Jablab Boxing Club Nixa, Mo

JAB-LAB BOXING CLUB — ALWAYS READY TO RUMBLE! (Never end😁)

Some victories are celebrated in the ring, while some recognitions arrive a little later than expected. But when it comes to well-deserved recognition, it’s never too late to celebrate!

At the recently held ALWAYS READY TO RUMBLE XIII, JAB-LAB Boxing Club earned two outstanding honors that mean a great deal to us!

🥊ETHAN SMITH — OUTSTANDING SPORTSMANSHIP OF THE NIGHT

Our own Ethan was recognized for his outstanding sportsmanship, respect, and the values that represent the very best of boxing. We are proud to see our athletes demonstrate that being a true boxer means more than what you do inside the ring — it is also about character, discipline, respect, and integrity!

🥊COACH DEJAN — OUTSTANDING COACH IN THE SPRINGFIELD–NIXA AREA

This recognition means a lot to me personally, but I see it as much more than an individual achievement. It represents the hard work of every boxer in our gym, the dedication of our team, the trust of our parents, and the support of everyone who believes in what we are building at JAB-LAB.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, these awards were presented after the event. But that doesn’t make them any less meaningful. In fact, sometimes good things arrive a little late — and that can make them even sweeter!

These honors mean a great deal to us. They remind us that hard work, commitment, discipline, and genuine sportsmanship do not go unnoticed. Most importantly, they give us even more motivation to keep pushing forward and raising the bar!

But in boxing, there is no time for long celebrations. The work continues!

📍 On October 24, we are back in action in St. Joseph, Missouri, where five JAB-LAB boxers will step into the ring to represent our team!

We keep working. We keep learning. We keep improving. Champions are not built overnight — they are built through daily sacrifice, discipline, dedication, and the courage to keep moving forward when things get tough.

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who supports our team and believes in our mission. These achievements belong to our entire boxing family, and we are just getting started!

🐺 READY OR NOT — HERE WE COME!

🥊 JAB-LAB BOXING CLUB — NIXA, MO

ALWAYS READY TO RUMBLE — WHAT A NIGHT!

Last Saturday, the beautiful Expo Center in Springfield, Missouri came alive for an unforgettable night of amateur boxing!

Two rings.
Around 35 high-quality bouts.
Boxers of different ages and experience levels.
Open and Novice divisions.
Athletes and teams representing several surrounding states.

And then came the icing on the cake…

We had the honor of sharing the evening with some true legends of the sport — former champions and world-class fighters including:

🥊 Larry Holmes
🥊James“Buster” Douglas
🥊 Ray Mercer
🥊 Devon Alexander
🥊 Corey Spinks
🥊 Lamon Brewster
…and many more!

This was much more than just another boxing show.

The level of organization was outstanding. The awards were original and meaningful — not only for the winners and those who stepped between the ropes, but also for the people behind the scenes who continue to build and support boxing.

I was personally honored to receive one of those special awards, and I am truly grateful and humbled by the recognition.

Great food, an exciting DJ program, two rings running side by side, a packed atmosphere and, most importantly — good boxing and a great boxing community.

🥊 JAB-LAB BOXING CLUB — 5–1

Our team had a fantastic night!

5 victories. 1 defeat.

I won’t hide it — we worked for this.

We trained every single day, pushed the pace, traveled to other gyms for sparring and prepared ourselves for the battles waiting inside those ropes.

The hard work paid off.

Preparation. Discipline. Sacrifice.

And when the bell rings, you find out what all those hours in the gym were really worth.

It was a real pleasure to see our old and dear friend Kevin Kline back behind the microphone. His professional presence, unmistakable voice and experience added another level of class and seriousness to an already outstanding evening. It was great to see him again — but even better to hear that familiar voice announcing the action between the ropes! 🎙️

A huge THANK YOU to all the boxing officials, judges, referees, coaches, boxers, volunteers and the entire Expo Center staff for making this event possible.

Thank you to all the parents, families, friends and our sponsors who continue to stand behind our fighters and our club.

And respect to every boxer who stepped through those ropes. Win or lose, it takes courage to put everything on the line in front of a crowd.

🥊 Respect the opponent. Respect the sport. Respect the grind.

This is what a strong boxing community looks like. Smitty's Mid-West Boxing Gym

Thanks to The Grounds Guys of Springfield, MO🥊🥊

⸻

🥊 TULSA, OKLAHOMA — ANOTHER STEP FORWARD! 🥊

This past Saturday, JAB-LAB Boxing Club traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for a great night of boxing hosted by King Street Boxing and our good friend and dedicated boxing man, Hector Rivas.

