Student wins Golden Gloves tournament

ACC student Isaac Rodriguez won the 2011 Austin Regional Golden Gloves novice boxing tournament held on Feb. 18 at the Travis County Expo Banquet Hall.

Born in Austin, the 23-year-old student trains at Fit Boxing Gym and dreams of becoming an Olympic boxer. He plans to graduate from the University of Texas at Austin in 2013. Rodriguez said his father has been his inspiration since childhood.

In addition to boxing, Rodriguez is studying nutrition and sports science at ACC and wants to help improve nutritional goals in our country.

 "Some people eat too much cheap food, and they are not aware of the consequences," said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez kept his boxing talent secret from his classmates and faculty at ACC until after he beat his opponent in the Golden Glove finals.

"I was quiet about this in school, and I did not want to make comments about my preference for boxing. It will not bother me from now on if anybody wants to talk to me regarding this activity," said Rodriguez.

Sarah Rodriguez, no relation, was part of the protocol and awards ceremony. She said she considered Rodriguez as the best fighter during the finals night.

Although they have never spoken before, she has seen him several times at the gym, and likes his boxing style.

"It is tough," said Isaac Rodriguez about his daily life after the awards ceremony. He now has to budget his time carefully between his classes, training at a gym, and his part time job at Best Buy.

The Golden Glove tournament consisted of 15 final fights with sub-novice, novice and open divisions. Rodriguez was awarded a prize as the best novice and won a medal and a jacket.

Rodriguez and other winners of the Golden Gloves tournament now have the opportunity to represent the city of Austin next month at the state championship in Forth Worth, where they will vie for the national championship and Olympic trials.