NATIONAL CITY Emmanuel Robles and Adrian Vargas found their future on the streets.
They roamed their communities during their adolescent years, terrorizing their neighborhoods, living amid a vortex of disobedience, aggression and crime. There was some jail time and friendships lost during. But their experiences ultimately served as a launch pad their boxing careers.
When they step into the ring to face each other Friday night in a four-round super lightweight bout, they will be staring at almost a replica of each other.
The fighters from South Bay share a similar history and boxing styles. They will put those on display as part of a Bobby D. Presents card at the Gonzalez Sports Academy in Chula Vista. The card is set to include four other bouts, including Oscar Godoy of Tijuana against Joshua Marks of El Centro in the main event.
Robles, 23, of Imperial Beach, said he went to jail after his mother called the police. She did it to save his life. Robles had been in plenty of trouble, stealing cars for joy rides, fighting on the streets, eventually being stabbed while living a thug life. He was on a path to his coffin.
It wasn't until he decided to make a change that he sought out boxing as self-defense. He liked the sport enough to pursue a career as a fighter. His days as a troublemaker were over.
"There were several points in my life where I wanted to change my ways," said Robles, who won notable tournaments, and become the National Police Athletic League's 141-pound champion. "But it wasn't until I went on my first run during training that I was motivated. I had to stop twice to complete the (three mile) run."
Robles (4-0, 2KOs) eventually finished the run. The second time he only stopped once. He has not needed a break since
He had already caught his break. No more streets. Only classes at City College and a part-time job at Petco Park selling concessions during Padres games. Those were the days. Now he spends 30 hours a week busing tables at a San Diego Italian restaurant when he is not training at the Old School boxing gym in El Cajon.
He works for his family, his almost two-year old son, Emmanuel, his baby daughter, Angelina, and his wife of three years, Erika.
He works on and off the ring to continue to be a better person.
"People should know that I am not a violent person," Robles said. "Boxing actually makes you more relaxed even if it's a violent sport. I don't walk the streets looking to start fights."
He did as a teen-ager. And they might be paying off now.
"I don't think that I would be as strong-willed as I am today had my mom not called the cops on me when I was 16," Robles said. "We had a tough childhood with my mom not being around because she was working two jobs to feed us. And there I was doing dumb stuff. Everything happens for a reason and it made me stronger. I learned from it.
"I'm not proud of it but in a way it makes me happy I went through it."
Vargas (5-0, 3 KOs), the 22-year-old from National City, is still looking to put his criminal past behind him. There are still a few things the southpaw out of the Undisputed gym downtown has to get past.
His boxing career is on track. He wants to be a world champion someday. But in order for that to happen he must remain out of trouble. And out of jail.
Vargas, who beat Robles in a fiery bout in 2008 as amateurs, said he might end up in jail, again. This time for trafficking close a ton of marijuana in June of 2010, he said
It was the last of his costly mistakes. Vargas said was detained for five months before being released on bail just in time to be with his wife, Alejandra when she gave birth to their son, Adrian Hart Vargas.
"I did what I had to do to survive," Vargas said of the drug trafficking. "My girl was pregnant and I needed to make some money. It was a time I didn't care about hardly anything. I was fed up. I said "(expletive) it, I'm going to do what I want in jail not follow anyone's rules."
That quickly changed in the joint when Vargas began to miss his family, his freedom.
Vargas said his sentencing has been pushed back a couple of times. His next date is for Feb. 10 but might be postponed again.
"I don't know why they push it back," said Vargas, who is hoping he can avoid further jail time and be dealt probation instead. "I think the prosecutors are my fans."
Perhaps they are.
Vargas said prosecutors often attend his fights. He said his parole officers allowed him to fight and spar in Mexico despite the pending sentencing. He even is allowed to train at his gym and donate time to teach kids how to box as part of a community program.
"I'm just trying to focus on my boxing career," Vargas said. "I'm trying to do the right thing, win fights."
And this time, not on the street.
ivan.orozco@sandiegored.com
[sidebar]Boxing night
The "Champions of Tomorrow" boxing event is Friday, with the first of five fights beginning at 8 p.m.
It will be held at the Gonzalez Sports Academy, 2390 Boswell Road, Chula Vista, CA 91914. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Tickets range from $30 to $75. More information is available at sandiegofights.com, or at 619.420.88.66 and 619.743.0698.
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