Wayne and Son travel the Globe to attend WBC Martes A Cafe in Mexico City!
Amazingly, it`s actually been known for one or two Boxing Reporters or scribes to grumble about having to travel across Mexico City, to attend a Martes A Cafe World Boxing Council weekly Press Conference, in spite of the veritable goldmine of stories, refreshments, sandwiches, cakes and great company….it takes the biscuit!
Former British middleweight champion Wayne Elcock, a WBC Ambassador, based in Birmingham, England who does motivational talks and coaches hundreds of school children in non-contact boxing, as well as preparing top amateur and professional boxers for the real thing, decided he`d like to visit the WBC accompanied by his fourteen-year-old son Wayne Jr, an exceptionally promising amateur boxer. Many thanks to Coleshill School, for giving Wayne Jr this opportunity to have time off to come on this fantastic journey.
So, without further ado, they packed a kitbag, drove up from Birmingham to London Heathrow, jumped on a plane and flew nonstop to Benito Juarez Airport in Mexico City, arriving before dawn, where a red eyed WBC Representative was there to meet and greet them.
Then, on the Maria Isabel Sheraton Hotel, just across from the Angel of Independence. The very same place where John H Stracey stayed, when he came to Mexico City in 1975 to win the WBC welterweight title from Jose Napolis.
After breakfast, a trip to the Cleto Reyes shop in Mexico City. Beto Reyes was there to receive them. There were two pairs of Cleto Reyes Boxing Gloves with their names on them. Wayne Jr was also presented with a pair of green boxing gloves, and they were both given other items in two crammed goodie bags.
Beto Reyes took time and care to explain the history of the company, the craftsmanship, expertise, and genius which goes into their exquisite hand made products which have made them a world-famous brand, the Pride of Mexico and the choice of champions. Reyes is globally known as : “The puncher`s glove.” Then, on to a magnificent Cleto Reyes lunch reception, near to the Monument of Revolution.
The next morning, Martes A Cafe at Hacienda de Cortes in Coyocan, where they each received a special gift bag from the World Boxing Council, sharing the podium with the Great Rafael Herrera, who was especially honoured, for his outstanding career, the highlight of which was winning the WBC bantamweight Green and Gold Belt twice, and being the leader of Mexico City`s Boxing Commission.
Then on to a special WBC lunch at Hacienda de Los Morales in Polanco, before fond farewells and a taxi to Terminal Two.
Wayne who owns and runs Mad Dogs Boxing Shop in Boldmere Road Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham is the exclusive Reyes equipment distributer in the region. In his career, he wore Cleto Reyes Glove, but only when he became a champion, saying he`d then earned the privilege of wearing them.
Wayne said the welcome given to him by the World Boxing Council and Cleto Reyes was absolutely magnificent. It`s been a great and wonderful opportunity for him and his Son Wayne Jr. This has been their first journey here to Mexico and there will be more trips to Martes A Cafe, especially as Wayne Jr`s career progresses! So… who of the home-grown bunch, are now grumbling about a metro or bus ride?
