By Samuel García Jr., Ph.D.

Stepping into the ring takes courage, dedication, and a relentless drive for success. In this series, we shine a spotlight on members of our community, young men who have chosen to pursue their passion for boxing with unwavering determination. Hailing from the esteemed Superior Boxing Gym, who is dedicated to empowering young men from the community to achieve their aspirations and reach their fullest potential, these individuals epitomize the spirit of resilience and discipline. In this edition, we proudly present Jireh Adonai De Los Santos, a rising star and man of God whose journey embodies the grit and tenacity synonymous with the sport of boxing.

Q. Can you please share your name, age and where you are from? 

A. Jireh Adonai De Los Santos, 22, Weslaco tx 

Q. Can you share a bit about your journey into the world of boxing? 

A. My journey has been a blessed journey; to be able to glorify God’s name in the improvements and achievements overall as a person and a boxer. 

Q.  What inspired you to pursue boxing as a career? 

A. I felt inspired by God and my family for always being there and providing what I needed to keep pursuing boxing. 

Q. How do you prepare mentally and physically for a fight? 

A. I spend time with God through praise and worship to help me prepare mentally. I try to do everything my coaches instruct me to do in practice, so I know that I am physically prepared.

Q. What sacrifices have you made to reach your current level of success in boxing? 

A. The main reason I have the success that I have is because of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Keeping a relationship with God alone comes with a lot of sacrifices and a main sacrifice is having God’s guidance rather than self satisfaction.

Q. Can you describe your training regimen leading up to a fight? 

A. My training regimen leading up to a fight would be making sure I’m eating the right foods and that I am hydrated and not having to cut so much weight 3 to 4 days before the fight. 

Q. What do you believe sets you apart from other boxers in your weight class? 

A. I truly believe that God has my back helping me prepare right for any fight, but even with that being said I’m grateful for all the people who pray for my victory before fighting. 

Q. How do you handle the pressure and nerves before stepping into the ring? 

A. I look at it as, “it’s just another day of boxing”, before my sparring and then before my fights and that seems to calm my nerves down every time. 

Q. Can you share any memorable moments or fights from your career so far?

A. In my 10th fight during the 5th or 6th round I spoke to God in the middle of the ring because of how tired I felt, but God brought me back. 

Q. What are your long-term goals in boxing? 

A. To reach a platform to share the name of Jesus Christ and to be successful, so that I am able to help others succeed as well. 

Q. What advice would you give to aspiring boxers who look up to you? 

A. God will give you the desires of your heart. If you desire to be a world champion then you will be one, but show God you want it by putting action to it, but also acknowledging God and glorifying his name. 

Q. How do you stay motivated and focused during training camps and between fights? 

A. What motivates me the most is knowing that I am going through the right path in life and living in the plan that God has for me. 

Q. How do you handle setbacks or losses in your career? 

A. Trusting in God and always looking forward for what’s to come. 

Q. How can the community support your dreams and goals?

A. Through continual prayer.

Join us in cheering on Jireh as he pursues his boxing dreams by following him on social media and showing your support every step of the way!