There are few things the casual fight fan-ticket buyer would rather see than a knockout. Power is a funny thing. No matter how many times you hit the bag, or how many rounds you spar, you either have it or you don’t. It is the one attribute even the elite boxing trainer cannot teach his fighter. By his own account, Joe Gumina knocked out 16 of his 26 amateur opponents, which translates to an obscene knockout percentage, especially considering there was headgear involved in all of those bouts. Tomorrow night, Gumina’s opponent will not have the benefit of such equipment, as the unapologetic puncher turns pro down the street from his childhood stomping grounds at the Longshoremen’s Hall in San Francisco, California.
Gumina always admired the sport from afar, but did not take up boxing until he was 21-years-old, an advanced age for a beginner. “I always wanted to do it as a kid, but I was always playing baseball or football,” recalls Gumina. “Once I was done playing college football, Hector Martinez said that he would help teach me how to box. I just started working out with him, and he turned me over to Arturo [Gastelum] at Frisco Boxing and its history since. I have just been sticking with it.”
Just about two years after giving up playing linebacker, Gumina qualified for the 2007 National PAL Championships by winning the California Police Activities League state title. “I went there having not really trained for it,” recalls Gumina. “I was in good shape, but not 100 percent. I had hurt my ankle, but I was ‘You know, I am going to do it.’ I had the opportunity and I went down there and knocked out all three guys in all three fights. I have been blessed, and just jumped in there.”
Gumina went on to compete against the top 178-pound amateurs at the national tournament in Oxnard, California. Gumina advanced to the semi-finals after scoring a first-round knockout of Jamar Parker in under a minute, but lost on points to superb boxer Dorian Anthony. The following year Gumina again made it to the National PAL Championships, but lost on points to Marcos Vega.
During his amateur career, Gumina heard some criticism for his all-or-nothing style. “Truthfully, I have had people talk shit about how I box,” says Gumina. “But I am there to fight and I am there to entertain people. If I lose, but I put a hurtin’ on the other guy, hey, basically I won. I am there to knock people out, and that is what boxing needs. It doesn’t need two guys playing patty cake with each other. People may say I am not the best boxer, but I will tell you this, I am there to fight.”
Gumina had planned to turn pro over a year ago, but had to put his career on hold when he was injured at work. Three months ago, Gumina, a resident of San Bruno, California, hooked up with well known trainer Jesse Reid and decided to make the move to Southern California to better himself as a boxer. “I came to a point where I just felt like my wheels were spinning up here,” says Gumina. “I just got on the internet to see what other trainers there were, and I looked him up and found him. I got a hold of him and went down there and sparred in front of him. He said he likes everything he sees, and thinks I could do major things.”
Friday’s bout takes place at the historic Longshoremen’s Hall in San Francisco, a stone’s throw where Gumina grew up. “I’m from San Bruno, so I am ten minutes outside of San Francisco and I have worked at Fisherman’s Wharf since I was a little kid,” says Gumina, who worked at Alioto’s Restaurant, which his cousin owns. “I am grateful as hell that this fight came through. To be able to fight in my hometown for my first fight, I thought for sure I would be fighting in some little Indian casino somewhere. I am excited and I am going to put on a hell of a show in front of all of my friends and family.”
Gumina’s originally scheduled opponent Ryan Davis was a late scratch from the card. “He’s in jail or something,” explained Gumina, who will now face Jose Jesus Hurtado (3-2, 3 KOs) of San Ysidro, California in a four-rounder. “I know nothing about him,” admits Gumina. “I just found out I am fighting him this morning, but I don’t really care. I feel that if I can execute my game plan, I will be alright.”
When Gumina fights, he seems to put everything into just about every punch he throws. Now he is taking that mentality and putting it on his boxing career as a whole. “I am going to go as far as God is willing to let me go, because I am in it to win it,” declares Gumina. “I am putting 100 percent of everything of what I have into this career and boxing. Wherever it takes me, it takes me, but I am giving it 100 percent every day of the week.”
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.
