Tinker boxer training for U.S. Amateur Championship Published May 21, 2009 By John E. Banks Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Tinker boxer James Barber has been selected to represent the Air Force as its featherweight champion for 2009. Barber, a first lieutenant with the 552nd Operations Support Squadron, has been a member of the Tinker Boxing Club for approximately two years. This year, he attempted to represent Tinker as one of the members of the elite All-Air Force boxing team. His dream became reality in early April when he was crowned the 125-pound champion during the box-offs. Barber was originally slated for the 132-pound division, but the boxing coach decided it would be better for him to drop weight and compete for the featherweight title. "The coach wanted me to drop weight. Because of my great conditioning, it was a relatively easy adjustment," said Barber. He won the title and then was an automatic entrant into the U.S. Armed Forces competition, held at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. Though he faced stiff competition, Barber claimed the bronze medal. "That competition was an eye-opener for me," he said. "I have a lot to learn." Since the competition in Arizona, Barber has been at the U.S. Air Force training camp at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. "The boxing staff has put in a lot of work for us and it is starting to pay off," he said. The training regimen consists of sparring sessions, road work, film study, technique and positioning improvement, which takes up all of the fighters' time. The boxers selected for the All-Air Force team act as ambassadors as well as boxers. They attend local boxing events and meet with up-and-coming fighters to pass on lessons they have learned. The next major event for Barber is the U.S. Amateur Boxing Championships in Denver, June 8-13. "This will be a dream come true," he said. "I get to test my skills against the best amateur boxers in the USA. I will be pitted against fighters who comprised the 2008 USA Olympic team." Barber's core values exemplify the best the Air Force and Tinker have to offer. "It is truly an honor to represent all the service members at Tinker as I continue on this journey," Barber said.