Whatever young Mehran Nabi may lack in experience, he makes up for it with consistency and discipline.
Nabi, 16, first set foot in a boxing ring just two years ago. Fast forward to today, he is hard at work preparing for the USA Boxing National Championships, set for Feb. 26-March 1 in Independence, Missouri.
Fighting out of the Tracy Boxing Club – located at the Open Mat Academy – Nabi’s quick rise in the sport is not common.
A part of that speaks to his natural talent. Certain athletes are just born with it. That X-factor. However, according to one of his coaches – and gym owner – Chris Cardona, it is Nabi’s willingness to work and learn that sets him apart from the rest.
Nabi’s coaching team of Cardona, Luis Aguilar, Tony Cardona, Freddy Morales, and Manny Munoz puts him through his paces six to seven days per week. They have a demanding training regime designed just for Nabi, and he never fails to tackle it head on.
Competing in the junior male weight class – 145 pounds – Nabi’s progress has been astonishing to witness. One of his long-term goals is to become the No. 1 ranked boxer in the country, and he will have a great opportunity to get closer to that aim at the nationals – which he will enter at No. 6.
Nabi punched his ticket to the national championships earlier this year when he picked up six wins at the Region 8 Silver Gloves Tournament in Compton on Jan. 16.
His victories were all against high-level opposition. He beat Vergil Warren in his final bout via split decision. It was Nabi’s toughest test to date, and he passed it with flying colors – getting his hand raised and claiming first place.
Nabi’s first two wins of the tournament came by way of referee stoppages (RSC). The following three were unanimous decisions. And that pattern of dominance tracks across several tourneys – including the California Silver Gloves held in Napa and Stockton, and the California State Silver Gloves, also in Compton.
As per official USA Boxing records, Nabi competed in 22 total bouts during the Silver Gloves campaign, recording several verified victories along the way.
Those propelled him to his sixth-place ranking in the Open Class. He is set to be one of the favorites to go all the way at nationals.
Despite just two years of experience under his belt, Nabi is locked all the way in. He’s certainly not looking past the upcoming tournament – which will be the biggest of his career to date. However, he is not shying away from dreaming big either. He has lofty goals.
Representing the USA in the Olympic Games is one of them. For boxers at all levels, pro or otherwise, that is a career-defining achievement.
Further down the line, Nabi wants to pursue a professional boxing career. Although it’s still some way away, he knows that he has what it takes. Bringing home the national title would certainly put his name on the map as one to watch in both the near and distant future.