Austin fighter Fred Gatica stepped into the ring at J.K. Northway and the Kingsville crowd immediately gave him the treatment.

Fans sitting at the Daddy-O’s Bar and Grill table got on their feet and waved their index fingers ‘no’ at Gatica, attempting to get inside his head before he and Homer Fonseca went at it for eight rounds with the Texas Heavyweight Title on the line.

Fonseca would go on to take the title and Gatica showed some class afterwards by trying to fasten the belt on ‘El Oso’.

Jon David Charles and Oscar Gonzalez were also heavily cheered both during and after their respective victories.

Home field advantage is a great thing. I can only imagine that all three of Kingsville’s fighters felt a sense of obligation to perform well with family and friends sitting nearby, rather than fighting at a location where you can count the number people you know on one hand.

Having the home crowd behind you is a big plus in every sport and something that makes certain towns known as houses-of-pain for visitors.

But it must remain consistent. Apathy when an athlete or team is going through a dry spell is not what a true fan practices.

Everyone jumps on the bandwagon when the wins keep coming and coming, but we should stay on it when the road gets bumpy.

Team Solid Knockout’s upcoming road is anything but rocky, if Friday’s performance was any proof.

Coach Jaime Cantu’s stable is loaded with talented boxers who have brilliant careers ahead of them as long as they take care of business in and out of the ring.

Lone Star Promotions’ first card was a successful one in that it got plenty of Kingsville fans into J.K. Northway backing our local boxers.

Before Friday’s main event, I moved to an opposite corner to get into position for a decent shot of Fonseca and Gatica during the singing of the national anthem. There stood the current Texas Heavyweight Champion and his community behind him.