Sports
Base Boxing Team Disbanded After Head Injury
The sport's risk, budget and staffing issues caused Marine Corps to disband the team, though Marines can still try out for the All-Marine Boxing Team, according to the base's head coach.
The Camp Pendleton Varsity Boxing Team was disbanded Tuesday—in part because a recent injury, Head Coach Staff Sgt. Kenneth Jones told Patch in an email.
During a match in June 30 in Pomona one boxer was hit in the head and airlifted to Los Angeles County hospital and put in Intensive Care and was later released.
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The permanent order to disband came from the staff of the Marine Corps Sports Headquarters. Other reasons included the risk of the sport, difficulty finding a qualified level 3 coach and budget issues. The team members have returned to their units, he added.
Jones thanked Facebook fans for their support Thursday.
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“I had a good time coaching the team. I met a lot of good people, received a lot of support from veterans and the locals at the boxing shows, and most of all Coaching these Marines (and sailor) helped me into becoming a better coach,” he wrote. “Unfortunately the time has come for us to hang up our boxing gloves.”
The All-Marine Boxing Team has not been affected, he added, so any Marine interested in trying out should contact their base Marine Corps Community Service Athletic Department or call the team at (910) 451-2629.
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