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Sports

Undefeated Boxer is Beating the Odds

Elias Xristos Bouloubassis Jr. grew up in Rosedale and overcame severe asthma on his way to the top; he boxes Friday night at the DuBurns Arena.

Elias Xristos Bouloubassis Jr. is many things to different people.

Bouloubassis is "Eli" to his government job co-workers. He is "Xris" (pronounced "Chris") to his friends; "X-man" to the members of his church men's fraternity group. And he is "Tavros" to Jacob's "Tavriki," names that mean "Bull" in Greek.

But the 31-year-old 1998 Overlea High School graduate, first and foremost, is a husband to his wife Kendra, as well as a doting father and coach to his three children, Jalen, 13, Jacob, 6, and, Jayda, 5.

Serving as a U.S. Marine for eight years, Bouloubassis had the opportunity to work for former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, actually meeting Bush for a so-called "grip and grin."

A former high school wrestler, Bouloubassis has overcome asthma to become an unbeaten professional boxer who also holds a world record for the 168-pound class with a 15-second knockout.

On Friday night at Du Burns Arena, Bouloubassis will pursue his fifth knockout in 11 bouts opposite junior middleweight (154 pounds) rival Steve Franklin (0-4) of Martinsburg, West Virginia as part of a show being promoted by McDonogh graduate John Rallo.

As an amateur from 2001 through 2006, Bouloubassis won the 165-pound Virginia middleweight (165 pounds), Virginia light middleweight (156) Golden Gloves, Maryland middleweight and East Coast middleweight crowns.

Patch.com caught up with Bouloubassis for this Q&A:

Patch.com: How did you meet President George W. Bush?

Bouloubassis: While I was stationed at the presidential helicopter Squadron One or HMX-1, my job was for direct support of the president's helicopter. We would arrive at the destination where the president was to arrive. Usually we would be there the week before the president would touch down.

We ensured that the perimeter was secure, and it was watched 24/7. Depending on the mission, my job was a variety of things, including supporting parts, performing security, assisting with maintenance and escorting officials.

HMX-1 is the best of the best. You are a "Presidential Marine." You are issued a presidential seal to wear on your dress uniform, signifying that you have served in that special unit.

The hard part was that I was privileged to have the knowledge of top secret information and could not tell anyone. I received a top-secret clearance. I supported both President Clinton and President Bush.

The presidents often take time to individually meet every member of HMX-1 and take a grip-and-grin photo with them. I have several Christmas cards from the various presidents. I have them from President Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.
 

Patch.com: What is your occupation?

Bouloubassis: I work for the United States government for the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in Woodlawn. I am the inventory manager and the fleet sustainability officer (FSO). So I am in charge of all property equipment and inventory at CMS.

I am also in charge for the sustainability for all of CMS’ fleet of vehicles. As the FSO, I focus on limiting the amount of petroleum use, getting the best possible fuel efficiency. I monitor vehicle performance and research to find new technologies to improve the environment from a fleet standpoint.

I work a 40-hour week, but I also often work e-mails late at night while my family is asleep. I have been in this field for 12 years.

Patch.com: What is your athletic background?

Bouloubassis: I played football, baseball and wrestled in high school, but baseball was always my best and favorite sport.  I wanted to play pro ball since I was a little boy. I also took karate—tae kwon do and tang soo do— from the time when I was about 3 years old until about the age of 13.

I went to Essex Community College and played baseball for them, but I soon left for the Marine Corps.

Patch.com: What drew you to becoming a boxer?

Bouloubassis: Boxing is in my blood. My father boxed back in Greece, and I have a long line of fighting blood that runs through my family on both sides. As a little boy, I would always watch boxing with my father, who loves the sport.

I remember always thinking how I would want to make my Baba proud and let him watch me fight.  That didn’t become a reality until I got stationed in Quantico, VA, where a fellow marine, Wilmer Mendoza, was looking for a boxing gym in the local area.

We hooked up with a gym and began training with the Henderson Hall Marine Corps boxing team. A month later, I was entered into the 2001 USA-Virginia championship, where I faced an experienced opponent named Frank Fillipone.

I knocked him out in the third round and eventually won the tournament. I just want to train hard and win a title, either local, regional or world. I am happy with my accomplishments already.

I broke a world record in my third professional fight, knocking out Vincent Robbins in 15 seconds. That is fastest knockout ever in the super middleweight class.

It was the 13th fastest recorded knockout ever in any weight class, and the second fastest in Maryland. Steve Griffith holds the Maryland record with his 14-second heavyweight knockout of James Thompson.

Patch.com: How is it working your training and family time in around your schedule?
 
Bouloubassis: Boxing has always been hard on my family because of the time it takes away from being home, but my wife is fine with it now that I have my priorities straight.

As long as my home front is taken care of, my wife supports boxing. If I don’t feel like running, she will say, "'I bet your opponent is running."  My kids like that I fight. For me, it is so hard to get into the gym. I drive my oldest boy, Jalen, to the bus stop Monday-Friday at 7:15 since he is in a magnet program.

Then I go to work until 4:30 p.m.  After work, I come home for a change in command, since my wife leaves for work right when I get there. I eat and play with my little kids, Jacob and Jayda, until about 7 p.m., when my wife is on her way home.

After another change in command, I go to the gym. My wife and I really don’t see each other during the week because of this schedule. I have been married to my queen for eight-and-a-half years.

Jalen is my trooper who just graduated middle school and will be attending high school at Carver, in Towson, for culinary art. Maybe now I will finally eat right with my son as my personal chef.

Jacob is just like his Baba—"Dad" in Greek. He is very disciplined, loves sports and is a huge Cowboys and Ravens fan. Jacob did inherit the bad part of me and also suffers from asthma. He is smart and has an engineer's mind.

Jayda is my Angel, sweet and so beautiful. But her alter ego is a straight monster. This is where she takes after her daddy's craziness. We call her "treli" (pronounced Tray-LEE), which means "Crazy girl."

I am undefeated, but I honestly don’t really need boxing. I fight because I want to, not because I have to. I have a great federal job, own my house and cars, and I have a beautiful wife and family.

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