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Carlos with current trainer Harold Wile.
Carlos Reyes, center, is pictured with two of his friends and supporters. Andy Luberda | Superior Sun
Carlos’ first amateur fight with trainer Eddie Tameron.
Superior Sun
Carlos Reyes, a 1995 graduate of Superior High School, had a different outlook on a boxing career as an 18-year old Pima College student, who was studying physical therapy, than he does now.
“(Boxing) was just a hobby,” the now 37-year old professional fighter told theSuperior Sun. “It wasn’t something I ever thought I would pursue professionally.”
He apparently reserved the right to change his mind.
Reyes, a southpaw, scored a second-round TKO against previously undefeated Khalib Whitmore on January 30, 2015 at the Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, Connecticut. The light heavyweight fight, which was on the undercard of a championship fight televised on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, was his second-straight TKO win.
At his current age – older by boxing standards – Reyes is ranked 11th by BoxRec.com and enjoying perhaps the greatest success of his career, which started at Main St. Gym in Superior under the direction of deceased trainer Eddie Tameron, whose family owns Los Hermanos Restaurant & Lounge.
“It’s been my whole approach to the game,” Reyes said about his recent success. “I try to be economical about who I fight and when I fight.”
“I take a lot of time to recover and make sure if I do take the loss I’m learning from it,” he continued. “When I get back to training I’m growing from (the experience).”
After playing football in high school, where he earned All-State recognition, Reyes said he started boxing just to “stay active.” He worked with Tameron and had only six amateur fights before he received an unexpected opportunity to enter a national amateur boxing tournament in Colorado as an alternate. He held his own against more experienced fighters, some who fought as many as 45-50 fights and had Olympic-team potential.
Still a student at PIMA College at the time, he promised Tameron he would dedicate himself more to boxing after finishing school – within a year.
Unfortunately, that time never came, at least not with Tameron, who passed away, leaving the young Reyes to train on his own.
He did just that, training at some of the most popular boxing gyms in Phoenix. After approximately 40 amateur fights, Reyes made his professional debut on July 25, 2003, at the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix. He won his first fight, a first-round TKO against Samuel Rodriguez, who was also making his debut.
Another fight followed two months later. Reyes won by unanimous decision against Garrard Williams after going the distance.
He found mixed results in his next eight fights, which occurred sparingly over the next 10 years, between 2003 and 2012.
His personal life and boxing career changed for the better in 2012 after he was married and discovered a new training regime that he credits for his improved results in the ring.
Now an advisor for AdvoCare, a provider of innovative nutritional, weight-management, and sports performance supplements, Reyes says his training and stamina has increased significantly in the last year.
“I’m training the same way, but now I’m incorporating my supplements, eating better, and I’m getting totally different results,” he said. “I think it was the result of using the AdvoCare supplements.”
He trains every day, 5-6 hours per day leading up to a fight. He admits to taking one day a week off when he is not training for a fight. He says that routine helps him at his age.
“I train all the time now and make sure I stay active,” he said. “So getting back into the gym is not such a big transition.”
Eating right and his familiarity with the physical demands on his body as a result of his education in physical therapy are also important factors in remaining in tip-top shape.
“It’s a lifestyle and it has to be approached as such,” Reyes said. “You can play baseball and basketball, but you can’t play boxing. It’s a fighting sport and takes a rigorous demand on your body.”
Reyes currently lives in Venice, Florida, where he lives with his wife and three of his seven children, who range in age from six to 18-years old. He is now trained by Harold Wilen, a recent inductee into the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame, and is promoted by Cornerstone Boxing.
He expects to parlay his recent performances into a title shot after “four or five more” fights. He plans to fight for the light heavyweight championship within two years.
His next fight is scheduled for March 26 against Michael Seals, a 32-year old light heavyweight with who is 18 – 0 with 14 KO’s. The fight will take place at the Hialeah Park Racing & Casino in Hialeah, Florida.
Some fighters have suffered serious, life-changing injuries in the ring. Reyes says he’ll know when to quit before that happens to him.
He and his wife have future plans outside the ring and his wife is supportive of his choices now and later. He post-ring career plans include helping his own children and other boxers.
“She’s very supportive,” Reyes said of his wife. “She’s supportive of me achieving my dreams. We have a big purpose here. We’re going to change lives after boxing and really impact our community.”
Reyes enjoys seeing his family benefit from his boxing career but is also determined to help others benefit too.
“I’m going to be able to provide a different lifestyle for my kids and my family,” he said. “I found the greatest thing I can get out of life is contributing.”
When asked to name a person or persons who have made an impact in his career, Reyes noted former boxing champion James Toney and Toney’s former trainer John Arthur. He included his parents, Joe Diaz, and Harold Wilen as well. He wants to make a similar impact on other fighters. Opening a boxing gym to work with fighters is among one of his ideas for the future.
The southpaw fighter’s greatest asset in the ring is his strong left hand. According to one friend, “It’s a knockout punch.”
Reyes says his six-year old son is a natural when it comes to boxing. Perhaps the little guy packs the same powerful punch of his father. If he does, how does dad feel about his son entering the ring?
“I could be comfortable with it just because I know I would take care of him,” Reyes answered. “He would have a realistic approach to (boxing).”
One thing is for sure, when his career in the ring is finally over, he will still be involved in the game from the other side of the ropes. He vows to give the same support to others that he remembers receiving 20 years ago in Superior, a place with people still near and dear to him.
“Our best resource in the community is our heart,” he said about the area where he grew up. “It’s a community effort.”
“Eddie was a pillar (there) with his restaurant,” he added. “He was able to reach out and instill something in me. Heart is a good resource in our community and a lot of kids can have success there.”
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
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