Nervous confidence blocks surging emotions and the urge to leave the ring. The surrounding cacophony of lights, people and noise disappears into a solitary focus of quiet space. Mateo’s dedication and social sacrifice are about to pay off because when the bell rings, he meets his opponent with a fierce jab.
In just two years, Maria Carrillo High School senior Mateo Perez has transformed himself from a quiet, overweight teenager into the Oxnard Police Activities League international champion, with three gold medals under his belt.
Perez is a humble young man who wears a quiet and mature persona, yet he lights up when explaining his passion for boxing.
“I like that it’s a solo sport. No one can do anything for you that you’re not gonna do. I have to be the one to take that step and put it into action,” Perez said.
At this year’s Oxnard PAL international tournament, Perez added another gold medal to the growing collection of high-profile winners from the Salvation Army Double Punches club, located at 93 Stony Circle in Santa Rosa, California.
Oxnard Police Activities League organizers hosted their annual tournament in Oxnard, Calif. where hundreds of contenders from around the world gathered to compete. (Adair Alvarez Rodriguez)
Perez is a novice fighter with fewer than 10 fights or “bouts” under his belt. Training since 2023, he competes in the under-18 bracket and the junior middleweight division at 154 lbs.
Born in Mexico City, Perez moved to Santa Rosa with his parents at 3 months old. The youngest of four children, he’s always enjoyed watching matches with his father, Mauricio Garcia. Perez began boxing at 15 years old at the Double Punches club.
“I never cared about anything too much. Nothing in school or outside of school took my interest. So this has given me something to try to focus on,” Perez said.
Double Punches coaches have trained a series of gold medalists, including professional boxer Jonathon Rubio who ranked third in the nation. Other former students include professional Mikey Russell and Sebastian Valdez. Valdez holds two World Boxing Council titles.
Alongside Perez, coach Viviana Velarde trains 90 other students ages 8 to 54. Velarde, 36, is a former amateur boxer, judge, referee and current program director at Double Punches.
Viviana Velarde coaches from the sidelines during a light sparring session between boxers at Double Punches Boxing Club, on Nov. 4, 2025. Velarde — after developing her own history in the ring — ended up at Double Punches where she enjoys coaching over 90 students every week. (Adair Alvarez Rodriguez)
“It’s getting really hard to get local fights. So we put ourselves in a tournament because there will be somebody throughout the country that will have our weight, and for our students to fight against,” Velarde said.
The Oxnard PAL Boxing Tournament took place Sept. 28 – Oct. 3 in Oxnard, California. Out of 400 novice fighters from international clubs and various age divisions, the team brought home gold, silver and bronze medals.
Double Punches students Angelo Velasquez, 10, and Alexis Figurola, 23, won silver and bronze, respectively. A total of 850 fighters came to compete from across the globe.
“The tournament was fun. The atmosphere was really crazy, because there were so many people. They had three rings, and there were 60 fights every day for a week. I was nervous because these were my first fights, but it was definitely exciting,” Perez said.
A six-member team traveled overnight to the La Colonia Boxing Gym in Oxnard — the “mecca of boxing” according to Velarde.
Each morning, the boxers weighed in for their bracket and waited to be called. Perez didn’t fight until the fourth day, and Velarde was worried they had forgotten about him. He also suffered a leg injury three weeks before the event, yet maintained his composure and continued to mentally prepare.
Perez helped with the groceries, cleaning and supporting his teammates. “He’s always been a really good volunteer,” said Velarde, who teaches mutual respect and support in and out of the ring.
After winning two fights, Perez also won a “walkover,” meaning another player didn’t make their weight and Perez won automatically. Each fight consisted of three rounds, each two minutes.
“It felt good to win, but it felt a little unsatisfactory,” he said. “It didn’t feel like I earned it.”
A spectator watches in awe as Mateo Perez, right, spars with another boxer at Double Punches Boxing Club, on Nov. 4, 2025. (Adair Alvarez Rodriguez)
Perez’s first fight on Oct. 2 went as expected with few surprises. “I felt like I was in control all the time. I wasn’t worried too much. I would remind myself that he caught me one or two times, so I gotta sharpen up a bit. But that was good,” he said.
However, the following fight was more challenging. “The first round I felt like I was down. I’ve got to make it clear that I am winning, so I really picked up the pace,” Perez said. He scored 10-9 all three rounds — meaning each bout was a close encounter.
“I just kept envisioning no other way except me winning. I knew I was too good to lose, in my mind,” Perez said. Velarde’s ringside coaching gave him the courage to keep attacking and stay in the fight.
Assistant coach and boxer Tre Terry, 25, taught him what to expect, what to do and what comes with the sport. Before his third fight at Oxnard, Terry had Perez practice movements and combinations geared toward a taller opponent.
Perez was humble about his win, “It feels a little strange to get such a pretty decent achievement so early on. I didn’t go there to lose, but now that I actually did it, it’s interesting,” he said.
Double Punches gives Perez a social outlet and motivation, according to Garcia. Initially afraid to pursue boxing because of his weight, Perez opened up. He is now more engaged and committed to a disciplined routine.
Mateo Perez faces his opponent during a sparring match at Double Punches Boxing Club, on Nov. 4, 2025. (Adair Alvarez Rodriguez)
“When he went to the tournament, he was very excited. He was a little scared about not winning anything at his first fight outside of the city,” Garcia said. Perez knew his family was watching his adventure virtually, and Garcia said the family’s support made his son feel confident and strong.
“Not many people get that success, that is one of a kind and he did great,” Garcia said.
Perez is confident he will achieve more. After completing 10 novice fights, he will advance into the experienced levels of fighters aged 18-40. When he graduates from high school, his father hopes he will focus on the sport and choose a college after a well-earned break.
Double Punches is a youth program provided by the Salvation Army in Santa Rosa. The club provides outreach for the city, works with health centers and takes referrals from the Valley of the Moon correctional youth program. The program began in 1991 to address gang prevention.
“It started with Richard Lopez in his garage, and then he was able to get a spot here at the Salvation Army. As a boxer himself, he wanted to reach the kids on the streets and give back to the community. A lot of the members from when he started are now owners of their own gyms throughout the Bay Area,” Terry said.
The under-12 contingent at the club agrees that fun Fridays are the best part of the training. Along with lessons and circuits, they get treats and play games.
“It’s a great club. I actually came here when I was in middle school, and I trained here for a while. That’s why I chose this club for my son,” said Enrique Velasquez, father of silver-medal winner Angelo Velasquez.
Tired huffs and drips of sweat come from Mateo Perez as he makes his way out of the ring after a sparring match at Double Punches Boxing Club, on Nov. 4, 2025. (Adair Alvarez Rodriguez)
Coach Velarde said, “We’re making little gentlemen and little ladies out there. The process of being humble, and being humbled and mutual respect.”
Approaching her third year of coaching, Velarde is a big advocate for the kids. When most boxing clubs cater to older ages, Velarde has added classes for children 8 years old and up. She loves her job and takes pride in showing kids that hard work, dedication and being a good person are important life skills.
Velarde said that the club is a “home away from home,” and many kids have a lot to deal with: bullies, schoolwork and learning disabilities. She provides support children might not otherwise have.
“Life lessons are not our job, but they become our job when they step into the gym,” Velarde said.
Upon entering the gym, Mateo Perez starts with cardio exercises at Double Punches Boxing Club, on Nov. 4, 2025.