When we first met John Bauza in January of 2016, the North Bergen resident was just crowned as the national boxing champion at the USA Boxing Youth National Championships, winning the gold medal in the 141-pound class.
Since that time, Bauza graduated into the professional ranks and made his debut in April of 2016, winning via a knockout.
Bauza has done a great job of quickly moving up the ranks of the super lightweight class, winning all seven of his professional bouts over the last 18 months, four coming by way of a knockout.
Bauza has made such an impression that he was signed on to be represented by Roc Nation, the organization that is owned and operated by rap superstar Jay-Z.
Bauza was all set to make his latest venture into the ring this weekend in Philadelphia, but the effects of Hurricanes Irma and Maria have kept Bauza in his training headquarters in Puerto Rico. He will have to wait to climb back into the ring at a date to be determined.
Bauza, now just 19 years old, will continue to train to prepare for his next bout, whenever that may be.
“It’s been a tough schedule for me ever since I turned pro,” Bauza said. “Every fight, I felt a little better.”
Bauza was asked what it felt like to be in Jay-Z’s stable of boxers.
“It’s a big deal to me,” Bauza said. “Since I’ve been boxing, I’ve always wanted to be part of a prestigious team. This is a big honor. They were the first ones to come see me when I was sparring.”
Bauza was doing his training at the Global Boxing Gym in North Bergen, but that has since closed, so he went to Puerto Rico with his father, Juan, who trains with his son daily.
“The training has been going great,” Bauza said. “I’ve been training hard and sparring hard. There are a lot of good fighters in Puerto Rico, so this has been good for me. Puerto Rican fighters are like warriors, so it’s best to be here. I feel like I’m ready for my next fight.”
With a perfect 7-0 professional record, Bauza knows that he has to keep climbing up the ranks to get his shot at a possible belt in the coming years.
“I just have to keep going,” Bauza said. “Every fight is just one more step to my dream. I’m getting more experience and getting better with each one. I want to become a world champion. That’s the big goal. That’s what I want. I’m very confident. I’m smarter, stronger and fitter. It’s what I’ve always wanted since I was a little kid. I’m living the dream.”
We will keep an eye on Bauza as he pursues that dream…
In 1987, John Belluardo became the head boys’ soccer coach at North Bergen High School after serving six years as the junior varsity coach.
He’s remained in the role as the head coach of the Bruins ever since.
“If someone would have told me then that I would still be the head coach 30 years later, I would have never believed it,” Belluardo said. “I never thought that I would last this long.”
Last week, Belluardo, the granddaddy of all Hudson County soccer coaches, reached an impressive milestone. When the Bruins defeated Bayonne, 3-1, it gave Belluardo his 400th coaching victory.
“I’ve had a great run,” said Belluardo, who plans on retiring from teaching and coaching at the end of this year. “It’s time to move on. I have four grandchildren now that I’d love to spend more time with. I knew when it was time to leave and that time has come. I wanted to go out with the 400 and now I’ve got it.”
Belluardo guided the Bruins to the Hudson County tournament championship in 2008 and as well in consecutive years in 1990 and 1991.
“I’m most proud of helping kids get into college,” Belluardo said. “I was that stepping stone for a lot of kids. When I walk around now, I have kids who come up to me and give me a hug and say ‘Thanks.’ That’s my reward. I’m glad I was remembered.”
Belluardo said that he still gets his kicks from being around the kids.
“I still enjoy being with the kids,” Belluardo said. “It’s more of a fatherly thing now. I coached some guys and now have their children.”
Belluardo likes his current team, which owns a 5-3 record thus far.
“We have a young team, but we have six returning starters from last year,” Belluardo said.
His six starters back include standout midfielder John Santin, who has scored a team-high six goals this season. Others are midfielder Christopher Guzman, defender Juan Gutierrez, goalkeeper Alex Idrovo, midfielder Danny Mora and defender Ryan Yacovino.
“We’re right up there and should contend for a playoff spot,” Belluardo said. “They’re getting better every time.”
Belluardo is also planning an alumni night for all former Bruin players to get together Oct. 6 when the Bruins face rival Memorial on the big Vincent Ascolese Field at Bruins Stadium, so he’s calling upon all North Bergen soccer alumni to come to that game. It would be a fitting tribute and send off to the legendary coach.
“It’s been a long run,” Belluardo said. “But I’ve loved every minute.”…
In case you weren’t paying attention last Saturday, the St. Peter’s Prep football alumni had some day in college football. A total of 16 touchdowns were scored by former Marauders.
You had true freshman Johnathan Lewis scoring five times for Rutgers in the Scarlet Knights’ rout of Morgan State. You had Brandon Wimbush rushing for 220 yards and setting a new Notre Dame single game rushing record for a quarterback. Wimbush also found the end zone four times against Boston College.
In that same game, BC wide receiver Charlie Callinan had two touchdown receptions for the Golden Eagles, while teammate Jonathan Hilliman rushed for 120 yards, but didn’t score. However, Corey Caddle scored two TDs for Fordham and Jorge Portorreal tallied two times for Lehigh. Both Caddle and Portorreal are former Hudson Reporter Male Athletes of the Year.
It’s safe to say that no local school has ever enjoyed so much success on the next level. Don’t forget that another former Marauder Minkah Fitzpatrick is one of the top secondary performers in the country for No. 1 ranked Alabama. Needless to say, a great day for Prep football _ and the Marauders didn’t even play last week. They had the week off…
Teams that did play include Hoboken, which defeated Cedar Grove. The Redwings started the season with a win over Verona and now Cedar Grove, two of the top programs in Essex County. Congrats to new coach Keeon Walker, who was named the Coach of the Week by the New York Jets…
North Bergen’s David Drouet rushed for 215 yards on 35 carries, but it was Michael Santini’s touchdown in overtime that gave the Bruins a big win over Hackensack to improve to 2-0…
Aziz Wilson had two touchdowns rushing and one receiving in Hudson Catholic’s huge win over Morris Catholic. Izayah Reyes had two touchdowns rushing and one on a fumble recovery in Union City’s win over Dickinson.
The United States Military Academy in West Point received verbal commitments from two great local athletes. Union City offensive lineman Jose Tavares decided to head to Army, as did St. Peter’s Prep basketball star Brandon Thiele…
Hudson Reporter H.S. Football Top Five: 1. St. Peter’s Prep (1-1). 2. North Bergen (2-0). 3. Union City (2-1). 4. Hoboken (2-0). 5. Hudson Catholic (2-0)…
Hudson Reporter H.S. Soccer Top Five: 1. Union City (4-0). 2. Bayonne (6-1). 3. St. Peter’s Prep (4-3). 4. North Bergen (5-3). 5. Hudson Catholic (5-2)…–Jim Hague.
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.
