Dawejko is still
king of the ring

By Joe Mason
Times Sports Editor

Joey Dawejko had just one thing in mind when he entered the boxing ring for his semifinal match at the Ringside World Boxing Tournament.
Just win, baby.
Dawejko, a 15-year-old Torresdale resident, was competing in the high-profile boxing tournament in Kansas City, Mo., on Aug. 7.
The 189-pounder has been in all kinds of national boxing tournaments during his life, but the Abraham Lincoln High School sophomore was kind of nervous about his first fight at the Ringside World Boxing Tournament.
It wasn’t because the tournament was so big. Sure, it was fun to box in a tournament that included 1,450 fighters from 15 countries, but that wasn’t on his mind when he entered the ring.
He was just hoping he was up to the challenge.
Dawejko’s opponent in the semifinal match was Ohio pug Justin Thatcher. Although Dawejko had compiled a 15-4 record in the ring, he’d lost twice to Thatcher.
One of those losses came on July 24, in the Junior Golden Gloves National Tournament finals, where Dawejko dropped a split decision to Thatcher.
But on Aug. 7, Dawejko got his revenge. He defeated Thatcher by decision and went on to defeat Jordan Gomillion in the finals to win the championship of the prestigious tournament.
The win in the finals was nice, but beating his top rival was the best part about the trip to Kansas.
"I went in there a little nervous, but I just wanted to win," Dawejko said. "I didn’t want to fight him the same way I fought him before, because I lost last time.
"I just went in knowing I was going to win, hoping that the confidence would help me win," Dawejko said. "I really think it did. I went out, fought a great fight and got the win."
Winning national and international tournaments has been fun and exciting for Dawejko. It also helped the young boxer come up with the perfect long-term goal.
Right now, Dawejko is working hard, training five days a week at the Harrowgate Gym in Kensington. He’s also working out with a personal trainer twice a week to get in perfect condition.
There’s a reason for his extremely intense training — Dawejko eventually wants to go global.
"He’s working really hard because he wants to make it to the 2008 Olympics," said his grandfather Terry Tobin, who served as Dawejko’s trainer at the Ringside tournament. "That’s why we just got him the personal trainer. He’s in good shape, he’s got good form, but if you want to make the Olympics, you have to be more than in good shape. You have to be in perfect shape.
"The trainers at Harrowgate Gym — Charlie Sgrillo, Mike Milloy and Jim Lowry — have really helped him," Tobin said. "They took him from a kid who didn’t really know anything and they’ve turned him into a great fighter."
"My trainers have been great," Dawejko said. "They are the ones who are getting me ready for my dream, being an Olympic fighter."
But Dawejko’s work ethic also has come in handy. He never minds running around his neighborhood or doing a few extra sit-ups. In fact, the only thing that Dawejko sometimes minds is keeping a strict diet.
The structured calorie intake has helped him in the later rounds, but it isn’t always fun.
"I love cheesesteaks, and me and my grandfather go for them sometimes," Dawejko said. "But I can’t eat them all the time. I can’t have them as much as I want. I have to take that stuff seriously."
There’s also a catch in not enjoying the tasty sandwiches. Right now, Dawejko weighs in at a stocky 189 pounds.
Sometimes he feels that his build can give him an advantage when he steps between the ropes.
"I think sometimes my opponents look at me and think that they’re gonna beat up the chubby kid," Dawejko said. "If an opponent underestimates me, that’s great. I know I’m a good boxer, and I go into every fight thinking my opponent is good."
Dawejko now wants to keep enjoying himself, stay fit and continue his growth in becoming a top-notch amateur boxer.
"When I started I didn’t know how good I could do," Dawejko said. "I wanted to do good, but at first I just wanted to try it out.
"I’ve been lucky to have good trainers, and my grandfather has been great helping me with everything," he continued. "I’ll just keep doing it, keep having fun and see how far I can go." ••
Sports editor Joe Mason can be reached at 215-354-3035 or jmason@phillynews.com