Allan Blanks/MDN Front row from left to right, local boxers William Finley, James Pullen, Max Lopez, Sam Hale, Jose Lopez, Moroni Hale and Rafael Lopez stand with their trainers back row from left to right, Eric Stanley, Jordan Calavera, Thor Hale and Alex Lopez.

Considered the greatest boxing team in decades, the 2017 edition of the Minot Boxing Club is returning to the National Silver Gloves Tournament in Independence, Mo., Feb. 1-4.

With six Minot-area contenders alongside a talented trio of head coaches, the Minot Boxing Club likes their chances at the championships.

Eric Stanley, the head coach of William Finley, is thrilled about the promising talent of this year’s squad.

“I’m excited to see how well the team does,” Stanley said. “To be honest, I haven’t seen a team this good since me and Thor (Hale) were kids. I’m proud of this group and the work they’re putting in. The team is here every day training and I think these kids have some real promise. It’s going to be exciting to see what they do and how they perform.”

This year’s boxing team features James Pullen, Jose Lopez, Moroni Hale, Rafael Lopez, Sam Hale and William Finley.

Pullen, a protege of head boxing coach Jordan Calavera, will be making his debut in the highly contentious tournament.

“James is my first youth student,” Calavera said. “He started four years ago and is very skilled.”

According to Calavera, Pullen is a mastermind who methodically destroys his opposition.

“James uses his jab to pick apart his opponents,” Calavera said. “His crisp punches and sharp movement is very impressive. I’m really excited to see him perform at the tournament.”

After competing on the national stage in 2016, each contender has two things on their mind: win a championship and earn a belt for the Magic City.

“Last year, we did very good,” Calavera said. “However, we didn’t bring home a belt, which was dissipating. After the tournament, all of the fighters have worked twice as hard to earn another shot for a national belt. So, we’re back and each of the contenders feels they have something to prove.”

For the Lopez twins, fighting is their passion.

Calavera described the fiery duo as a combination of good looks and destructive hooks.

“Rafael is a spitfire,” Calavera said. “At first glance, people see this innocent looking kid but when the bell sounds, he transforms into a Tasmanian devil. Rafael is an aggressive fighter and a good boxer.”

Opposite of Rafael is his twin brother, Jose Lopez.

Contrary to Rafael, Jose is a southpaw who swarms opponents with violent combinations.

“We call Jose ‘The Tijuana Tornado’,” Calavera said. “The kid throws a barrage of punches and he’s hard to stop. As a southpaw, he creates awkward angles and really confuses other fighters. His punches can come from anywhere.”

Captivating and intimidating, Calavera believes the Lopez twins have the physical gifts and mental toughness to crush the competition.

“The Lopez brothers are fun to watch and very aggressive,” Calavera said. “When they get hit, they think it’s funny, which is scary. However, to get to the national level, you can’t have a passive attitude and a little craziness can go a long way. They’re strong-willed, smart and have what it takes to get to this level.”

According to boxing coach and Silver Glove winner Thor Hale, having a strong chin and quick hands is not enough to become a champion.

As the father of Sam Hale and Moroni Hale, Thor’s coaching is built on intense discipline and commitment to boxing.

From sunrise to sundown, the Hales train feverishly to capture a national championship.

Allotting time for school and church, the primary focus of the Hales is to dominate the competition at Independence.

“As a father and a coach, I’m really proud of my sons,” Hale said. “In boxing, there are winners and there are losers. Everyone doesn’t get a trophy or a belt. To win, you have to be willing to bleed for it, sweat for it and cry for it. All the trophies and medals my sons have were earned through hard work. They paid with their blood, sweat and tears.”

Throughout the four-state region of North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Minnesota, Sam and Moroni Hale have a reputation for punishing their opposition.

Technique and physicality aside, Hale believes the mental toughness of a fighter dictates the final outcome.

“It’s all about the mind,” Hale said. “The mind makes up 80 percent of a fighter. If your mind is not in then you’re not going to perform. Taking a punch to the face changes things. There are many great athletes who cannot recover or handle the mental stress of being punched for three minutes. Boxing is more than a physical game, it’s a mental game. It takes a certain mindset to step in the ring and win a fight.”

William Finley, the nephew of Thor Hale, is described as physically tough and mentally prepared.

“William has lots of confidence and can take a punch,” Stanley said. “He’s put in a lot of work and I believe he will be prepared.”

In addition to his ability to absorb vicious blows, Finley has the physical stature needed to go the distance.

“He’s got a long reach and some good experience,” Stanley said. “With his confidence and the hard work he’s putting into training, as a coach I believe William will be all right.”

For the coaching trio of Calavera, Hale and Stanley, sharing the gift of boxing with the next generation of youths brings a sense of indescribable joy.

Beyond the prospect of winning or losing, each coach expressed pride at witnessing their family and pupils working together and bonding through their beloved sport.

“It feels great and there’s definitely some nostalgia taking place,” Stanley said. “Hearing the sound of the bags getting tagged and being in the gym is a great feeling. Being able to show the kids what we’ve learned over the years is a good feeling too.”