Tough talk

Participants bring variety of goals, ambitions into ring

ERIC WOODS
Staff Writer

Toughman isn’t just about beating the other guy to a pulp.

It’s also about beating down the opponent’s will and stealing his dreams and his hopes of being the next fighter whose career is launched by the nationwide competition.

Jenna Cardenas, a fighter in the Tough Woman contest, is going to college to be a respiratory therapist. But what she really has her heart set on is becoming a pro boxer.

“Respiratory therapy is important to me, but I really dream of boxing,” Cardenas said.

Cardenas is one of 36 competitors who will be giving their best because they want to be the next Mr. T, who got his start with Toughman.

What do you think the T stands for?” said Lydia Robertson, U.S. southern coordinator for Toughman. “That stands for tough to the bad guys and tender to the women and children,” Mr. T said in a USA Today article. “I tell everybody Toughman is a stepping stone to fame and fortune.”

While some have fame and fortune from the events, there are still those waiting in the corner.

Dan Stogner and Rudy Juarez, corner men for the event, have seen fighters fight and fall and have even fought themselves. And they love it.

The men stand in opposite corners and coach one fighter at a time. They watch the fight and tell their boxer how to beat the other fighter’s weakness.

Stogner actually doesn’t want to be a fighter coach; he would rather be a fighter. But because of a state law which says you can’t fight past age 35, Stogner will have to sit this one out. He does fight in other states and wishes he could fight in this one.

Juarez also wants to be fighting, but can’t. Not because he is too old, but because he is getting better after an operation on his shoulder.

The two men say even though they coach several fighters in a night, they hate to see their fighters lose.

“After the fight gets going, you really get involved,” Stogner said.

Even Justin Roberts, the announcer and MC for the event tries to help fighters. Roberts said he tries to build up the competitors by giving some nicknames, which helps the audience sometimes get behind an underdog.

Even Robertson said she admires the fighters.

“The amount of guts, nerves and heart that it takes is incalculable,” she said.

Floyd Newcomb, phone operator at Shannon and competitor in the local competition, also likes to play chess. Newcomb said he sees fighting and chess as being similar because each man has his strategy.

“It’s the same scenario,” he said. “Each man has his own moves.”

No matter what his or her moves, the best way to be the best is to “keep your hands up and your punches straight,” Juarez said.

This year’s event is being conducted at the San Angelo Coliseum and begins at 8 p.m. Tickets can be bought at the door for $14 to $21.