MONROE – Rico Hoye Jr. left Monroe in 2003 trying to escape some bad influences.
He returned recently in an effort to be a good influence – and he may come back for good.
The Monroe native traveled from Arizona to run a boxing camp over the past two weeks at the Arthur Lesow Community Center.
“The Center invited me back for a boxing boot camp,” he said. “It was kind of an introduction to boxing and to give kids something to do in the summer, learn new skills and, most importantly, to develop the mindset of a winner.”
Despite temperatures that often topped 90 degrees in the early part of the camp, Hoye wasn’t easy on the campers.
“We had about 30 kids, but sometimes it fell off a little bit during the two weeks,” Hoye said. “The kids would tell me, ‘Oh man, this is hard.’ But I kept expressing to them, ‘I know it’s hard right now, but stay consistent and keep doing it.’ We pushed them a little bit, and they all got better. There was a lot of growth.”
Hoye, who will turn 50 in November, was delighted to get the invitation to come back to the place where he learned boxing.
“I was overjoyed,” he said. “It was so awesome to share my experience and passion for boxing. I hope I can help them develop a good outlook on life. You’re going to get knocked down, but you can’t give up.”
Hoye knows that from experience. He's been knocked down plenty of times.
“I had over 100 amateur fights,” said Hoye, who fought under the name of Robert Anderson. “I was third at the nationals in 2001. I had 25 pro fights. I was ranked No. 1 and won IBF and WBC titles.”
In 2009, he was a contestant on the fourth season of the boxing reality show, “The Contender.”
But it wasn’t a smooth ride. In between his amateur and pro careers was a stint in jail.
“When I was 16, I got into some trouble and went away for 10 years,” he said.
Fearing he would fall in with a bad crowd again, Hoye moved to Arizona in 2003.
“I was wise enough to leave the environment that sometimes had the ability to distract. I promised my father and grandfather that I would avoid that lifestyle.
“I wanted to be a contributor, not a taker.”
The decision to leave was reinforced by another influential family member.
“I asked my grandmother if she had a problem with me leaving,” he recalled. “She said, ‘Boy, get out of here. See the world. If it doesn’t work out, Monroe will still be here.’”
It turned out to be the right choice.
He and his wife, Tamirra, now have four children: Taquira, Robert, Imira and Ilijah. Hoye is a grandfather, too.
He fell back on what he knew best to launch a career. He started the Against the Ropes boxing and fitness gym and launched the Helping Our Youth Excel Boxing Club in Chandler, Ariz.
Returning to Monroe brought back a flood of memories. One of the speakers at his recent camp was former champion Bronco McKart, who was his frequent training partner.
“I told the kids, ‘I used to box this guy every day, and I have the wounds to prove it,’” he said with a laugh.
The camp also spurred a desire to come home.
“I’ve been in Arizona 20 years,” he said. “I am almost a native. But coming back to Monroe re-invigorated and excited me. I’d like to come back. All my family is here.
“I moved to Arizona because I had an auntie there. Then, she moved back. I thought, ‘Why am I still here?’”
But he still has family ties in Arizona.
His second-youngest child is a student at Arizona State, and his youngest is a high school football player.
“He’s in a good school,” Hoye said. “He said, ‘We can move back in three years.’ But we’ll see.”
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