Golden Boy

By Joe Mason
Times Sports Editor

Joey Dawejko tried just about every sport imaginable.
And though he enjoyed baseball and basketball games, he really didn’t find his athletic niche until he stepped into the boxing ring.
Dawejko, a 14-year-old freshman at Abraham Lincoln High School, already has accomplished a lot in the world of amateur boxing. And considering he’s been in it only for a few years, his best could be yet to come.
Dawejko has put together a record of 14-3, including victories in his last eight bouts. Five of his wins were by RSC — meaning the referee stopped the contest, an amateur-boxing term for a technical knockout.
And the walls of his bedroom in his Tacony home are decorated with four championship belts.
His latest title was the Pennsylvania State Golden Gloves championship, which he claimed by defeating Jaquay Lutz-James at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on April 30.
Dawejko was competing in the 14-year-old, 189-pound weight class in his bout with the Pittsburgh fighter.
"It was a big win, probably my biggest so far," said Dawejko, who is training at Harrowgate gym for the regional Golden Gloves tournament in July. "I knew it was big because I always get a little nervous right before a match, and the bigger the match, the more nervous I get.
"But it went great," he added. "I thought I boxed really well, and it was fun to travel to Pittsburgh."
It is just one of the many places the youngster has visited during his boxing career.
In his life, Dawejko has boxed five times in Kansas, twice in Detroit and once in Indiana, Syracuse, N.Y., and Wildwood, N.J.
He was accompanied by his trainers and his grandfather, Terry Tobin.
"I loved boxing in Wildwood," Dawejko said. "I’d have to say Kansas is my favorite place, just because I’ve been there so much and I know it pretty well. I liked Detroit because there was a cool mall.
"When you travel, you don’t get to do a whole lot, it’s usually just going there and boxing," he continued. "But it’s fun. I’ve been to a lot of places that I probably would have never been to if it wasn’t for boxing."
But the trips, belts and glory aren’t just a product of his boxing talent. Though the bruising teen can deliver a punch and take a nice shot, he thinks the accolades can be linked to his hard work and training.
"It’s hard, I have to do a lot of working out, even when I don’t feel like it," Dawejko said.
His routine includes runs around Lincoln High, a regimen that covers roughly two and a half miles each time he does it.
He also goes to the Harrowgate Boxing Club in Kensington every day for a vigorous workout. The training consists of shadow-boxing, in-ring training, cardiovascular exercises and, of course, a few rounds with the punching bag.
"I do my exercises in rounds," Dawejko said. "I always start with the shadow-boxing because that gets me warmed up in a hurry. Then I get in the ring, and I always end with the push-ups, sit-ups and crunches.
"It’s hard work being a boxer," Dawejko said. "You’re in there alone, and if you aren’t in great shape for a match, you’ll lose. It’s cool because when you’re in baseball, you don’t have to be perfect every day and you could still win because you’re teammates can come through. But in boxing, it’s just you and the guy you’re fighting, so you have to be ready every time you box."
According to his trainers, Dawejko is always ready when he steps between the ropes.
"Joey’s conditioning is great and his technique is very good," said Mike Milloy, who teams with Jim Lowry as Dawejko’s trainers at Harrowgate. "Boxers can never have perfect technique, but he’s very good and he’s getting better all the time.
"He still has a way to go before he can be where he wants to be," Milloy added, "but he’s getting good, and that’s why he’s had so much success."
Dawejko takes a no-nonsense work ethic to his preparations. But he also feels that his laid-back approach to things when he’s out of the ring can help him a lot when he’s in the ring.
"I’m very, you know, I’m not real intense when I’m away from boxing," Dawejko said with a smile. "I’m a different person in a lot of ways when I get in the ring. But I’m still laid back in that I never want to hurt my opponent and I don’t hate him or nothing like that. I guess it’s like football a little, in that you want to tackle him."
Dawejko’s dream is to take his boxing career to the professional level. But that’s a long time down the road.
For now, after his Golden Gloves competitions are over, he’ll turn his attention to another goal — he wants to fight for his country.
"Every amateur wants to fight in the Olympics," Dawejko said. "That’s why we’re here. It would be fun to go pro and fight on Pay Per View and stuff like that, but right now my goal is the 2008 Olympics."
A more immediate goal is the upcoming regional tournament.
"I try to work all the time," Dawejko said. "It’s hard because boxing doesn’t have an offseason. You’re there the entire year trying to get better.
"I’m very lucky because my trainers and my grandfather are very supportive and they make sure I stay focused," he added. "I’ll just keep doing this for as long as I can, and keep enjoying it. I never thought I would have accomplished so much. But I’m doing really good, and I hope I can keep getting better and keep winning belts." ••
Sports editor Joe Mason can be reached at 215-354-3035 or jmason@phillynews.com