Boxing in the Five Towns and abroad

Using the bounce gained from August’s boxing championships held at the Five Towns Community Center in Lawrence; West Hempstead resident Michael Carryl promoted his organization’s trip to the Dominican Republic this week and two days of boxing next month.

Carryl’s Long Island Amateur Boxing Championships and Charities, Inc., is taking seven Long Island and metropolitan area boxers to participate in the 28th annual Romana Cup Invitational tournament held in the city of La Romana.

Then the LIABC&C will host a team comprised of Dominican Republic and Puerto Rican boxers on Thursday. Nov. 18, at the community center, and on Saturday, Nov. 20 at York College in Jamaica, Queens. It is the second year that Carryl’s group will host an international exchange. Last year it was a team of boxers from Ireland.

“I was there last year and the year before Russia was there, it is a very competitive program,” Carryl said about the Romana Cup event as he spoke to a group of boxing coaches and their charges in the meeting room of the community center at 270 Lawrence Ave., during a press conference last Friday. “It is something very special to participate in an AIBA (Amateur International Boxing Association) environment.”

Coupled with promoting academics and encouraging positive behavior to produce productive people that can function well in society, Carryl’s mission is to help these boxers learn how to box at the Olympic level and fighting in international events is the primary way for these young fighters to achieve that, he said.

On Monday, the group left from JFK and will be in the Dominican Republic through this Saturday. Tymell Williams is the youngest of the boxers, who range in age from 18 to 28.

But being the youngest doesn’t bother Williams as he has boxed since he was 13 and has gained a tremendous amount of confidence through his training with Suffolk P.A.L. coach John Carter.

“I have worked really hard and this man has given me confidence,” Williams said as he pointed toward Carter. “I think this is a great experience. This gives us a chance to deal with pressure and further our careers.”

Williams akin to the other boxers views himself as an Olympic hopeful and thinks that this exposure will boost him to that level. However, before that happens Williams (who fights at 123 pounds) and the others must handle not only what occurs in the ring, but as LIABC&C board member Dr. Owen Brown noted were the “distractions” of the island nation such as pretty women and the beautiful weather

“Remember the relationships from the beginning that made your success possible,” he said. “Keep focused on the prize and the opportunities. Remember the reason why you are there.”

Devaun Lee, 23, of Queens might have a leg up on his fellow teammates as he is familiar with fighting on the international stage having fought in a tournament last year in London.

Lee (178 pounds), who took up boxing three years ago, said that along with competing at an international level he became a boxer to be a “role model” and has a “passion for the sport.”

“I am learning that you have to use your mind [in boxing] just like in life,” said Lee, who pointed to the international competition as a place to learn about other cultures. “Boxing is like life, you learn something new everyday.”