Going for Silver

WALLACE — Chevy Ward is a fighter.

It’s in his blood.

Whether it’s his grandpa Jim Bolle, Ward’s trainer and former fighter himself.

Or maybe it’s his uncle Corey Bolle, a fighter who has helped put Silver Valley boxing back on the map.

Now, it’s Chevy’s turn.

Ward is a 10-year-old fifth-grader at Pinehurst Elementary School on most days, but after last weekend, he has put himself in position to be Idaho’s next 90-pound Silver Gloves champion.

Although he’s been training since he was 3, he’s only been eligible to fight for the last two years and in that time he has kept himself busy, amassing a tidy 5-0 record, including a win this last weekend at Wallace Fight Night.

This most recent win was an important one for the young pugilist, as it qualified him for the Idaho Silver Gloves competition in Boise in January.

Ward isn’t a flashy fighter, instead he relies on his sound training and skill set that he brings to each fight.

And while each fight may be different depending on the opponent, the approach for him is still the same.

Train hard and focus.

One would assume that the fight itself would be a 10-year-old’s favorite part of being a boxer.

Chevy Ward isn’t your average 10-year-old.

“I really like fighting a lot,” Ward said. “But my favorite part is probably the feeling I get right before the fight starts.”

That little adrenaline rush pulls Ward from everything else and realigns his focus solely on the task at hand.

Getting the job done.

Making his grandpa and uncle proud has actually become easier for Ward than putting his grandmother at ease.

“I hate it, I get sick to my stomach every time I watch,” said Ward’s grandma Tina LaCrosse. “He gets in there and he’s just like his uncle though. He just gets comfortable.”

Now, with his focus shifted toward Boise and a bigger competition, Ward will be training even harder both here and at Rick Welliver’s Spokane Boxing gym to help prepare him for whoever he steps into the ring with.

“Chevy has an incredible will to win,” Welliver said. “Some things you can’t coach, willpower is one of them. He’s been such a treasure to be around.”

The Silver Gloves competition is a competition for non-professional pugilists ages 10 to 15 years old.

The upcoming event in Boise is a state event and should Ward continue his string of success, he would qualify for the National Silver Gloves competition in Kansas City later in the year.

“I’m really excited,” Ward said. “I don’t know who I’ll be fighting, but I’m going to keep training hard so that I’m ready.”

Ward is hoping that his community will support him in his endeavour and help him get to the Silver Gloves competition.

Welliver will be meeting with the Wallace Elks and North Idaho Mountain Brewery about doing some fundraisers to help cover some of Ward’s costs for the four-day trip.

For more information or to make a donation to help Chevy Ward get to the Silver Gloves, contact Rick Welliver on Facebook at the Spokane Boxing page.