After more than a decade of defending himself, Ralph Martin has thrown in the towel.

Martin, the Local Boxing Club's president the past 13 years, was placed on probation by USA Boxing and removed from the post last month. He says he will not fight it.

“;It was really a series of situations that have occurred between our local boxing committee and some if its members,”; USA Boxing chief executive officer Jim Millman said.

Millman declined to specify the violations, but Martin has been at war with Hawaii's other amateur boxing organization, Golden Gloves, for most of his tenure. He is currently in court to hear separate claims against Golden Gloves and Hawaii's Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs for holding illegal bouts.

“;I don't really want to keep fighting,”; Martin said. “;There are more important things to worry about than boxing. I am just going to do what I do, maybe open up a club of my own to train the kids. But nobody wants me to be able to leave peacefully.”;

The LBC was scheduled to hold its elections this month, but they are on hold until the probation is lifted. Until then, local trainer Blane Yoshida has been named the interim director for the LBC so that it can continue to hold events. Millman said that there is no timetable for an election.

Millman opted for probation rather than suspension so that the LBC could continue holding events. Although local athletes can stay active, one of the state's most respected coaches can't. Bruce Kawano, Hawaii Boxing's Junior Olympic chairman and Martin's longtime right-hand man, applied to take a USA Boxing team to China but was turned down because of the LBC's probation. Kawano has made similar trips for USA Boxing annually.

“;Bruce is a very competent coach and he was nominated, but we didn't want anyone from any of our LBCs that are on probation to represent us,”; Millman said. “;It could have been anyone.”;

Like Martin, Kawano will not appeal the probation. Unlike Martin, he plans on staying in the game on the executive level as soon as the probation is lifted. Kawano would be a contender for Martin's post when elections are held.

“;As long as they don't hurt the kids, I don't mind,”; Kawano said. “;I get to take a break for a little while.”;

Martin will get no such break. He will be in court on Dec. 16 to try to fend off a fine of $25,000 in one case and has 20 days to answer the state's Regulated Industries Complaints Office in another. Martin believes he got into this mess by being the only person willing to stand up for his organization. But the time has come for him to fend for himself.

“;I told the clubs, I can no longer fight for you people, you will have to stand up for yourselves,”; Martin said. “;And they have always had a problem doing that, its just the local way like when they register to vote on the last day. It's up to the clubs to step up and be recognized or they are going to get run over.

“;The only thing I am guilty of is trying to help the kids.”;

So USA Boxing in Hawaii moves on under new management, which could lead to an annual state championship with all of Hawaii's fighters represented. Friction between Martin and Carl Phillips of Golden Gloves Hawaii in recent years has forced fighters from one organization not to compete in events held by the other.

Yoshida hopes that with Martin—who has been charged with not allowing fighters from Golden Gloves into his tournaments—out of the way, amateur boxing can return to the way it was in its glory days.

“;We just have to push forward,”; Yoshida said. “;I have asked for the input of respected boxing people like Al Silva of Waipahu and we would like to try to get bigger events and bigger venues to give the kids more opportunities.”;