As far as steps to the 2020 Olympics go, this was a tiny one. Nonetheless, it was the first for Nashua’s Mike Fontanez, who captured the 165-pound title at the USA Boxing New England Regionals this past week.

Fontanez, now 30-3, stopped his only opponent in Round 1, quickly, mercilessly and with no drama.

The victory earns him a spot in the upcoming USA Boxing Eastern Elite Qualifier and Regional Open Championships, which are being held in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Oct. 7-13.

“If I win there, it qualifies me for Team USA, and it’s another step toward my Olympic dream,” said Fontanez, who is trained by Muhammad Brooks and represents Nashua PAL Boxing. There are other ways to the Olympic Trials, other opportunities, but I’m doing my best to make it happen now, instead of later.”

By his “best,” Fontanez means training, two and sometimes three times a day, seven days a week.

“There’s no breaks, I won’t allow myself to take a day off,” he said. “The way I look at it, if I did, that’s one day that my opponent is working and I’m not. I’m not going to let anyone outwork me.”

To win in Chattanooga, Fontanez will have to beat five men in five days.

“It’s the best of the best in the nation, all the top guys,” he said. “And that’s just what I want.”

Hey Pats, we play ball here, too

So, when I worked in Northeast Massachusetts, I often wondered how the preponderance of winners in the New England Patriots’ spectacular high school football “Coach of the Week” program seemed to be from South of Boston.

Take this week’s first winner, Gary Doherty of Bishop Feehan, which is 13.1 miles from Patriot Place.

Week after week, South Shore team after South Shore team.

The program is awesome. Hall of Fame Patriot Andre Tippett comes to the winning school, fires up the student body and most importantly hands the football program a nice, fat check.

It’s tremendous.

My only question is, these are still the “New England” Patriots, right? Why aren’t we involved in this? Are New Hampshire coaches or coaches from any of the other five states not worthy? What about us?

Seems to me that the thinking in Foxborough is a tad myopic these days.

Come on, Pats. Let’s get it done.

And finally

Best of luck to the six area teams headed to Lake Winnipesaukee on Thursday for the preliminary round of the NHIAA Bass Fishing

Championships.

Souhegan, Campbell, Alvirne, Milford, Hollis Brookline and Bishop Guertin will all be looking to land that lunker or two that can place them in the state finals on September 29 at Lake Sunapee.

Folks, may the fish be with you.

Hector Longo may be reached at 594-1253 or hlongo@nashuatelegraph.com.

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