By Tom Orsborn, Sports reporter | San Antonio Express-News, 2024-05-27 08:00:13
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
大卫·卡德纳斯二世在右边，马刺前锋凯尔登·约翰逊站在他旁边，他们正在进行比赛。当他在社交场所告诉粉丝，他于2024年5月11日的比赛因为对手没有出现而取消时，他正在进行比赛。
凯尔登·约翰逊的标志性热情并不局限于篮球场。
这位马刺前锋在弗罗斯特银行中心和球队的训练设施里大声喊叫，同样也出现在圣安东尼奥拳击场馆的拳台边。
“我喜欢去看拳击比赛，我喜欢看到有前途的拳手，我喜欢看到人们追逐他们的梦想，”他说。“我曾经也是其中之一，一个来自小镇的孩子追逐梦想，所有人都说，‘你做不到。’”
约翰逊最喜欢的拳击斗士之一是：大卫·卡德纳斯二世，一个身高5英尺3英寸，体重112磅的蝇量级拳手，在周六晚上在山谷的一场比赛中以首轮KO获胜后，他的职业战绩为6胜0负。
“看到他的工作态度，他渴望成为伟大的人，以及为了达到他现在的水平所做出的牺牲，让我想要尽我所能帮助他，”约翰逊说。
这位充满活力的马刺球星与卡德纳斯成为了朋友，卡德纳斯是2023年爱迪生高中毕业生，他们几年前通过共同的朋友相识。
“有一天，我去健身房，没有人愿意和他打拳，所以我上了拳台，和他打了几个回合，”约翰逊说。“从那时起，我们就非常亲近。”
他们之间的关系非常亲密，以至于19岁的卡德纳斯将24岁的约翰逊视为家人。
“我把他看作我的哥哥，”卡德纳斯说。“他给了我关于所有事情的人生建议。”
就像德鲁·邦迪尼·布朗作为穆罕默德·阿里在“最伟大”的职业生涯中担任助理教练和陪练一样，约翰逊帮助激励卡德纳斯，并保持他训练营的士气高涨。
“他总是房间里最响亮的人，为每个人加油，为我加油，确保我准备好了，确保我状态良好，确保我做好了准备，激励我成为伟大的人，”卡德纳斯说。“他确保我们都在笑，确保我们每个人都冷静而快乐。”
马刺前锋凯尔登·约翰逊在2024年5月11日社交场所的比赛前与拳手大卫·卡德纳斯二世交谈。
作为卡德纳斯陪练之一，约翰逊确保不会越俎代庖，侵犯资深教练里克·努涅斯的工作范围，努涅斯是一名前拳手，也是卡德纳斯的表兄，毕业于南圣安东尼奥高中。
“我只是告诉大卫要保持敏锐，保持专业，”约翰逊说。“剩下的就让他的教练去做。在涉及他的职业时，我不会越界。我只是在那里提供精神支持。”
事实上，他做的更多，包括用他洪亮的声音将努涅斯对卡德纳斯的指示转达给卡德纳斯，卡德纳斯曾获得两次美国拳击国家锦标赛冠军。
“有时他们无法在比赛进行的时候听到我的声音，整个场馆都很吵，我就会说，‘嘿，凯尔登，告诉他们这个，’”努涅斯说。“然后我们就会听到凯尔登的声音，盖过所有人的声音。”
约翰逊还帮助卡德纳斯进行体能训练。
“我们一起跑步，”卡德纳斯说。“我们做了很多事情。他喜欢拳击训练。他激励我，我也激励他。我们互相激励，直到我们再也坚持不住。”
约翰逊说，在努涅斯位于南边帕洛阿尔托学院附近的南公园拳击学院的训练，为他在漫长的NBA赛季做好了准备。
“拳击可以让你变得强壮，”约翰逊说。“这是一种非常辛苦的训练。我尽量多参与他的训练，尤其是在夏天。我从不缺席他的训练。”
约翰逊在弗吉尼亚州的乡村长大，是拳击迷。
“我天生就是一个运动型的人，我一直都很喜欢这项运动，”他说。“有一个朋友是拳击手，并且参与拳击界，这让我更上一层楼。”
