Activities: Boxing

Marine Military Academy Boxing

Maj Harold Compton
This is the first in a series of articles on the extra curricular activities at the Marine Miltary Academy which will appear over the next few weeks. During this series we will cover boxing, climbing, weight lifting, drill team/color guard, band, rifle team, taekwondo and sailing.

MMA Boxing History

Boxing began at MMA in 1980 under the guidance of Sergeant Major Steigerwald. The first team at MMA boasted 27 members and quickly established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in amateur boxing. The activity was housed in one of the old Harlingen Air Force base building where it would remain until 2009. Over the next several decades the MMA Leathernecks continued to place well in local Gold Gloves competitions. Most notable was Cadet Teddy Draper who was the 125 lb. Golden Gloves Jr. Olympic Champion. Sergeant Major Robertson took over as head coach in 1989 from GySgt Longoria and has coached the team since.

Boxing at MMA Today

Following Hurricane Dolly it was determined that the old boxing gym could no longer be utilized so the team moved operations into the Cadet Activities Center. Boxing Coach Sergeant Major Fred Robertson requested additional equipment which included hanging bag stands, new rubberized flooring and new canvas mat and skirt for the boxing ring. MMA Facilities moved the ring from the old location and the following summer it was first used during Summer Camp. The boxing team trains throughout the entire year and competes each spring in Golden Gloves Regional Competition.

Boxing Results Over the Years

The MMA Boxing Team has a distinguished record which include not only Cadet Draper’s acccomplishment but a Golden Gloves Regional Team Title in 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2007. In 2006 Coach Robertson took three members of the boxing team to Kingsville, Tx to participate in the Kingsville Invitational Boxing Smoker. The team returned with three victories.

Check out the Boxing at Summercamp Photos

To learn more about the Marine Military Academy visit our website at http://www.mma-tx.org or request information at http://www.mma-tx.org/MMA/admissions/admissions_form2.html