Community Champion: Boxing coach Avila helps youth in Greenfield

LIVE IN MONTEREY CHRISTIAN BALDERAS NOW TO OUR COMMUNITY CHAMPION SERIES WHICH CELEBRATS PEOPLE WHO ARE STRIVING TO MAKE THE CENTRAL COAST A BETTER PLACE. TONIGHT WE'RE INTRODUCING YOU TO A BOXING COACH WHO IS CREATING POSITIVE CHANGE IN GREENFIELD. ACTION NEWS 8 REPORTER LESLIE DUARTE HAS MORE. BOXER RIGO AVILA IS THE FOUNDER OF AVILA VICTORY BOXING, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT AIMS TO KEEP KIDS OUT OF TROUBLE. <"WELL, I JUST FEEL THAT GREENFIELD IS A SMALL TOWN THAT GETS OVERLOOKED." > <NAT SOUNDS> <"I'M TIRED OF GREENFIELD BEING A CITY THAT, YOU KNOW, IS A FIELD OF NIGHTMARES. I WANT IT TO BE A FIELD OF DREAMS THAT YOU CAN STILL COME OUT ON TOP." > BORN AND RAISED IN GREENFIELD, RIGO EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS NIGHTMARES IN HIS CITY... <"SO I MADE A DECISION AT ONE POINT IN MY LIFE THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAD A CERTAIN LIFE AND THAT I NEVER WANTED THAT LIFE FOR OTHER PEOPLE. AND IF THERE WAS NOBODY TO HELP ME AROUND, THEN, THEN MAYBE IT'S MY TURN TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE AND TURN THE TABLES."> AND HE DID... IN 2017 RIGO STARTED A BOXING GYM OUT OF HIS GARAGE.... FOR SOME KIDS THIS WAS THE FIRST BOXING GYM IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD... A PLACE MANY OF THEM NOW CALL HOME... <"TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD START GOING TO BOXING, YOU KNOW, AND I'LL GET IN FIGHTS IN SCHOOL. AND I SHOULD JUST GO EXPRESS MYSELF IN THE RING WITH RIGO RIGHT THERE, HELPING ME TEACH ME WHAT TO DO. GUIDING ME THROUGH EVERYTHING."> <"AND HE TAKES TIME WITH YOU. HE HOPES YOU. HE GUIDED THE LITTLE THINGS, NOT JUST BOXING. LIFE IN GENERAL."> HIS WORK WITHIN THE GREENFIELD COMMUNITY IS NOW BEING RECOGNIZED..... WITH MORE THE 12 PEOPLE NOMINATING COACH RIGO AS A COMMUNITY CHAMPION. < "SHOWING HOW DEPRAVED THIS COMMUNITY IS. AND HE WANTS TO BRING IN NOT JUST FOR US, BUT FOR KIDS. AND HE WANTS T

Action News 8 is honoring people in the community, striving to make the Central Coast a better place. People can submit nominations for deserving community champions at www.KSBW.comBoxer Rigo Avila is the founder of AVILA Victory boxing, a nonprofit organization that aims to keep children out of trouble through boxing.KSBW received more than 12 Community Champion nominations for Avila. Avila said growing up in Greenfield was hard, which led him into a lot of trouble, but he decided to change his life, and by doing so, he can now give his community what he didn't have growing up. "I made a decision at one point in my life that I didn't want to lead a certain life and that I never wanted that life for other people. And if there was nobody to help me around, then, then maybe it's my turn to help other people and turn the tables," Avila said. In 2017, Avila started a boxing gym out of his garage, but soon the students outgrew the space. So in July 2022, Avila opened a warehouse that is now the official training site for the students. A place many of his students now call home, including Dominque Monitil, who says he has changed his life around since working with Avila. " told me that I should start going to boxing, you know, and I'll get in fights in school. And I should just go express myself in the ring with Rigo right there, helping me teach me what to do. Guiding me through everything," Monitil said. Another student, Randy Villalobos, said Avila deserves the award because of his dedication and service to the Greenfield community. A legacy the student will remember for a lifetime. "And he takes time with you. He hopes you. He guided the little things, not just boxing. Life in general," Villalobos said.

GREENFIELD, Calif. —

Action News 8 is honoring people in the community, striving to make the Central Coast a better place.

People can submit nominations for deserving community champions at www.KSBW.com

Boxer Rigo Avila is the founder of AVILA Victory boxing, a nonprofit organization that aims to keep children out of trouble through boxing.

KSBW received more than 12 Community Champion nominations for Avila.

Avila said growing up in Greenfield was hard, which led him into a lot of trouble, but he decided to change his life, and by doing so, he can now give his community what he didn't have growing up.

"I made a decision at one point in my life that I didn't want to lead a certain life and that I never wanted that life for other people. And if there was nobody to help me around, then, then maybe it's my turn to help other people and turn the tables," Avila said.

In 2017, Avila started a boxing gym out of his garage, but soon the students outgrew the space. So in July 2022, Avila opened a warehouse that is now the official training site for the students. A place many of his students now call home, including Dominque Monitil, who says he has changed his life around since working with Avila.

"[Coach] told me that I should start going to boxing, you know, and I'll get in fights in school. And I should just go express myself in the ring with Rigo right there, helping me teach me what to do. Guiding me through everything," Monitil said.

Another student, Randy Villalobos, said Avila deserves the award because of his dedication and service to the Greenfield community. A legacy the student will remember for a lifetime.

"And he takes time with you. He hopes you. He guided the little things, not just boxing. Life in general," Villalobos said.

Community Champion: Boxing coach Avila helps youth in Greenfield

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