大卫·卡德纳斯二世与马刺前锋凯尔登·约翰逊（右）一起得知，他们于2024年5月11日在社交场所的比赛因为对手没有出现而取消。
卡德纳斯说，约翰逊的拳击能力和对拳击的了解令人印象深刻。
“他知道自己在做什么，”卡德纳斯说。“他了解这项运动。他热爱这项运动。他经常观看拳击比赛，我们也经常讨论拳击。”
卡德纳斯在圣安东尼奥长大，他玩过棒球、篮球、橄榄球和足球，包括在爱迪生高中的篮球队和橄榄球队效力。但是，自从他大约7岁的时候开始练习拳击，拳击就成为了他最喜欢的运动，此前他曾向他的同名父亲抱怨，他在其他运动中的队友在比赛变得艰难时就会放弃。
“他们不认为自己能在输球的情况下卷土重来，”卡德纳斯说。“我会告诉我的爸爸，‘不公平。他们在我认为我们还能回来的时候就放弃了。’他说，‘我会把你安排到一项运动中，你不能责怪任何人，只能责怪你自己，’所以我从那时起就一直在打拳。”
他对这项运动的奉献精神因为有约翰逊陪伴而更加坚定。
“凯尔登总是督促大卫，说，‘嘿，你不应该这样做，你不应该那样做，你应该这样做，你应该那样做，’”卡德纳斯父亲说。“他带来了积极的能量。凯尔登在他的职业生涯中已经取得了成功。他试图让大卫在拳击中取得成功，就像他在篮球中取得的成功一样。”
约翰逊教授卡德纳斯最深刻的教训之一是，玩乐和认真工作是有区别的。
“不要拿你的事业开玩笑，”约翰逊经常告诉他的得意门徒。“我不会拿我的事业开玩笑。在涉及我的事业时，我会投入工作。你必须确保自己总是投入工作。你还没有取得任何成就，所以不要分心。”
卡德纳斯的父亲很感激他的儿子有如此优秀的榜样。
“他们可以很疯狂，”卡德纳斯的父亲说。“我儿子19岁，凯尔登24岁，所以他们还很年轻。他们可以像孩子一样行事。但当需要认真工作的时候，凯尔登就会站出来，向他展示你不能总是疯玩，你必须认真对待事情才能在生活中取得成功。”
约翰逊与卡德纳斯之间的关系是另一个体现他对圣安东尼奥的热爱。2019年，作为肯塔基大学的第一轮选秀，约翰逊来到这座城市后，就融入社区基层，最著名的是他为莱尼尔男子篮球队的支持者。几年前，他为沃克斯捐赠了价值1万美元的设备，并将他们的体育馆视为他的家外之家。
“他是一个很棒的人，”卡德纳斯说。“他喜欢尽可能地帮助任何人，用他能帮助的任何东西。他是一个外向的人。他热爱圣安东尼奥，热爱这个社区。”
卡德纳斯的父亲同意他的说法。
“凯尔登有一颗善良的心，”卡德纳斯的父亲说。“即使取得了如此多的成功，他仍然很谦虚。这就是为什么他如此令人喜爱。”
约翰逊在拳击界的受欢迎程度在最近一次卡德纳斯定于本月初进行的一场比赛的称重仪式上显而易见，那场比赛因为对手没有出现而被取消。约翰逊身穿一件印有交织的“D”和“C”以及卡德纳斯的昵称“El Giro”的蓝色和白色T恤，走过南边的Ojos Locos体育酒吧，受到了粉丝、拳手和教练的热烈欢迎。
“我喜欢参与其中，尽可能地提供帮助，”他说。“我尽量赞助圣安东尼奥地区尽可能多的拳手。这只是回馈的一种方式。看到年轻的拳手不断进步，看到他们努力训练，做出牺牲，这让我感到非常谦卑。”
大卫·卡德纳斯二世与凯尔登·约翰逊一起，告诉观众他对比赛取消感到非常抱歉，因为他的对手没有出现。凯尔登·约翰逊于2024年5月11日星期六在社交场所与年轻的当地拳手大卫·卡德纳斯结为好友。
大卫·卡德纳斯二世与凯尔登·约翰逊在2024年5月11日社交场所的一场拳击比赛中合影留念。
马刺前锋凯尔登·约翰逊（右）与圣安东尼奥拳手大卫·卡德纳斯二世合影。
点击查看原文：Spurs' Keldon Johnson befriends local fighter David Cardenas Jr.
