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Bruce Kawano started athletic competition at age seven participating in Judo. By the time he was a sophomore in high school, he won six State Judo Championships, an OIA High School Wrestling Championship, and an OIA High School Judo Championship, winning the OIA in the varsity division as a freshman. At the beginning of his sophomore year, he started hanging with the wrong crowd, the "party crowd". At the age of 20 he missed the competitiveness of sports. Inspired by watching boxing on television, including the "Rocky" sequels, he decided to become a Golden Gloves Champion.
In 1988 he started his boxing career and realized he would have to quit smoking and drinking to achieve his goal. Bruce ended up winning the Golden Gloves three times, State/Regionals two times, and Aloha State Games three times. He competed in the U.S. Championships at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs as well as the National Golden Gloves. His amateur record was 33-5 before turning pro. He won his first pro bout by decision against an undefeated opponent.
Pro Boxing then totally died in Hawaii. His coach, Doug Westbrook, asked him to assist him at the Waianae Boxing Club. Since he was coaching and still hoping for a pro bout in Hawaii, he kept clean and sober. When he decided to hang up the gloves in 1996, he decided to lead by example. Doug's and Bruce's boxing team started to win State and Regional Team Championships year after year and in 1997 he was chosen as coach to the U.S. Championships and National Golden Gloves. Things just fell into place after that. In 1998 an era began, Tony Rodriguez won the U.S. Championships at 119 lbs., the first since 1978. Bruce then took Tuese Ah Kiong to the National Golden Gloves, which he ended up winning at the Super-heavyweight division. Tuese was only the 2nd boxer from Hawaii to win the National Golden Gloves, the only other Hawaii champion was in the 1970's. To top it all off, Bruce was the Head Coach to the National Junior Olympics where Samson Guillermo won the Nationals and became the 2nd boxer ever from Hawaii to win this event. Brian Viloria was the first. Samson ended up winning the Nationals the next year also and was named the outstanding Boxer of the two international tournaments in Mexico. He received a scholarship for Northern Michigan University after high school.
Hawaii boxers started to roll after that, ending a 20 year slump. Coaches tell Bruce that in the past if they drew a Hawaiian boxer they were happy, since it was an easy win, now they know they have to work to get the win.
Bruce has been picked for some International Duals, a World Championship, a Pan-Am Games Cadet and also coached at the 2001 World/Goodwill Games Training Camp. If Bruce didn't have the dream of becoming a Golden Gloves Champion, he would have ended up in jail with his "party group". He is now the General Manager of a nightclub, and coaches the Kakaako Boxing Club, which also won the Team Championship last year. Boxing has changed his life for the better. Bruce has not had a cigarette or a drink since 1986. Boxing has given him a happy and successful life, which he wants to teach the athletes around him, by striving to be a positive influence and helping his young athletes contribute to society. He doesn't care if they become World Champions, he would rather they have a successful and happy life. Hopefully, boxing gives them dedication, determination, and discipline to be the best they can be, and carry that on to work and family.
Most of the kids need attention and a place to go after school, which we provide at the gym. Masa and George Nakaoka own the private boxing gym and have never charged an athlete for 22 years. Boxers such as Pernell Whittaker, Muhammed Ali, Roy Jones, Oscar DeLa Hoya, plus the movie "Rocky" all gave me incentives. My family, USA-Boxing, President Ralph Martin, and my coach Doug Westbrook all believed in me and gave me the opportunities to move up in life. I'm grateful and would like to thank them for everything.
Bruce is currently Vice President and Junior Olympic Chairman for USA-Boxing Hawaii.
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REAL ATHLETES
REAL BOXING
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