San Antonio reservist competes in regional Golden Gloves tourney

  • Published
  • By Tech Sgt. Carlos J. Trevino
  • 433rd AW
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas --  2/24/2014 -- When Pest Management Specialist, Senior Airman Dustin "Spydaman" Southichack, 433rd Civil Engineer Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas is not busting bugs, he's throwing punches in the ring as the only reservist on the Air Force Boxing Team.

Like the superhero, Spiderman, Southichack is weaving a web that will carry him to the next level in boxing.

Southichack finished with one win and one loss in a new weight class. During the San Antonio, Regional Golden Gloves Tournament held at the Woodlawn Gym in San Antonio, Texas, Feb. 18-22. His 2-1 win over John Van Meter from Uvalde, Texas as a light welterweight, helped the Air Force team finish second out of over 20 teams from around the San Antonio area.

This year, Southichack added new tactics and raised his conditioning level to fight in the super lightweight class at 141 pounds.

"I used a different style and came forward, using counter punches." Southichack said. "I mixed it up." Coaches Bobby Deleon and Steven Franco had us running more."

"He has gotten better. From long-range and from the outside, his combinations have improved. He has gotten better. As a southpaw (left handed), he is slick, said Air Force Boxing Coach Steven Franco. "That is an advantage he has over his opponents."

"He is going to be a Golden Gloves champion," said Franco, who is also a San Antonio Regional Golden Gloves Hall of Fame coach.

In the semifinals, Southichack lost a 3-0 decision to Henry Arredondo, from the Parks and Recreation Boxing Team.

"That (loss) will make me train twice as hard; it was a learning experience," he said.

On the national level, most fighters have at least eight years of amateur experience. Southichack, who has been boxing for three years, vowed to come back next year.

Last year, the team used the local Golden Gloves tournament as a warm-up prior to going to the Armed Forces meet, where they will take on other service's champions. Southichack has two years left on his enlistment, and plans to reenlist in the Air Force Reserve and eventually earn a professional boxing contract as well.