A fighting chance

Scott Melesky

Jeff Langton has always wanted his own boxing gym to help kids stay

off the streets.

Nine months ago, Langton was able to fulfill that dream by opening

Langton Boxing & Martial Arts, and the gym is thriving with a stable

of 25 boxers.

Langton said he wants his gym to be a place where kids can learn a

sport, along with avoiding the dangers that are prevalent with many

young boys and girls in today’s society.

“I chose to have the gym in Burbank because this city didn’t have

any boxing gyms in the area,” he said of the facility, located at

1006 W. Oak St. “I wanted to have a place for kids to go to and keep

them off the street and have an alternative to gang activity.”

The students at Langton’s gym are getting lessons in athletics --

and life -- from a man with a long and decorated career in the sports

and entertainment industries.

The 47-year-old Burbank resident has been in 17 movies, including

“Diehard 2,” “Batman II,” “Rambo III” and “Rocky V,” as well as

having starring roles in five movies, including “Maximum Force.”

Langton has also had roles on 13 television shows.

Along with his success in the entertainment industry, Langton has

also made a name for himself in the fighting world. He has worked in

the corner of 33 world title boxing matches as a trainer and cut man,

and he was the California State Tae Kwon Do champion in 1975.

Through his exploits, Langton has become friends with boxing

promoter Don King, actor Sylvester Stallone and famed martial artist

Benny “The Jet” Urquidez.

Langton said he is proud of what he has accomplished in his

personal life, but now wants to give back to the sport and to the

local youth in the community.

The boxers at his gym go through tough conditioning sessions,

spiced with lessons of Christianity mixed in from Langton.

“I am a Christian, and I want to instill Christian values in my

fighters,” Langton said. “The kids call me ‘The Pope of Oak Street,’

but I am also from the old school of boxing and I believe in total

conditioning.

“I train my fighters in two-hour sessions, and I train them to use

the jab to set up the punch, and lateral movement. I believe that

hard work makes champions.”

Langton learned his training methods from a wide variety of some

of the most experienced and celebrated fighters and trainers in the

boxing and martial arts worlds, including his uncle, Al Bonnani, who

has trained 10 world champions.

Langton learned the sweet science at a young age from his father,

who was a fighter with the Marine Corps boxing team, and also from

Gus Spencer, who helped him to become an amateur boxer in the Police

Athletic League in 1970.

Langton has also studied under Tae Kwon Do instructors Dan Choi,

Ernie Reyes and Urquidez, one of the world’s most celebrated

kickboxers.

“I learned a lot from a lot of great fighters and trainers over

the years,” Langton said. “Benny ‘The Jet’ Urquidez was, and still

is, an inspiration to me.

“Gus Spencer taught me how to throw a jab as a kid. Ernie Reyes

and Dan Choi also taught me a lot. My uncle Al trained 10 world

champions and took me under his wing and taught me how to wrap

boxers’ hands and train professional fighters. My time with him was

very memorable.”

Langton has also worked with several boxing champions with

Bonnani, including Richard Mayorga, Tony Tucker, Terry Davis, Uriah

Grant, and Fred Pendelton. In addition, he trained former boxer Tommy

Morrison on the set of “Rocky V” in 1990.

Langton taught Morrison how to picture-punch for the film, which

is the art of throwing a punch on camera but not hitting the fighter

in an attempt to make it look real to the audience.

Langton also was an opponent of Morrison’s character, Tommy

“Machine” Gunn in the movie.

With the things he has learned training athletes and competing,

Langton has brought his skills to the Burbank gym, which, in turn,

has benefited his students.

Langton’s training methods have helped develop several local

fighters into top-conditioned athletes.

Shannon Hall, a Sunland resident and a former member of the

“American Gladiators” television show, is training with hopes of

getting a fight with International World Boxing Federation,

International Boxing Assn. and Women’s International Boxing Assn.

champion Laila Ali.

Francisco Moreno, a senior at Burroughs High, fought in a match in

the pre-production of Stallone’s upcoming boxing reality TV show “The

Contender.”

“It was a great experience for me,” said Moreno, who fights at 140

pounds. “I was one of 200 fighters to compete on the show, and they

invited me back next year. I got to meet Sylvester Stallone, Sugar

Ray Leonard and Fernando Vargas. It was a lot of fun.”

Moreno, along with fellow Burroughs students -- junior Andre

“Andy” Vallin and freshman Enrique “Ricky” Vasquez -- are also

training for their competitive boxing debuts at the House of

Champions boxing school in Van Nuys on a card June 26.

Moreno, who competed on the Burroughs soccer and track and field

teams for three years, said he has learned a lot from Langton about a

sport that he was originally a novice in. He is eagerly awaiting his

match on June 26.

“Jeff is a good trainer,” Moreno said. “He knows a lot and he puts

it all on the line. He has a lot of experience in boxing, which is

great for us. He trains us hard.”

Vallin, who boxes at 180 pounds, also echoes his classmate’s view

on Langton’s powerful teaching methods.

“I have been boxing for four months, and he really motivates you

to be a better boxer,” Vallin said. “When he motivates me while I am

sparring, it makes me want to work to become a professional boxer

some day.”

Langton said he is extremely proud of his top pupils.

“When Francisco first came to the gym, he didn’t know how to hit a

speed bag,” Langton said. “I have trained him now for four months,

and he has developed into a great fighter. He whipped a guy in his

20’s in a match for “The Contender.”

“Andre and Enrique are also coming along well. Shannon is

currently 10-1 as a pro, and I am trying to get her a match with

Laila Ali. She is a tough competitor.”

Langton’s experience in the film industry, as well as his success

in boxing and martial arts, are all important to him. However, he has

gotten to a point in his life where it is no longer about himself.

“I have had a great career in boxing, martial arts and in the

movies,” Langton said. “I am proud of what I have accomplished. But

now I just want to give back. I want to give the kids a safe haven to

go to. I love working with kids.”