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GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP - Julio Sanchez thought his boxing career was over five years ago.

A once-promising welterweight, the Pleasantville resident had two professional bouts and won them both. But nagging injuries and a new job with the Pleasantville Fire Department forced him to give up fighting.

"I wasn't planning on retiring from boxing," Sanchez said. "But life happened. I became a firefighter, and I'm vice president of the Pleasantville school board. And I have two kids. I just didn't have time to deal with the ups and downs of the boxing business."

Now he's back in boxing. The 31-year-old is scheduled to take on Phillip Jackson Benson (3-1, 3 KOs), of New York, in a four-round, super-middleweight fight tonight at Bally's Atlantic City.

Sanchez actually ended his hiatus two weeks ago. His trainer, former light-heavyweight and cruiserweight champion Virgil Hill, arranged a fight in Hill's native state of North Dakota on Oct. 24. Sanchez registered a one-punch, first-round knockout over Marshall Martin at 4 Bears Casino and Lodge.

"I ran into the promoter after the fight, and he told me the only reason he brought me there was to make the other guy look good," Sanchez said with a laugh. "I told him I didn't get the memo."

Sanchez did get the message that Hill delivered to him about six months ago. The two were chatting at a backyard barbecue when the talk turned to boxing.

Hill, 45, retired after a 23-year pro career that featured a 50-7 record and championships in two weight classes. When Sanchez told him of his brief experience, Hill was perplexed.

"I asked him to give me six months to get him in shape and then see where that leads us," said Hill, who owns All N Conditioning in Risley Square. "I think he lost his zest for boxing, and I was hoping to help him get it back. I wanted him to at least give it another shot. Then he could walk away and not be haunted by the thought of what might have been."

Sanchez had tried to take away the temptation to fight again by gaining weight. An avid weight-lifter, he went from 147 pounds to 208 during the five-year layoff. He had told himself that if he got above 200 pounds, he would be too big to box. A few months in Hill's grueling conditioning program changed that. Sanchez dropped 40 pounds and now competes in the 168-pound division.

Hill also removed another obstacle by handing Sanchez a key to the gym. That enabled Sanchez to work around his schedule at the fire department. Some days he trains at 1 a.m., others at 3 p.m.

"I was cool with not fighting anymore because I had convinced myself that I just didn't have the time to do it," Sanchez said. "Virgil took all my excuses away. It didn't take me long to realize that I'm a fighter at heart. Once I started training again, the thirst and desire to fight again came back.

"I don't know what's going to come of this. I'd love to say I'm going to make this a fairy tale and become a champion. But realistically, I just want to go as far as I can go. I didn't want to be 40 years old and wondering what I could have accomplished if I gave it one more try."

Punchlines: Cape May welterweight Josh Mercado (2-0, 1 KO) is also on tonight's undercard. He will face ring rookie Epifano Cosme Rodriguez, of Lancaster, Pa., in a four-rounder. The 10-round main event will pit Philadelphia welterweight Mike Jones (18-0, 15 KOs) against Colombia native Raul Pinzon (16-3, 15 KOs). Pinzon replaced Richard Gutierrez, who injured his back.

Doors to the Bally's Main Ballroom open at 7 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7:30. Tickets are $50 and $75 and are available at Bally's, Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) and through Ticketmaster.

Contact David Weinberg:

609-272-7186

DWeinberg@pressofac.com

Tonight's card

Where: Bally's Atlantic City

When: Doors open at 7 p.m., first bout scheduled for 7:30

Tickets: $50-$75, available at Bally's, Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) and Ticketmaster.

2 comments:

• ronnie1 (2) posts 11:05 am

  LET'S HOPE HE IS NOT LATE FOR THE FIGHT

• whyoknabth (150) posts 9:33 am

  OH PLEASE!! This guy is a self-absorbed joke! WHENEVER anything additional comes up with the School Board, like committee meetings, special meetings, start times for meetings etc., Sanchez ALWAYS begs off saying he has to work or that he has kids to support. He reminds the public that he doesn't get paid to be on the Board. However, he has time to box; he's managing to get off work to box?! COME ON!! He signed up to be on the School Board, but can't fully commit. What's he doing; looking for greener pastures now that he can't steal an election with Callaway messenger ballots? Finally, maybe his boxing opponent can do us all a favor & punch him in the mouth. He talks TOO MUCH & makes unnecessary comments on EVERYTHING. He's just TOO annoying! On the other hand, if he does well with this boxing thing, maybe he'll leave the School Board. Now that would be a blessing in disguise.

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