90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
1/18/2013 - F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- In addition to being a member of an elite tactical response force, Senior Airman Richard Purrier, 90th Security Forces Group TRF, hopes to be part of another elite team: the All-Air Force Boxing Team.
The team, which consists of members from across the Air Force, will be selected during a competition Jan. 21 and 22 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Once the team is selected, the members will travel the country, competing in various tournaments as Air Force representatives.
Purrier trained for the last four months with Tech. Sgt. Bobby De Leon, 90th SFG TRF team lead and All-Air Force Boxing assistant coach. Both Purrier and De Leon have high hopes for the upcoming competition.
"I'm excited," Purrier said. "I've never had an opportunity like this before, and I'm not going to mess it up."
De Leon, who was previously on the All-Air Force Boxing Team, sees the potential in Purrier, and is working hard to get him ready for the fight.
"We train several hours every day," he said. "We have dedicated a whole boxing training center in the gym here."
De Leon explained determination, heart and endurance will go a long way when Purrier is competing for the judges later this month.
"I got my foot in the door for Purrier," he said. "It's up to him to do the rest."
Purrier doesn't plan on wasting the hard work and training, though. He said he has always had an interest in competing as a boxer, and is grateful for the work De Leon has put into training him.
At 114 pounds, Purrier's chances of getting a spot on the team are pretty good, De Leon explained.
"It's a weight class that is sometimes hard to fill," De Leon said. "I know Purrier will have a good shot in the competition."
Purrier said he's ready for the competition and wants to represent his unit and F. E. Warren well.
"I'm going to keep showing the same determination I've had from day one of training," he said. "I'm going to show [the judges] I'm not just a new guy, and I have the experience to be on the team and represent the Air Force."
If selected, Purrier's first tournament will be the Texas Golden Gloves Tournament in San Antonio, Texas, Feb. 23.
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