BOSTON, માસ. (ઓક્ટોબર 28, 2019) – યુનાઇટેડ સ્ટેટ્સ લશ્કરી એકેડેમી વરિષ્ઠ કેડેટ લુકા લૂકોંટે બોટિસ, who was born and raised in Winchester (માસ.,) is looking forward to his final local boxing competition on Sunday, નવેમ્બર 10.
Botis, captain of the West Point boxing team, will be in action in front of many friends and family members Nov. 10 at the National Collegiate Boxing Association’s (એનસીબીએ) “West Point Fall Classic,” to be held at Anthony’s in nearby Malden, મેસેચ્યુસેટ્સ.
વેસ્ટ પોઇન્ટ બ boxingક્સિંગ ટીમના સભ્યો યુએસએ બingક્સિંગ ન્યૂ ઇંગ્લેન્ડના કલાપ્રેમી બersક્સર્સ સામે ટકરાશે, કનેક્ટિકટ યુનિવર્સિટી, ટ્રિનિટી કોલેજ, હાર્ટફોર્ડ કોલેજ, અને મેસેચ્યુસેટ્સ યુનિવર્સિટી.
Botis is a 2015 વિન્ચેસ્ટર હાઇ સ્કૂલનો સ્નાતક, જ્યાં તેમણે શાળાના ક્રોસ કન્ટ્રીની અધ્યક્ષતા કરી, સ્વિમિંગ અને આઉટડોર ટ્રેક ટીમો.
“It always feels nice to comeback home and fight in front of my home crowd,” Botis said. “Since this is the last local fight for me, I can definitely say there is an early sense of nostalgia.”
Botis will graduate from the United States Military Academy on May 23, 2020, after which he will be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. આર્મી. Although he hopes to serve in the Infantry in either Colorado or Kentucky, Botis will not know his first assignment until Nov. 13, nor where he will be assigned until February.
Boxing has been an enjoyable experience for Botis for numerous reasons. “Boxing has helped me become a more humble, respectful person,” તેમણે સમજાવ્યું. “In the boxing ring there must be mutual respect between the two opponents; no taunting, teasing, or any form of disrespect. Boxers must also learn to not feel emotional toward their opponents. I learned these lessons by fighting in or watching fights where instances as such occurred.
“I will not be boxing competitive in the army, but I will continue to train, because it is the best form of exercise I have ever experienced. Regarding my post-Army life, I will most likely volunteer at local gyms to train the younger generations to box.”
Unsure how long he will serve in the U.S. આર્મી, at least at this stage, Botis plans to serve more than his required five years, but less than 10 વર્ષ. He speaks an incredible seven languages: ઇંગલિશ, Italian, Sicilian and Romanian he learned at home, adding Portuguese, Spanish and a little Hebrew at West Point.
Botis has somewhat followed the path set by his great uncle, Louis LoConte, who was a varsity athlete excelling in hockey. He graduated in 1948 with honors from West Point, where he was trained to fly B-52 bombers. The now 93 જૂના વર્ષ, who lives in Louisiana, served in the military until 1956. લુકાસ’ મહાન, great grandfather, Louis LoConte, Sr., immigrated to the U.S. from Sicily, working as mason on the West Point military base. He used to speak to his son, લૌ, about how much he admired young Cadets, understanding that they were special.
“West Point has taught me that life is not about my own personal gains but, instead, about service to others,” Botis concluded. “It doesn’t matter what kind of service, military of civil, but what does matter is that I will help people everywhere I go. I value my relationships at West Point so much that I would not have made it this far if I didn’t have them.”
A tribute to the USA Boxing Alumni Association will also be held during the “West Point Fall Classic,” દ્વારા રજૂઆત સહિત 1988 ઓલિમ્પિક સુવર્ણચંદ્રક વિજેતા રે મર્સર, વર્ષના સહભાગીની ત્રણ-વખત ફાઇટ “આઇરિશ” મિકી વોર્ડ (લોવેલ, MA), three-time, બે વિભાગ વિશ્વ ચેમ્પિયન “આ ગેલો” જોસ એન્ટોનિયો રિવેરા(વોર્સેસ્ટર, MA), અને પૂર્વ ઇંગ્લેન્ડના કલાપ્રેમી ચેમ્પિયન અને શાસન કરનાર આઇબીએ સુપર વેલ્ટરવેઇટ ચેમ્પિયન ગ્રેગ “The Villain” Vendetti (સ્ટોનહામ, MA).
અંતે ઓપન દરવાજા 2 વાગ્યાની. અને, પ્રથમ વારો માટે સુનિશ્ચિત 3 વાગ્યાની. અને.
Limited tickets are available for purchase by calling Seacoast Ticket Agency at 1.800.382.5242.