A South Florida boxing coach is showing young fighters the ropes — both in the ring and in life. And his no-nonsense, tough love approach — is now the focus of a new documentary. Courtney Allen has this 7Spotlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The punches were flying on a Thursday evening inside Flaco’s Community Gym in Hollywood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jose “Flaco” Perez: “I used to be skinny and ‘flaco’ means skinny in Spanish. So coach gave me the nickname Flaco and it just stuck.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Owner Jose “Flaco” Perez opened the gritty, graffiti-filled gym in 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s where the Brooklyn-born, former boxer has guided the next generation of fighters for the past decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jose “Flaco” Perez: “The type of kids you’ll see in the program come from all different walks, all different financial demographics, all different cultural backgrounds.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite their differences, Flaco preaches the same things: Hard work, discipline and accountability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jose “Flaco” Perez: “I create a safe environment for you to grow and mature and learn.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now — Flaco, his students and the small Hollywood gym are getting a little movie star treatment. They’re the focus of a new documentary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paolo Mugnaini: “The moment I walked in, I knew this gym was something different from the other gyms.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paolo Mugnaini is the filmmaker behind “Fighting Spirit: The Battle Within.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last weekend, it won best short documentary<\/a> at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paolo Mugnaini: “There’s always been this thing about how boxing is a metaphor for life.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The film weaves together themes of perseverance and self-esteem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jose “Flaco” Perez: “He showed me the final product and I thought it was amazing, but I’m pretty biased being that I’m the main guy on screen.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n And the main guy is tough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jose “Flaco” Perez: “In this world where sensitivity has become a culture, I think you come here and it’s a little bit of a throwback.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paolo Mugnaini: “What I see is that underneath, not sugar-coating things, there’s a lot of love, there is a lot of passion for really building better people.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n People, like 12-year-old Maj, who has been coming to Flaco’s gym since he was 8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maj: “In school, sometimes I used to get bullied. So then me learning boxing, it improved my confidence and it made me more happier overall.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n He’s not bullied anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maj: “Once you find respect, that’s all you seek and you give it out. So it’s like, ‘Oh, yeah, I love to respect people and I love being respected.'”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thirteen-year-olds Rami and Pacman — nicknamed after the legendary fighter Manny Pacquiao — also grew up in this gym.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pacman: “my coach Flaco, he’s really a father figure to me. So I know I could trust him, you know, I could call him when I need something.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both teens won national titles in their weight divisions this summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rami: “This is something I want to do professionally for sure, ’cause this is what I love to do.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n And whether Flaco’s students go on to be professionals in the sport or not…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jose “Flaco” Perez: “I pride myself not only in creating great boxers, but creating amazing individuals.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n And that is something worth fighting for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mugnaini has already entered “Fighting Spirit \u2013 The Battle Within” in other well-known film festivals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Courtney Allen, 7News.<\/p>\n\n\n\n FOR MORE INFORMATION If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
<\/strong>Flaco’s Community Gym<\/a>
Fighting Spirit \u2013 The Battle Within<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n