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Tomlinson Fighting For His Dreams

Tribune photo by EDDIE DANIELS

Ricky Tomlinson Jr. is surrounded by his numerous medals and trophies from his two years in the sport. The 14-year-old is flanked by father, Ricky Tomlinson Sr., left, and trainer Carlos Rivera, right, inside the Plantation Boxing Gym in Carrollwood.

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By EDDIE DANIELS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 8, 2009

Ricky Tomlinson, Jr. left the ring bloodied and upset.

It was his first fight after three months of training and he lost to a more seasoned competitor.

When things were said and done on that day back in 2006, his father, Ricky Tomlinson Sr., leaned over and asked his son if he still wanted to box. No one would blame the kid for stopping his career after one disastrous fight.

Through the tears, the blood and the sniffling, the then-12-year-old looked up at his father and responded: "Yeah, I still want to do it."

Now 14, Tomlinson Jr. and his trainer Carlos Rivera have traveled to Wilmington, N.C. to participate in the Southeast Coast Regional Silver Gloves boxing tournament, held at the Wilmington National Guard Armory.

The three-day event begins tonight and Tomlinson is hoping to add to his 11 other titles. From the level of confidence in the voice of Rivera, Tomlinson Jr. and Sr., he may achieve what he has set out to accomplish.

"It's been pretty much everyday besides Christmas," said Tomlinson Jr. during a training session inside Plantation Boxing Gym in Carrollwood. "I've been here training at the gym, training at the house, running a whole lot more, training pretty much every hour and minute."

In just three months under the tutelage of Rivera, there appears to be a difference in the youngster. Rivera has worked on scrapping a few bad habits in addition to increasing Tomlinson Jr.'s physical output.

"It's a big difference," his father said. "He's got more power, more technique, more endurance, cardio, everything you can think of. He had good cardio and endurance before, but [training with Rivera] has taken it to a whole new level."

Considering the father and son travel from Zephyrhills to Carrollwood – a 45 minute trip on a good day – it's a must for the work to pay off. And many times when he arrived to that gym, professional super featherweight Kermit "Bazooka" Gonzales (6-0-1, 3 KOs) was waiting for him.

Although Tomlinson Jr. sports an 18-17 amateur record, in the past three months, he's only lost once.

During his two years in the ring, the boxer has added a number of titles to his dossier including: Silver Gloves (2006, '07, '08), Florida Police Athletic League ('07, '08), Florida's Sunshine State Games ('07, '08), Junior Golden Gloves (2008), Florida Junior Olympics (2008), as well as two local belts.

At some point during this week's tournament, Tomlinson Jr., who is fighting at 106 pounds, expects to face Antuanne Russell – the younger brother of 2008 Olympian Gary Russell.

That's an opportunity the Tomlinson camp relishes.

"It doesn't matter who it is," Rivera said. "It can be Russell's brother, it doesn't matter, we're ready. I guarantee, when I tell you we're ready, we're ready and I want [Tomlinson Jr.] to have the same mentality I have because I'm very confident

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214 or edaniels@tampatrib.com.

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