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Kickboxing throwdown in Waimea features local youths

West Hawaii Today

KAILUA-KONA — Josh Wong, as tiny as a speed bag, wants to even the score.

Wearing boxing gloves as big as his head, the 9-year-old worked a hanging target inside Sonny Westbrook’s gym in round-like intervals, pouring sweat like a pro.

“Hands up, hands up,” Westbrook, a Golden Gloves boxer, star bodyguard and teacher, called out. “Push.”

A horn sounded, and Wong rested. Then the horn sounded and he was back at it.

“His dad, tells me, ‘Oh, these kids, man, if they don’t go to the gym, they get upset,’” Westbrook said of Wong.