Spurs’ Keldon Johnson befriends local fighter David Cardenas Jr.
David Cardenas Jr. is joined in the right by Spurs forward Keldon Johnson, fight, when he tells fans at the Social Spot that his fight on May 11, 2024 was cancelled because his opponent was a no-show.
Keldon Johnson’s trademark enthusiasm isn’t restricted to the basketball court.
The full-throated shouting the Spurs forward does at the Frost Bank Center and the team’s practice facility also takes place ringside at San Antonio boxing venues.
“I love to go to boxing events, love to see up-and-coming fighters, love to see people chasing their dreams,” he said. “I was once one of those people, a small-town kid chasing a dream with everybody saying, ‘You can’t do it.’ ”
No. 1 on Johnson’s list of his favorite pugilistic strivers: David Cardenas Jr., a 5-foot-3, 112-pound flyweight with a 6-0 professional record after scoring a first-round knockout in a fight Saturday night in the Valley.
“To see his work ethic, how he wants to be great and the sacrifices he makes to be at the level he is makes me want to help him any way I can,” Johnson said.
The effervescent Spur befriended Cardenas, a 2023 Edison graduate, after they met through a mutual friend a few years ago.
“One day, I went to the gym and nobody wanted to box him, so I got in the ring and went a couple of rounds with him,” Johnson said. “Ever since then, we have been real close.”
So much so that Cardenas, 19, considers Johnson, 24, part of his family.
“I look at him as a big brother,” Cardenas said. “He gives me life advice about everything.”
Much like Drew Bundini Brown did as Muhammad Ali’s colorful assistant trainer and cornerman during the pro career of “The Greatest,” Johnson helps motivate Cardenas and keeps morale high in his camp.
“He is always the loudest one in the room, hyping everyone up, hyping me up, making sure I am ready, making sure I am good, making sure I am prepared, pushing me to be great,” Cardenas said. “And he makes sure we are all laughing, that all of us are level-headed and happy.”
Spurs forward Keldon Johnson speaks with boxer David Cardenas Jr. before the flyweight’s fight on May 11, 2024 at the Social Spot.
Serving as one of Cardenas’ cornermen, Johnson makes sure not to step on the toes of veteran trainer Rick Nunez, a former fighter and South San graduate who is Cardenas’ cousin.
“I just tell David to stay sharp, keep being professional,” Johnson said. “I let his coaches do the rest of it. I don’t overstep my boundaries when it comes to his profession. I am just there for moral support.”
Actually, he does a lot more, including using his booming voice to relay instructions from Nunez to Cardenas, who won two USA Boxing national championships as an amateur.
“Sometimes they can’t hear my voice over the whole crowd while the round is going on, and I will just be like, ‘Hey, Keldon, tell them this,’ ” Nunez said. “And we will hear Keldon’s voice over everybody.”
Johnson also helps Cardenas with his conditioning.
“We run together,” Cardenas said. “We do a lot of stuff. He loves boxing workouts. He pushes me, and I push him. We push each other until we can’t go anymore.”
Johnson said workouts at Nunez’s South Park Boxing Academy near Palo Alto College on the South Side prepare him for the marathon NBA season.
“Boxing gets you in shape,” Johnson said. “It is a hard workout. I try to be involved as much as possible with his training, especially in the summertime. I don’t miss a workout with him.”
