From USS Enterprise Public Affairs
USS ENTERPRISE, At sea (NNS) -- A USS Enterprise Naval Base Ventura County Port Hueneme , Calif.
The 145-pound competitor won one of sixteen bouts on the card that featured 32 competitors from across the country. The event determines which of the 14 Sailors eligible for the Navy team will go on to compete against Army, Air Force and Marine Corps boxers in the Armed Forces Boxing Championships, scheduled for Feb. 14-19, aboard Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
The final Navy team is expected to be announced this week.
Lopez, a Dallas Port Hueneme late last year and is relatively new to the sport, having only been boxing for the past five years. .
"I think his victory adds to the prestige of this great warship," said Chief Culinary Specialist (SW) Michael J. Sims, USS Enterprise wardroom leading chief petty officer. "His win is a win for the entire Enterprise
Lopez, a middleweight, has had some pretty tough competition in the past.
"At times I felt outclassed by the other boxers," said Lopez. "The other competitors had more experience than me, and when we're training aboard the ship, it's as a team. But, when you're in the ring, you have to do it all by yourself."
Even though he now has a taste of success, Lopez still continues to work toward new goals and wants to box in the Olympics. He said he has a relatively straightforward approach to the concept of boxing.
"I don't dislike my opponents, but when it comes to the fight, it's either them or me," said Lopez. "I choose me."
However, Lopez said he is not always so singular in his vision.
"I have brought back contracts for Navy sports in case other culinary specialists aboard the ship want to get involved," said Lopez. "It's a way to inspire people to stay fit and better themselves; not just in the Navy but in their lives as a whole."
"I am trying to show the rest of the guys that they can do a lot and we're capable of anything," said Lopez. "If I can better my fellow culinary specialists by setting the example of 'doing it big,' then it's worth it."
Military boxing has a long tradition and is an official sport of the Department of Defense (DoD) Armed Forces Sports program along with many others including basketball, golf, wrestling, soccer, swimming, track and field, cycling and others.
The Navy's Boxing Training Manual, published by the Naval Institute Press in 1943, summarizes the sport's longstanding appeal to Sailors:
"Boxing is the essence of the fighting man. Through time immemorial it has been used to train, harden and discipline men for military purposes. The value in boxing is not the skill acquired, although that too has real value in hand-to-hand combat, but because it quickly acclimates the mind and body to the violence and shock of combat so foreign to modern day youth, yet so absolutely essential to fighting men."
Today, both men and women participate in the sport, and many ships and bases regularly hold competitions to promote athleticism, competition, morale and esprit de corps.
For more information about DoD sports visit http://armedforcessports.defense.gov.
Enterprise Strike Group consists of Enterprise, the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), the guided-missile destroyers USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), USS Barry (DDG 52) and USS Mason (DDG 87); USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8), Carrier Air Wing 1 and Destroyer Squadron 2.
For news regarding Enterprise Strike Group's deployment, visit the USS Enterprise Facebook page at www.facebook.com/USS.Enterprise.CVN.65.
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