Young Tri-Cities boxers punch their way to national competition

The Brief

• Two young boxers, 11-year-old Danny Arteaga and 12-year-old Maliya Tejeda, have qualified for the USA Silver Gloves Nationals after winning at regionals

• Both athletes are members of Contenders Boxing Club in Kennewick and are the first boxers from the gym to reach nationals in over a decade

• The national competition takes place in Kansas City, Missouri, starting February 25th

KENNEWICK, Wash. — Danny Arteaga and Maliya Tejeda started boxing competitively less than a year ago, but the 11 and 12-year-old fighters have already punched their way to the USA Silver Gloves Nationals after earning their spot at regionals.

The young athletes from Contenders Boxing Club in Kennewick are the first boxers from their gym to reach nationals in more than a decade, marking a significant milestone for the local boxing program.

“I got into boxing about two years ago, and I got into it because my dad watched it a lot when I was growing up,” Tejeda said.

One of their coaches, Richard Leanos, has watched both fighters develop at an accelerated pace since they began training at the club.

“[Danny’s] done a great job, you can see the growth and improvement. His punch output, his defense, his grit and determination has gone through the roof,” Leanos said of Arteaga. “Same with Maliya, I’ve never seen Maliya ever back down from any sort of challenge at all whatsoever. Whether it’s sparring, a competition, or a workout, she just goes head on, head first.”

The qualification to nationals represents more than just individual achievement for the young boxers. It demonstrates the quality of training and development happening at Contenders Boxing Club and puts the Tri-Cities on the map in the youth boxing community.

“It proves that we can make the national level, we can be on the national stage and compete against the rest of the country,” Leanos said. “I’m pretty excited for this challenge and I think both Danny and Maliya are up for it.”

Despite their young age and relative inexperience in competitive boxing, both athletes have shown the mental toughness and technical skills necessary to compete at the highest levels of youth boxing. Their rapid progression from beginners to national-level competitors speaks to both their natural talent and dedication to the sport.

Arteaga approaches the upcoming competition with confidence and clear goals.

“I just want to try and win it all,” Arteaga said. When asked if he feels prepared for the challenge, he responded with certainty: “Yeah, I’ve got it.”

The USA Silver Gloves Nationals will take place in Kansas City, Missouri, starting February 25th. The competition brings together the top youth boxers from across the country, representing the pinnacle of amateur youth boxing in the United States.

Between now and the competition, both Arteaga and Tejeda will continue their intensive training regimen at Contenders Boxing Club.

The young boxers’ journey to nationals has garnered support from the local community. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help cover travel costs for the trip to Kansas City.

Click here to access the link to the GoFundMe for Arteaga and Tejeda.

Young Tri-Cities boxers punch their way to national competition | Sports

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