Johnson grew up a big boxing fan in rural Virginia.
“I am a physical person in general, and I have always loved the sport,” he said. “To have a friend who is a boxer, and getting involved in the boxing community, just takes it to another level.”
David Cardenas Jr. learns along with Spurs forward Keldon Johnson, right, that his fight at the Social Spot on May 11, 2024 was cancelled because his opponent was a no-show.
Cardenas called Johnson’s boxing ability and knowledge of the sweet science impressive.
“He knows what he is doing,” Cardenas said. “He knows the sport. He loves the sport. He watches it a lot, and we have conversations about it.”
Growing up in San Antonio, Cardenas played baseball, basketball, football and soccer, including stints on the basketball and football teams at Edison. But boxing has been his favorite ever since he turned to it when he was about 7 after complaining to his namesake father that his teammates in other sports would quit when the going got tough.
“They didn’t think they could come back when they were losing,” Cardenas said. “I would tell my dad, ‘It’s not fair. They start quitting when I know we can come back.’ He said, ‘I am going to put you in a sport where you can’t blame anybody but yourself,’ so I’ve been boxing ever since.”
His commitment to the sport is enhanced by having Johnson by his side.
“Keldon gets after David, saying, ‘Hey, you are not doing this, you are not doing that, you need to do this, you need to do that,’ ” the elder Cardenas said. “He brings a positive energy. Keldon is already successful in his career. He is trying to get David to succeed in boxing the way he has succeeded in basketball.”
One of the biggest lessons Johnson has taught the younger Cardenas is there is a time for fun and a time to be serious.
“Don’t play around with your career,” Johnson often tells his protégé. “I don’t play around with my career. When it comes to my career, I put in the work. You always have to make sure you put in the work. You haven’t done anything yet, so don’t get distracted.”
Cardenas’ father is grateful his son has such a good role model.
“They can be clowns,” the elder Cardenas said. “My son is 19, Keldon is 24, so they are so young. They can act like kids. But when it is time to get serious, that is where Keldon steps in and shows him you can’t always be clowning around, you have to take things seriously to succeed in life.”
The relationship Johnson has with the younger Cardenas is yet another example of his love for San Antonio. After arriving in town as a first-round draft choice out of Kentucky in 2019, Johnson immersed himself in the community at a grassroots level, most notably as a booster of the Lanier boys basketball program. A few years ago, he donated $10,000 worth of equipment to the Voks and considers their gym to be his home away from home.
“He is a great guy,” the younger Cardenas said. “He likes to help out whoever he can with whatever he can help with. He is an outgoing person. He loves San Antonio, loves this community.”
The fighter’s father agreed.
“Keldon has a big heart,” the elder Cardenas said. “Even with all his success, he is still humble. That’s why he is such a lovable guy.”
Johnson’s popularity in the boxing community was apparent at a recent weigh-in for a fight Cardenas was scheduled have earlier this month that was canceled when his opponent was a no-show. Walking through Ojos Locos Sports Cantina on the South Side wearing a blue and white T-shirt emblazoned with an interlocked “D” and “C” and Cardenas’ nickname “El Giro,” Johnson was greeted warmly by fans, boxers and trainers.
“I love being around and helping out as much as I can,” he said. “I try to sponsor as many boxers as I can in the San Antonio area. It’s just another way of giving back. And to see the young boxers coming up, to see them grinding and making the sacrifices they are making, it is really humbling to me.”
David Cardenas Jr. is joined with Keldon Johnson as he tells the audience how sorry he was that his fight was canceled since his opponent was a no show. Keldon Johnson befriending young local boxer David Cardenas on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Social Spot.
David Cardenas Jr. poses along with Keldon Johnson for a photograph during a boxing card on May 11, 2024 at the Social Spot.
Spurs forward Keldon Johnson, right, with San Antonio boxer David Cardenas Jr.
By Tom Orsborn, Sports reporter , via San Antonio Express-News