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Balala, Borge headed to Reno for boxing regional

Rocky Balala (left) and Furious Borge will compete in the Western Elite Qualifier & Regional Open Championships next week in Reno, Nev. The event is a step toward the USA Boxing Olympic Trials. The Maui News / ROBERT COLLIAS photo

WAILUKU — It was an Oprah Winfrey event three years ago that got Rocky Balala back into the gym for boxing.

The 2012 Maui High School graduate, who was a standout cross country and track runner for the Sabers, had just finished his bachelor’s degree at the University of Hawaii and was looking for the outlet he used to enjoy in athletics.

“I’ve been boxing since I was 8 years old, so for 16 years,” the 24-year-old Balala said at Hoomana Barbell gym in Wailuku on Tuesday. “During college I kind of took a step back from boxing to concentrate on my education and my life. I still fought, like, once a year, but I wasn’t consistent with my boxing, so I got completely out of shape.”

Now, he is back.

Balala and Furious Borge, a 2017 King Kekaulike graduate, will head to Reno, Nev., for the Western Elite Qualifier & Regional Open Championships that begin Monday.

The event is a step toward the USA Boxing Olympic Trials — Balala will fight at 125 pounds, while Borge will fight in the 201-over weight class. Both fight for the Central Maui Boxing Club.

“I didn’t really think I was going to take my athletic career seriously again, it was kind of just for fun,” Balala said. “Then after college I started coaching. My dad pulled me into coaching Maui High and I was, like, ‘Nah, I haven’t run in four years, they’re not going to listen to me. I can’t keep up with them.’ All that stuff.”

Then he heard that Winfrey was holding an inspirational event on Maui.

“What kind of started that off, I went to this Oprah event,” Balala said. “The biggest takeaway I got from that was: The energy you give into this world is the energy that you get back. I always had in mind that I wanted to give back to my community, so I took the courage, that leap forward to coach and share my knowledge.”

Under head coach Jared Welch, the Balalas were assistant coaches for the state championship boys cross country team last fall and are now coaching the distance runners in track.

Balala, who has a solid religious foundation, has also found the boxing ring again and has been a big help to Borge.

“Rocky gives me so much confidence,” Borge said. “Rocky, man, he’s just that guy where you can feed off of his energy.”

Borge said he is ready to roll in Reno.

“I’ve been boxing ever since I was 5, so for 14 years,” Borge said. “The goal is to just keep on going forward. There’s always bumps here and there, but you’ve just got to keep going. My goals are to make it to the Olympic Team.”

Borge, 19, admitted there is pressure with this trip.

“We’re from Hawaii, we’re fighting for Hawaii,” he said.

Balala is happy to be able to work out in the Hoomana Barbell facility, something club founder Donovyne Moleta helped set up for Central Maui Boxing Club.

“I just wanted to say thank you to Hoomana Barbell,” Balala said. “This (Central Maui) Boxing Club has gone through many adversities trying to get a roof over our head, and we’re so grateful to be here. We were training at the stadium, the back of the house, but now we’re over here. It’s a really great place for all ages — you’ve got the gym, you’ve got CrossFit, taekwondo, boxing, great youth programs.”

Chazz Moleta, Donovyne’s son and a professional fighter, has been helping to train Balala and Borge.

“These guys are more than ready,” Chazz Moleta said. “They’ve been training hard, harder than most guys.”

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.

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