FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Glenn Miyose got a shot at a world title after he won the 125-pound weight class at the Everlast Fran Jones Under-19 National Championships in Reno, Nev.

Making the
right choice

Miyose picks school
over a trip to the world
boxing championship

---

By Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.com

For most 17-year-old boxers, a choice between taking an all-expense paid trip to compete for a world championship and spending a week in school would be simple.

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Glenn Miyose took up boxing 10 years ago and went undefeated in his first seven years. He suffered his first setback in the semis of the 2000 Junior Olympics, finishing with a bronze medal.

And for Waianae senior Glenn Miyose Jr., it was.

Miyose, the national champion in his weight class, decided the chance to earn a 4.0 grade point average outweighed a shot at a title and declined his invitation to fight in the Under-19 World Championships in Santiago, Cuba, last month to avoid falling behind in school.

"It was easy (to turn down the trip)," Miyose said. "I had to go to school."

Miyose will finally get a taste of international competition this weekend when he joins a team of top U.S. boxers in Harvey, Ill., to face a squad from the Dominican Republic.

Miyose is the youngest U.S. fighter in the open-adult competition which runs Friday to Sunday.

"When you go to the nationals, you only represent Waianae, now he's representing the United States," said Bruce Kawano, Miyose's trainer.

"And you know the Dominican Republic is going to bring their best fighters. You don't come to the U.S. bringing scrubs."

Miyose, a member of the Doug Westbrook Boxing Club in Waianae, earned a chance to fight for the world championship by winning the gold medal in the 125-pound weight class at the Everlast Fran Jones Under-19 National Championships in Reno, Nev. He defeated Damon Murillo of California 11-5 in the finals on Aug. 17.

Kini Sofa Jr., another Waianae product, won the national title in the 112-pound class. The event marked the first time two Hawaii boxers claimed national championships in the same year.

To prepare for the nationals, Kawano took Miyose to Maui to train near the summit of Haleakala. His workouts on the Valley Isle paid off as Miyose wasn't fazed by Reno's altitude in winning four bouts.

However, between the Reno trip and time spent in training, Miyose had fallen behind in school. So with just two weeks between the national and world championships, he decided to stay home and catch up with his studies.

He was the only national gold medalist not to participate in the world championships.

"My dad wanted me to go at first but I had to go to school," Miyose said.

Kawano estimates the trip -- paid for entirely by USA Boxing -- cost $4,700 per person and included airfare, hotel, meals, uniform, taxes, tours and $400 in spending money.

Still, Miyose said his family and friends came to understand his decision, which also resulted in joy in California.

"(Murillo) was so happy," said Kawano, an assistant coach with the U.S. team at the world championships. "He said he couldn't believe it when he got the call."

Murillo won his first fight in Cuba, but lost in the second round of the tournament. Sofa lost his first bout.

Miyose admits to being nervous about making his debut in international competition this week, but is looking forward to seeing how his defensive, counter-punching style works against boxers from another country.

"I just want to see how they fight and see if they're good," said the soft-spoken senior.

Miyose started boxing 10 years ago when his cousin invited him to come to a workout. It took a while for the sport to get into his blood, but he eventually became a devotee who now spends two hours every day training in the boxing room at the Waianae Regional Park gym.

Miyose went undefeated over his first seven years of boxing, suffering his first loss in the semifinals of the 2000 Junior Olympics where he took the bronze.

Miyose's technique and natural quickness allowed him to rise to elite status, but Kawano said his ring intellect gives him the edge in many fights.

"He picks it up quick and he listens," Kawano said. "If he loses the first round and I tell him to do something else, he adjusts. If I tell him to change his style, he'll change his style.

"At first he'll try to be a defensive boxer, if I tell him in the second round to be aggressive, he'll attack," Kawano added.

Miyose harbors dreams of boxing in the 2004 Olympic Games and starting a professional career. But not before taking care of business in the classroom.

"I wanted him to go (to the world championships), but school comes first," Kawano said. "In boxing you can take a lot of trips."