There is a dungeon in Nogales, Ariz.-but it's not what you think.

A member of the Elk's Boxing Gym nails a speedbag May 29 as part of her training. About 40 area youth use the gym, donated by Elk's Lodge 1397 in Nogales.

It may look like a place of torture-and feel like it in the summer's sweltering heat-but it's actually a place where Nogales youth from both sides of the border come to learn the "sweet science."

This "dungeon," as those that use it call it, sits in the basement of the Nogales Elk's Lodge 1397 on Grand Avenue. Once a bowling facility that was drowned out in 1986, it is now simply known as the Elk's Boxing Gym thanks to a partnership between the organization and Noel Lopez Sr., a former professional boxer who wants to give kids in the area something constructive to do with their time.

Lopez said that when he was a youngster in the ring, his progression in the sport was stunted because of a trainer who had more interest in the bottle than his fighter.

He doesn't want that to happen to other kids that have an interest in pugilism.

"This was my dream," said Lopez through a translator, "and thanks to Mike (Salazar, club manager and chairman of the recreation hall) and the Elks Club we have this boxing gym."

The thanks, in large part, is for letting the boxers use the facility for free, so long as they maintain it.

"Everything we do is to help the community-especially the kids," said Ramon Felix, vice president of Lodge 1397 and its chairman of trustees. "We just like to support the community."

Currently, the gym trains more than 40 area youth, ranging in age from at least 8 to 23.

Ten of the youth came back from a mid-February Mexico National tournament in Guaymas, Sonora, with victories.

One of them, 18-year-old Noel Lopez Jr., came back with a gold medal-and an invitation to train in Mexico City with Mexico's Olympic boxing team hopefuls.

Will his next stop be the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games-and then perhaps a pro career?

While both parents are hopeful, one is a little more cautious.

"I worry quite a bit," Griselda, Noel Jr.'s mom, said through a translator, "but he's in good hands with his dad."

"The first dream is getting to the Olympics, then we will dream about a pro career," added Lopez Sr., who said he has talked to former world champion Oscar De La Hoya about keeping an eye on his son.

De La Hoya promotes professional fight cards north of Green Valley at Desert Diamond Casino.

"It helps having the Golden Boy promoting fights so close to here," Lopez Sr., said. "We'll just have to wait and see how things go."

Area participants in the February Mexico national tournament were: Marco Valenzuela (16 years old, 126 pounds), Dosto Salcedo (11, 108), Chrys Valdez (14, 132), Jaimito Fierro (8, 78), Julio Quijada (12, 119), Alejandro Sarmiento (21, 175), Orlando Pina (16, 132), Ruben Maldonado (21, 175), Jose Cervantes (23, 178) and Noel Lopez Jr. (18, 132).