Locals seek Golden Gloves titles

Nelson, 21, had never been part of a gym before but had met B Street Boxing’s legendary owner Eddie Croft through his brother when he was a little younger. Croft, 40, is a former state kickboxing champion and three-time Golden Gloves champion in San Francisco who has transformed the former seedy bikini bar in the basement of San Mateo’s old City Hall into a place that builds strength and character in both men and women.

Croft, a 1987 graduate of Aragon High School, fought in the super bantamweight division at 122 pounds for most of his career and got started in martial arts at the age of 5. He was mentored by Pacifica boxer Johnny Nava and earned a third-degree black belt in tae kwon do along the way.

Although B Street Boxing offers both Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu classes, it is boxing that most excites Croft. His student Nelson is not the only B Street boxer who advanced to the Golden Gloves regional championships held March 20. Ricardo Pinell and Courtney Ogawa have also advanced.

Pinell, a middleweight, prevailed against two fighters with substantially more ring experience to advance. Female fighter Ogawa has been training with Croft for years and followed him to B Street.

Croft has trained a professional world kickboxing champion, five San Francisco Golden Glove champions and others in various disciplines of combat sports. He would ultimately like to train a boxing, kickboxing and mixed-martial arts champion.

With MMA gaining worldwide popularity, Croft has catered his gym to accommodate those who want to fight in multiple disciplines.

"A student can try all that we offer. See what they are strong at and then concentrate on that discipline if they choose,” Croft said.

Nelson is proud of the progress he has made in the past year in the ring and credits Croft, other trainers and other students for pushing him toward greater health and confidence.

"When I entered the ring for the first time I was nervous. I would switch those nerves with aggression. Now I am calmer. Sometimes I tense up but I’ve learned how to loosen up,” Nelson said.

For Croft, boxing is about a lot more than physical strength and conditioning or the ability to take punishment. It’s also about the condition of the mind and the ability to make split-second decisions and recognize weakness.

"I’ve had people ask me how I can hug someone after they have just been hitting me. There is so much mutual respect in the sport. Your opponent had to spend the same amount of time and put in the same work to battle in the ring. You know what they have been through and the sacrifices they have made,” Croft said.

Another of Croft’s students, novice Michelle Paredes, also won her division at the Northern California tournament.

The California Regional Golden Gloves Championships starts at noon, Saturday, March 20, 824 W. Maple Ave., Tulare. For more information check out www.bstreetboxing.com.

Bill Silverfarb can be reached by e-mail: silverfarb@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106.