pisciotta said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Pisciotta\u2019s boxing roots run to his early teens. He grew up in Pueblo and his dad took him to a couple gyms when he was around 13. The family migrated to Denver and he trained with Ron Lyle, one of Muhammad Ali\u2019s opponents. He won a Nebraska state title and turned pro for 10 fights. He was knocked out in his 10th and final professional fight, and decided he prefers coaching.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Subhead\">About Mean Streets Boxing<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Eagle\u2019s Mean Streets Boxing Club trains Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30-7:30 p.m. For information contact Mike Pisciotta at 605-639-9678.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/sports\/vail-valleys-mean-streets-boxers-earn-state-golden-gloves-titles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: Summit Daily<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jaime Chavira works with Mike Pisciotta during a training session at the Mean Streets Boxing Club in Eagle. Chavira was one of five Mean Streets boxers to fight in the state Golden Gloves championships, and was one of three who won state titles.Randy Wyrick \/ randy@vaildaily.com Robert Castillo, right, won the 123-pound novice division at [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[99],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-795307","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-15 02:26:22","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSMT The Mountain","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/795307","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=795307"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/795307\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=795307"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=795307"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=795307"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}