My earliest boxing memory is one night when my family gathered together to watch Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. I was real young, five or six and remember him getting knocked down and sit up with blood coming down his face. My only thought was "that's a lot of blood." and my family was in shock. I think it might've been the fight against De La Hoya, and they were all rooting for Chavez. Being Mexican American, boxing was always present growing up.

It wasn't until high school that I became more interested in it. I wasn't much for team sports, boxing stood out to me simply because of the 1 on 1 factor. It's all on you, and no one else. So I worked up the courage to find a gym and began training. I started at 18, and did it on and off over the years. I'm 26 now and have accumulated five amateur fights with plans on becoming pro before regret and old age claim me. I love the sport and the feeling of just you and the other guy in there and nothing else mattering. It's a real living in the moment and testing what you're made of. Plus it's a great way to stay in shape both in and out of the ring