Jan 2013 12

Mike YoungAfter 44 years of training, fighting and coaching Mike Young has decided to hang’em up. Mike has been with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for over 31 years and has been involved with the LASD Boxing Team his whole career.  “I was hired by LASD at the end of 1981, joined the team in 1982 with Sgt. Easie Williams who started the LASD Boxing Team.” Mike competed in his first California Police Olympics, Sacramento in 1983.  He won the Gold Medal in the 1Young47lb division 6 consecutive years, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988. This is a Police Olympic record.  Mike said, “I took silver in 1989; I had a broken rib at that time. I went on to take Gold in 1990, 1991, silver in 1992, 1993 I broke my arm kickboxing so I could not compete, and took Gold again in 1994 and 1995.  I dedicated that fight in 1995 to my dad, my biggest boxing fan who died earlier that year.”  In 1995, Mike turned 35 years of age and according to the Police Olympics rules, you can not compete after the age 35. Mike loves the sport and would still be fighting today if the Police Olympics would allow him to compete.

Savate89When did you start boxing? I started fighting in Martial Arts first and got my butt whipped in an art called Savate in France in 1983. This inspired me to study boxing more seriously as most martial artists at that time thought that their martial art was the best.  My opponent from France was also a professional boxer and he rocked my world with a vicious right that sent me to the canvas twice, that’s when I said, “I better learn how to box.”  So I seriously started training with the LASD Boxing Team at that time in 1983. The guy who beat me, Richard Sylla is a legend in France in French kickboxing and we are still friends today, he was my inspiration!  I have traveled all over the world studying different styles from Brazil, China, Indonesia, France, New Zealand and of course Hawaii.

When did you start coaching? I started coachiFFLng the LASD boxing team in 1990 when Sgt. Easie Williams retired. I have been coaching the team ever since.  It’s a thankless job but I love the sport and I enjoy the lifelong friends and boxers I met along the way.  I have a professional boxing ring in my backyard and some people travel for hours to train with me!

Who was your biggest influence in boxing? My biggest influence in boxing was Sgt., Easie Williams who had the patience to work with me because I had bad fighting habits that I carried over from my martial arts background.  My second biggest influence came from trainer Fidel Fraijo who produced 4 northern California Golden Gloves champions, whose son, Sgt. Al Fraijo, who was a member of the LASD boxing team.  To date, in my opinion, Al was the best boxer our team ever produced and he has won many Police
Olympic Gold medals.

What are some of your most proud moments in boxing? I have coordinated many fights from the Marines, fighting in Camp Pendleton, LA County Firefighters, Oscar De La Hoya Productions, to in-house department “Smokers” like “The Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre” in 2004, “The Novena In West Covina” in 2006 and “The Battle of the Trashtalkers” in 2009.  This year, I helped in the 19th annual “Fight for Life” where we finally hit the million dollar mark as the monies we have raised for the charitable organization, the City of Hope to fight cancer as I have always done for the past 19 years.  Three fights that I am especially proud of coordinating was “The Fight for America” where we raised $12,000 to send to the Police and Firefighters fund who were victims of the September 11, 2001 attack, the fight/fundraiser for one of my boxers Enrique Corral who suffered a tragic motorcycle accident that left him partially paralyzed, and anothE Corraler fight/fundraiser for Enrique Corral again and also for another LASD former boxer, Jannine Hanson who was diagnosed with breast cancer.  With my knowledge of coaching and coordinating boxing events, we were able to raise monies to personally help these people financially.  It made me, and all who were involved, feel good to help others using our fighting skills and our heart.

Aside from being a father, husband, and fighter you are also an MALEAuthor. I have authored 2 internationally distributed books, both which have been translated into different languages, one entitled “Martial Arts Home Training” and another entitled “Martial Arts in Law Enforcement.”  I was also a freelance writer for Karate/Kung Fu Illustrated, Martial Arts Training Magazine, Inside Kung Fu and Martial Arts Combat Sports Magazine for over 13 years!

Mike Young may be perhaps the most decorated boxer who ever competed in the Police Olympic Games. After winning 10 gold medals, 2 silver medals in boxing, over 12 years of competition in the California Police Olympic/Police Summer Games/Western States Police and Fire Games he holds the record for the most Gold medals in boxing.  Mike also won 2 Silver medals in boxing at the World Police and Fire Games in 1985 and 1987.  He has competed with the LASD Boxing team in Arizona, Nevada and Atlantic City. Mike is a fighter through and through. He won over 22 Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in Karate competitions from 1983 to 1999, which is also another record.  Outside of the department, Mike competed in France twice and won the US Savate Championship in Chicago, 1989.

After dedicating most of his life to boxing, martial arts, coaching and promoting events Mike Young, LASD Sgt. plans to officially retire in a few months, March 26, 2013 to be exact.  He is leaving with a great reputation and will be missed. You can bet he will be at future Battle of the Badges, Fight for Life and Police Olympic Boxing Events, wrapping hands, giving advice and working the corners of fighters. Boxing is in his blood. Mike said, “I have been grooming a few people to take my place!  After all these years, maybe it’s time to rest?!!!!  NAH!”