Soldier helps train young boxers in Iraq

Staff Sgt. Lou Vargas, Bravo Battery, 3/320 Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, is deployed to Forward Operating Base Remagen near Tikrit, Iraq. He started boxing twenty years ago and now he is teaching Soldiers what he calls a "gladiator sport."

"Boxing is like [the church], it's sacred. It's that important to me," said Vargas.

"When I was growing up, I used to watch boxing on television. I used to watch Jack Dempsey, Sugar Ray Robinson, Juan Laporday, Salvador Sanchez (May he rest in peace), Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and George Foreman, and they were doing something that I knew I could do."

Vargas grew up in Wisconsin and sought out an amateur boxer named Israel Ocossi. Vargas considered himself to be small in stature, but impressed his trainer because his punches landed like a "mule kick."

Vargas believes boxing is all about training and no one gets out of bed one day and decides that he wants to box. It takes mental and physical discipline that takes time to develop, after that it's about "heart" and "who wants it more."

He boxed in the amateur leagues for several years and now he believes that it's time to pass his knowledge along.

"Week of the Eagles," a competition at Fort Campbell, drew out many men with an interest in the sport. Vargas was actively involved in training them and he is still training young boxers in Iraq today.

Pfc. Justin Bundy boxed for five years in his hometown of Enon, Okla., prior to enlisting in the Army. Bundy and Vargas have trained together in the boxing ring for the last eight months and he enjoys the competition, going "toe to toe with a man that could beat you." He also enjoys the workout, which he considers to be a fun change from standard Army physical training.

"It prepares you for anything the Army can throw at you, like filling sand bags," said Bundy.

Win or lose, the Soldiers Vargas has mentored have returned to the sport because the sport requires discipline. Vargas claims that his time competing in the ring has passed, but nothing can take away his knowledge. It's that knowledge that he enjoys passing to his Soldiers and he enjoys watching them use it in the ring.

"I wouldn't trade being a Soldier for anything," said Vargas. "I have done everything from washing dishes to cooking burgers, but I love being a Soldier."