First of all, credit where credit is due — an excellent and very well-organized show, great atmosphere, great music, and a crowd that brought the energy! 👊🔥

And we have to give a SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT to the food and the people who took care of it! 😂🥘
Without a doubt, the best food we have had at a boxing event so far! Everything was absolutely on point. 🏆👏

We came to Tulsa with three fighters ready to compete. Unfortunately, we left without a victory.

In my opinion, the biggest factor was the long competition break. We trained hard and sparred throughout the entire summer, but there is one thing you simply cannot replace:

REAL FIGHTS IN THE RING. 🥊

No amount of gym work can completely replicate the pressure, timing, adrenaline and decision-making of an official bout.

As a former fighter and now a coach, I also understand that winning on the road against a hometown fighter is never an easy task. We all know how the judging can sometimes feel when you’re the visiting team.

But we’re not here to complain.

NO EXCUSES. NO CRYING. JUST BACK TO WORK. 💪

Every fight teaches us something. Every round gives us experience. And sometimes a loss can teach a fighter more than a comfortable victory.

We take what we learned in Tulsa, we go back to the gym, and we continue exactly where we left off.

These are the kinds of fights our young boxers need — valuable experience now, so they can be ready for the much bigger battles ahead at the Golden Gloves and Silver Gloves. 🥇🥈

P.S. 🥊 Officially making my debut as a Boxing Judge! 🥊

I had the honor of sitting ringside and scoring three bouts. It was a great experience and another step in my journey in the sport I love.

And according to Eddie… I went 5/5

Proud to keep learning, serving the sport, and seeing boxing from another perspective.

READY OR NOT — HERE WE COME.
The journey continues. 🐺🥊

JAB-LAB BOXING CLUB — NIXA, MO
Train hard. Fight smart. Stay hungry. 🔥

🥊 TULSA — WE’RE READY.

JAB-LAB BOXING CLUB is locked in and ready for the ring! 🔥
We’re coming with THREE hungry wolfs 🐺🐺🐺, ready to represent our club and leave it all in the ring.

We know we’re stepping into hot territory, but we also know we’ll be welcomed with a warm heart by our good friend and dedicated boxing man, Hector Rivas, and the King Street Boxing family.

Respect earned. Gloves up.
Now let’s fight. 🇺🇸🥊

As always, here is a quick recap from another outstanding amateur boxing show “RETURN TO THE LEGENDS “ held this past Saturday at the Dellwood Recreation Center in St. Louis, where JAB-LAB Boxing Club proudly competed with two athletes.Trenton Ortega and Tanner Cole

The event was first-class from start to finish. Boxing legends and former world champions Larry Holmes, James “Buster” Douglas, and Sugar Shane Mosley were in attendance, making an already special night even more memorable. The atmosphere was incredible, with championship belts awarded to the winners, a live DJ, local food vendors, and the opportunity to reconnect with old friends while meeting many new faces from the boxing community.

The crowd witnessed 19 exciting bouts, and we are proud to say that both of our boxers earned victories. As a coach, I couldn’t be happier with the way they represented our club. They fought with patience, heart, discipline, and intelligence—showing the values we work on every day in the gym.

A great deal of respect goes to both of their opponents for stepping into the ring and giving us competitive, hard-fought matches. That’s what amateur boxing is all about.

A heartfelt thank you Keagan Paul to our families, friends, and supporters The Grounds Guys of Springfield, MO who continue to stand behind us every step of the way. Your encouragement means more than words can express. Thanks all USA boxing officials and volunteers!

There is no time to slow down. The work continues, and we are already looking forward to the next challenge.

JAB-LAB Boxing Club
Built with discipline. Fueled by heart.
🥊🔥

This past weekend, our team traveled to Arnold, Missouri, to compete at an outstanding amateur boxing event hosted by Realm Boxing Gym.

Although we originally planned to bring several athletes, only two of our boxers were able to compete. That’s the reality of amateur boxing—nothing is ever guaranteed. We don’t complain because every bout is an opportunity to gain valuable experience, test our current level, and continue growing.

This time, we came home with one victory and one defeat. Every win is earned, and every loss is a lesson.

I’d also like to briefly acknowledge that some of the officiating decisions were, in our opinion, open to discussion. However, boxing is a sport built on respect. We fully accept the judges’ decisions and believe that true sportsmanship means respecting the officials, our opponents, and the rules of the game. We move forward, learn, and keep working.

The trip home brought an unexpected challenge when our vehicle broke down. Thankfully, everything ended safely. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the local Arnold Police Department for their professionalism, kindness, and willingness to help us get back on the road safely.

