Boxer has much to contend with

It is dark and the morning air is crisp. Everything is quiet along the Back Bay trail. This is why Vicente Escobedo is here. It is easy to focus. Gone are all of the distractions the former Olympic boxer faced being famous in a small town.

But he isn’t running alone.

His family and friends are with him, in his mind, by their mere presence motivating him to work harder. They have been there from the beginning though. There are new additions to his thoughts since he became a professional fighter.

Oscar De La Hoya is there. The superstar boxer made a personal trip to sign Escobedo to his promotion company following the Athens Olympics. De La Hoya wasted no time saying Escobedo would be just like him. The 24-year old relishes the high expectations.

Freddie Roach facilitates those ambitions. The world-class trainer signed on this year to teach Escobedo, convert his style from amateur to pro. Escobedo soaks up the knowledge. He welcomes the pressure that comes with someone who has trained world champions and asks for more.

So Escobedo flips on his iPod and runs harder. The music fuels him with inspiration, something Escobedo is never lacking.

A year ago, Escobedo moved to Newport Beach from Woodland, a town of slightly more than 52,000 people on the outskirts of Sacramento. He came here to dedicate himself to a career as a professional boxer. An offer of a room from a childhood friend was all it took.

“I get a good vibe here,” said Escobedo, 10-1 with nine wins by knockout as a lightweight (130-135 pounds). “I like the weather and the beach is really nice. Sometimes I go off training by the beach. There are some really nice views out there. I go out to Corona del Mar and look out on the ocean.”

The views change, but Escobedo’s thoughts remain the same.

“I’m thinking about my next fight, just getting really focused and thinking about all of the hard work that I do,” Escobedo said. “I’m in a whole different world.”

Just as different as Escobedo’s new home is the gym he trains in, Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.