Tag Archives: Tony “The Tiger” Lopez

Mar52014

Posted in F4YL Character Descriptions

Ms. Blackwood

Ms. Blackwood with Fleet (Boy)

Ms. Blackwood

Fleet’s caring mother, Ms. Blackwood was very tentative in allowing Fleet to start boxing when he was a boy.  But she realizes now it was one of the best decisions she ever made for her son, and for herself.  Even though she knows Fleet’s advanced abilities protect him in the ring, it still doesn’t stop her from getting nervous as all heck when he fights!  Fleet is her life.  And his safety and well-being is at the top of her priority list.

Ms. Blackwood went through a lot of struggle with raising Fleet, with his father leaving them not long after Fleet was born.  She decided immediately when this happened that she would not cry and she would not make excuses.  She fought her personal demons along the way and made things work, not allowing her circumstances to overcome her family.  Few people understand that it’s really from his strong-willed mother that Fleet gets much of his determination, work ethic and inner power.

Once turned off by the idea of her son throwing fists in the ring for a career, Ms. Blackwood has allowed herself to “get use to it”, realizing Fleet’s talent.  She owes so much gratitude to Ahiga for finding Fleet, seeing something in him.  All these years of his service to her son has earned her undying respect and appreciation.  She thinks of both Ahiga and Tony as family.  Without them, she doesn’t know what would have happened to Fleet….or herself.

 

 

Mar22015

Posted in F4YL Character Descriptions

Mr. Jenkins

Mr. Jenkins

Mr. Jenkins

Mr. Jenkins is that neighborhood market owner everyone wishes they had….and rarely do.  His father started up shop way back in the day and he only saw it right to continue the family business after his pops passed.  Things also didn’t pan out for him in his previous career.  So, everything just kind of fell in place and he’s been the face of the corner store ever since.

The Jenkins Family Market truly is a staple in the community.  And Junior, as his dad always called him, takes great pride in that.  He makes sure he learns everyone’s name and that everyone feels welcome.  An active member of the neighborhood watch, Mr. Jenkins also is no pushover.  The common thief has learned all too many times Mr. J’s nice guy attitude quickly changes when he has to protect his store.  Indeed, at this point most people in the neighborhood know that his pleasant personality is only equaled by his feisty spirit, which he learned to control, for the most part, as a youngster through the local boxing gym…the same local boxing gym Tony “The Tiger” Mercado took over years later and still owns and operates to this day.

Mr. Jenkins is a huge contributor to Tony’s gym, always has been.  But when he learned a local boy by the name of Fleet Blackwood was making a name for himself by way of Tony, Mr. J upped his support even more and has played a huge role in the development of the neighborhood’s boxing program ever since.

Whenever Fleet comes into the store it always brings a smile to Junior’s face, knowing his sponsorship has helped in some way.  He and Fleet often go back and forth, trading stories.  Ever the enthusiastic storyteller and supporter, Mr. Jenkins regularly has a hard time controlling his excitement as he details this tale or that memory of his own adventures, or recalls the fine points of one of Fleet’s past fights.  It always cracks Fleet up how worked up the guy gets.

Mr. Jenkins is Fleet’s biggest fan.  His sponsorship has helped the stoic boxer so much along his road and he remembers the happenings of pretty much every fight Fleet’s ever had.  But what Mr. J doesn’t recall is that it was in his very market Fleet met who was to become his mentor, the man truly responsible for putting the once troubled boy on the path that made him the powerful man he is today.