Earlier this year, local boxing prodigy Josiah Salas, 13, brought home the gold at the 2026 USA Boxing Open Nationals, crushing his way to three consecutive unanimous decisions to claim his first national championship.
Earlier this year, local boxing prodigy Josiah Salas, 13, brought home the gold at the 2026 USA Boxing Open Nationals in Cleveland, Ohio, in late September. COURTESY
Earlier this year, local boxing prodigy Josiah Salas, 13, brought home the gold at the 2026 USA Boxing Open Nationals in Cleveland, Ohio, in late September. COURTESY
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Earlier this year, local boxing prodigy Josiah Salas, 13, brought home the gold at the 2026 USA Boxing Open Nationals in Cleveland, Ohio, in late September. COURTESY
Salas made his hometown proud with three outstanding performances, bringing home the first-place medal in the 101-pound intermediate division at the open nationals in Cleveland, Ohio, in late September.
Representing Alvarez Boxing Club, a family-owned boxing gym in Woodland, Salas has, according to his coaches, “demonstrated the discipline, determination, and skill that have helped him become one of Northern California’s promising young amateur boxers.”
The family-owned gym, located at 611 Kentucky Ave., takes pride in developing young athletes through discipline, hard work, respect, and commitment to the sport.
“This victory represents years of hard work and dedication to the sport of boxing,” coach and uncle Eduardo Alvarez said. “Despite being only 13 years old, he has already accumulated an impressive 70 amateur fights and competed in seven national tournaments.”
Throughout his boxing career, Salas has consistently challenged himself against some of the nation’s best young fighters, earning national recognition and rankings along the way. His previous accomplishments include bringing home a bronze medal from the USA Boxing Junior Olympics in 2025 and a silver medal from the USA Boxing National Championships.
Although he had previously reached a national podium, a first-place gold medal had remained his ultimate goal. Following his three consecutive victories by unanimous decision, Salas finally reached the top of the podium, earning his first national championship title.
“His accomplishment represents more than an individual victory,” Eduardo Alvarez said. “It is a proud moment for his family, coaches, boxing club, and the entire Woodland community.”
As he continues to grow and develop as an athlete, Salas hopes to build on his accomplishments and continue representing Woodland at the highest levels of amateur boxing.
In December, Salas will compete at the USA Boxing National Championships. His long-term goal is to make the USA Elite High-Performance Team and, from there, eventually try out for the USA Olympic team.