Dec. 7, 2024 was a roller coaster of emotions for Nate Peña. The Springfield College junior and aspiring pro boxer eagerly stepped in the ring for his first ever amateur match with high hopes — but lost.

“I was in the gym literally the next day,” Peña said. “I almost cried because I worked so hard and I needed to just get it back. I was devastated. I couldn’t let it happen again.”

With just a month until his next fight in January of 2025, Peña practiced and trained time and time again until he knew he couldn’t lose his next match — and he didn’t. Peña won his next four matches, and now a year later, the senior has a record of 10-4 while crowned the top amateur boxer in New England for light heavyweight. 

“As a person, I’ve grown a lot,” Peña said. “I’ve been able to balance school, boxing, work, internships, all at the same time, and it’s been very stressful at times, but now that I’ve had 14 fights , and I’ve competed, traveled, done all this – It has helped me become the person I am today.”

The work that Peña has put in to jumpstart his boxing career is something athletes can admire. Peña slept in an office at Central City Boxing throughout the 2024 summer so he could maximize his training, as he had a stacked and restless schedule consisting of three daily workouts. He honed in on specific skills in the morning, did cardio in the afternoon and stayed at Central City for three hours at night with his teammates doing different activities.

A big piece of Peña’s recent success has come from the people who have stuck with him through his journey so far. Peña credits his girlfriend, Emilia Ramos for behind the scenes efforts which has helped him greatly.

“She’s been super supportive since my first fight,” Peña said. “Even before that when I told her I wanted to box, she was accepting and even helped with meals, recovery, and showed up to all my fights.”

Another reason why Peña is thriving is due to his coach, Mike Rodriguez. 

“Mike and I have a very strong connection,” Peña said. “I really believe in his philosophy of boxing and having those intellectual conversations a lot about boxing helps. Obviously we put in the work, but also being able to talk about it and break it down has helped our relationship. He’s just a very genuine person.”

Progressing through his short career, Peña moved up a weight class. He now competes at 176 pounds, which isn’t his normal weight (172). The bump in Peña’s weight allows him to compete daily without struggling to make weight, using that energy to focus solely on the next fight.

The true drive behind Peña stems from pure confidence, and it’s a trait that Pena takes to heart.

“The amount of work that I’ve put in has made me confident,” Peña said. “The nervous feeling has gone away. I know who I am and what I need to do to win.”

Peña has won the Western New England Golden Gloves tournament, the Rocky Marciano tournament and most recently won the New England Open Championship in early November. Peña’s most recent victory allows him to compete at a national level in the USA Boxing Championship, starting on Dec. 6.

“I’ve seen glimpses of my potential,” Peña said. “I’ve had a bunch of high-level fighters reassure me of my talent, and it makes me feel I can one day be at that level. Winning the New England tournament was the first time I realized that I can actually go somewhere with this, and I know I can do whatever it takes.”

If interested in following Peña’s boxing journey, go to @nathaboxeo

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