A special thank you also goes to our incredible friends and supporters of JAB-LAB Boxing Club, who were ready to jump out of bed at 1:00 AM without hesitation if we needed them. Knowing you have people like that behind you means more than words can express.

Finally, congratulations to Realm Boxing Gym for organizing another excellent event. Thank you for your hospitality, and we look forward to seeing everyone again soon.

🚨 IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT – TRAINING CANCELED 🚨

Due to the severe weather conditions, tornado warnings, and the potential for dangerous storms in our area, today’s JAB-LAB Boxing Club training session is canceled. 🌩️🌪️

The safety of our athletes, parents, and families will always come first. No training session is more important than making sure everyone stays safe and gets home without risk.

Please stay indoors, monitor local weather alerts, and take all necessary precautions until the storms pass.

Thank you for your understanding, and we will see everyone back in the gym at our next scheduled practice.

Stay safe, stay strong, and take care of one another. ❤️🥊

Coach Dejan Cvetkovic
JAB-LAB Boxing Club 🥊

🥊 A Fighter, a Teammate, and Family Forever

Some athletes leave a mark through victories. Others leave a mark through their character. Andrew Najerahas done both.

Andrew Najera is one of the finest competitors our club has ever produced. Through countless hours of hard work in the gym, courage in the ring, and respect outside of it, he has set the standard for what a true athlete should be. His dedication, discipline, and humility have made him not only a successful boxer, but also a role model for the younger generation of fighters.

While life has recently taken him to Mexico, where he will continue his boxing journey and training with new coaches and clubs, this is not goodbye. Andrew remains a member of the JAB-LAB Boxing Club family and, whenever his schedule allows, he will return to train and compete under our banner once again.

As his coach, this transition is bittersweet. It is difficult to see such an important part of our team leave, but at the same time, I am proud and excited to see him continue growing, learning, and expanding his career through new experiences and opportunities.

Andrew, thank you for everything you have given to this team. We wish you success, good health, and many victories on your journey ahead.

Once JAB-LAB, always JAB-LAB. We can’t wait to see you back in our corner and representing our club again.

🥊🇺🇸🇲🇽 Good luck, Andrew! Your boxing family is always behind you. ❤️

Another great weekend of amateur boxing is in the books!

First and foremost, I would like to thank my good friend and coach Daniel Ortiz and the entire Way of the Warrior team in Lebanon, Missouri, for hosting an outstanding event.

I am especially proud to say that this was the first boxing show where I served not only as a coach, but also as an official with USA Boxing. Alongside Steven Ross,Kelley Kelley, and Mike Slame, I had the opportunity to assist with athlete registration, weigh-ins, ring inspection, and other official duties. It was a valuable learning experience, and I am grateful for the trust and support. A special thank you as well to Coach Smitty's Mid-West Boxing Gym for lending us the scale for weigh-ins.

What can I say about this event? Everything was first class. It was obvious that a tremendous amount of hard work, dedication, and financial investment went into making this show a success. From the moment we stepped into the beautiful Lebanon Civic Center, the energy and atmosphere were incredible. DJ Will CropperCropper once again proved why he is one of the best in the business, keeping the crowd engaged throughout the night. The championship belts awarded to the winners were without a doubt some of the finest I have ever seen at an amateur boxing event. Having multiple videographers Dylan Pritchard Alex McGee , OWARI Boxing TRIBEcovering the show only highlighted how special this event truly was.

This time, our team brought six competitors. I am also excited to announce that our club has recently welcomed several outstanding additions to both our coaching staff and competitive team. Elliott Ross and Kuhn , I am honored that they chose to join our program, and they are more than welcome as part of our boxing family.

The results were impressive, finishing the event with a 5-1 record. While winning is always nice, events like these are about much more than the final score. We are building experience, developing character, and improving our skills every time we step into the ring. What matters most to me is seeing progress from one fight to the next, and I was very pleased with what our athletes showed this weekend. Of course, there is always room to improve, and we will continue to work toward becoming better every day.

Most importantly, I want to thank God for blessing us with the opportunity to be part of this journey. Thank you to all the athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, friends, and parents for your continued support and belief in what we are building.

There is no rest for us. Our focus is already on the next challenge as we prepare for our next event on the 27th.

One team. One family. Forward together. 🥊

𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐠. — 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐞

The world will always have people who are bigger, stronger, richer, and more talented. None of that matters when heart, courage, and determination refuse to quit.

Champions aren’t defined by the advantages they have, but by the battles they are willing to endure and overcome.