Jerimiah “Drip” Munoz, Jasiah “Monster” Ortiz and Jaysonet Caleb “Boogie Man” Martinez all started boxing when they were in elementary school.

But they’re not kids anymore.

They are young men, veteran amateur boxers who know the sport in and out of the ring.

On Saturday at the 2026 Pennsylvania Golden Gloves State Championships in Harrisburg, they’ll have a chance to prove it.

“It’s a different ballgame,” Martinez said.

Taking a break from his training Monday night, Martinez (36-12) pointed out that he’d won the Golden Gloves state championship three years ago, but as a novice.

“I’m a grown man now so I’m fighting other grown men,” he said.

Each of the aforementioned athletes — 19 and in USA Boxing’s elite open division — fought, and won, multiple times over the past few months in order to earn the chance at a state championship.

The Golden Gloves is an advancing tournament sanctioned by USA Boxing.

For the trio, the road began in March with the Central Pennsylvania events, where they won to qualify for regionals.

Ortiz (39-17) won his regional championship match, while Munoz (48-20) and Martinez advance via walk over.

The stakes at states are high and not just because of the level of competition and the chance at another championship.

Elite open boxers who win Saturday move on to nationals.

While all three have won at national tournaments, the Golden Gloves is different.

“Outside the boxing world, people know (about) the Golden Gloves,” Martinez said.

“Having a (national Golden Gloves win) on your resume helps,” Ortiz said.

Especially if a boxer’s goal is to turn pro.

The Golden Gloves was first held in Chicago in 1923, when Arch Ward, the sports editor of the Chicago Tribune, put together an amateur boxing tournament.

Since then, it’s grown into a country-wide event with 30 franchises putting on annual tournaments. The Pennsylvania Golden Gloves franchise holder and president is Dan Mullarkey of Must Fight Boxing Club in Upper Darby.

Each franchise in good standing can send up to 10 male and 10 female boxers to nationals.

To compete in one of the 20 weight classes, athletes must be open class and at least 18 years old on the first day of their local competition.

“Drip,” “Boogie Man” and “Monster” all qualify — but only can step into the national ring if they get the W at states.

“It’s the state championship or bust,” said coach Will Torres of Lancaster City Boxing Academy, where Munoz and Ortiz train.

“It is a big deal,” Munoz said. “If I don’t win, I don’t go to nationals. This is an opportunity to go to nationals and that’s where I belong.”

Ortiz, who lost last year at the state championships, is confident this time around.

“Obviously, I’m gonna win,” he said. “I feel like I’m supposed to be here. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to be on the state team.”

A pack of frosted mini cupcakes sat on the edge of the ring at Jinji Boxing Club, where Martinez trains with his coach and dad, Jinji Martinez, and his mom, Jessica “Mrs. Coach” Martinez.

A shiny “Happy Birthday” balloon was tied to the ring rope.

It was Martinez’s 19th birthday, but since there’s no weight allowance in the Golden Gloves, his celebration was low carb.

“Maintaining weight, it sucks,” Martinez, who fights at 143 pounds, said bluntly.

“Training camp, weight cut, there’s nothing fun about that,” Munoz said. “But the result – bringing home gold medals, getting ranked, that’s fun.”

Ortiz agreed and said that his win at USA Boxing’s 2022 National Junior Olympics, which put him at No. 1 in the 145-pound junior division, may be the most fun he’s had as a boxer.

He said he plans to have as much fun on Saturday.

“I’m not nervous,” Ortiz said.

He’s up against Shane Alawahami of Erie in the 154-pound championship bout.

“Not to underestimate (Alawahami) but I’m gonna go out there and dominate,” Ortiz said.

Munoz said he’s heard of his rival for the 132-pound championship, Javen Woods, 19, who has more than 25 fights and trains at Roxamore Sports Formula A1 Boxing Gym in Pittsburgh.

But Munoz’s said he has “the same goal as every fight – win.”

“We’ve been doing this too long to overlook or underestimate opponents,” Torres said.

Still, he emphasized that his boxers are national champs and have been nationally ranked multiple times.

But this is the first time for all three boxers that the championship is elite open.

Martinez will face Alan Williams, 20, of Royal Lion Boxing Gym in New Castle.

Williams (16-8) has three Western Pennsylvania Golden Gloves titles, according the New Castle News.

“I train as hard as I can for anybody,” Martinez said.

The plan he shared is simple, “win state, then focus on nationals.”

Several other Lancaster boxers are on Saturday’s card, notably Jinji Boxing’s Malik Bergman.

The 28-year-old Bergman entered the tournament with an 0-4 record. He earned three straight wins, including Central Pennsylvania and regional titles, and will compete for a 198+ novice championship.

Match bouts (non-tournament/advancing fights) are scheduled for at least four more Lancaster boxers.

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