Author Archives: Mary Sharmaine

The bell went, “ding, ding, ding” to signify the start of a new three minute round as two men from opposite sides of the ring met at the center and touched gloves. The sound of leather jump ropes whipping the air, faster and faster as the round progressed, was heard in the background, but overpowered by the rhythm of the speed bags. The hunger in each pair of eyes grew more intensely as each fighter envisioned their next battle towards glory guided by just one man with a pair of mitts.

Greg Ardon, the man behind the mitts, is the owner, founder and head coach of Ardon’s Sweet Science Gym (ASSG), home to many professional and amateur fighters in boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts (MMA) and Thai-kickboxing.

“Every time I train somebody for a fight, it feels like I’m actually fighting,” said Ardon. “I feel like I need to warm up as well.”

Watch this video and get a closer look at one of Ardon’s youngest adult fighters, Adam Amro.
 

 
Angel Garcia, a 24-year-old professional boxer, has been training with Ardon ever since he started boxing at the age of 12.

“He is my manager as well as my everything,” said Garcia. “We talk about business, family matters, whatever it is, he’s the man.”

Ardon considers all of his students and fighters as part of one huge family.

“We may come from different backgrounds, different families, but once they work on my team I feel like they’re my brothers, cousins, etc.,” said Ardon. “When one of them goes in the ring to fight, I feel like I’m going in there too.”

Watch this video and get a closer look at one of Ardon’s pro fighters, Villi Bello.
 

 
Eric Castro, a 23-year-old amateur boxer and Thai-kick-boxer, turned his life around once he met Ardon and started training at ASSG.

“When I first started, I was involved in gangs,” said Castro. “I’ve actually got stabbed.”

Since then, Ardon has taken Castro under his wing and he’s become a successful amateur Thai fighter, with a record of six wins and no losses, and is an assistant trainer at the gym.

“Greg is a great role model to me and he has a great heart, a big heart, sometimes too big,” said Castro. “Even if his students can’t afford it, he’ll give them an opportunity to train.”

A family man, Ardon loves spending quality time and training with his children, ages three and four.

“They love training, they’re my champions,” said Ardon. “They’re always going ‘pow pow, pow pow,’ that’s boxing for them.”

When he’s not holding pads and mitts, Ardon enjoys other activities outside of the ring.

“I love dancing,” said Ardon, “I love music and, of course, I love spending time with my wife.”

Christopher Vallaro, a 29-year-old amateur MMA fighter, has been training at ASSG for almost six years and is looking to turn pro in the near future under the direction of Ardon.

“His energy just makes you a humble person,” said Vallaro, “He’s one of the greatest people I’ve ever met and I learn from him everyday I’m with him, so I’m very thankful to be one of his students.”

Ardon has two contenders, Amro and Bello, heading into the ring for a Thai-kickboxing event on Friday, May 16, 2014.

“Whatever happens will happen, but we are ready to win every time we go in there,” said Ardon. “In a fight you can expect anything, but in our mind we are going to do our best.”

Watch Amro and Bello take on their next opponents at the east versus west Thai-kickboxing event, Friday Night Fights.
 

Watch the results from Amro and Bello’s fights!