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<\/a>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<\/a>)<\/p>\nPerez is a novice fighter with fewer than 10 fights or \u201cbouts\u201d under his belt. Training since 2023, he competes in the under-18 bracket and the junior middleweight division at 154 lbs.<\/p>\n
Born in Mexico City, Perez moved to Santa Rosa with his parents at 3 months old. The youngest of four children, he\u2019s always enjoyed watching matches with his father, Mauricio Garcia. Perez began boxing at 15 years old at the Double Punches club.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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,\u201d Perez said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s 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,\u201d Velarde said.<\/p>\n The Oxnard PAL Boxing Tournament took place Sept. 28 \u2013 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThe 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,\u201d Perez said.<\/p>\n A six-member team traveled overnight to the La Colonia Boxing Gym in Oxnard \u2014 the \u201cmecca of boxing\u201d according to Velarde.<\/p>\n Each morning, the boxers weighed in for their bracket and waited to be called. Perez didn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n Perez helped with the groceries, cleaning and supporting his teammates. \u201cHe\u2019s always been a really good volunteer,\u201d said Velarde, who teaches mutual respect and support in and out of the ring.<\/p>\n After winning two fights, Perez also won a \u201cwalkover,\u201d meaning another player didn\u2019t make their weight and Perez won automatically. Each fight consisted of three rounds, each two minutes.<\/p>\n \u201cIt felt good to win, but it felt a little unsatisfactory,\u201d he said. \u201cIt didn\u2019t feel like I earned it.\u201d<\/p>\n Perez\u2019s first fight on Oct. 2 went as expected with few surprises. \u201cI felt like I was in control all the time. I wasn\u2019t 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n However, the following fight was more challenging. \u201cThe first round I felt like I was down. I\u2019ve got to make it clear that I am winning, so I really picked up the pace,\u201d Perez said. He scored 10-9 all three rounds \u2014 meaning each bout was a close encounter.<\/p>\n \u201cI just kept envisioning no other way except me winning. I knew I was too good to lose, in my mind,\u201d Perez said. Velarde\u2019s ringside coaching gave him the courage to keep attacking and stay in the fight.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Perez was humble about his win, \u201cIt feels a little strange to get such a pretty decent achievement so early on. I didn\u2019t go there to lose, but now that I actually did it, it\u2019s interesting,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen 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,\u201d Garcia said. Perez knew his family was watching his adventure virtually, and Garcia said the family\u2019s support made his son feel confident and strong.<\/p>\n \u201cNot many people get that success, that is one of a kind and he did great,\u201d Garcia said.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIt 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,\u201d Terry said.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a great club. I actually came here when I was in middle school, and I trained here for a while. That\u2019s why I chose this club for my son,\u201d said Enrique Velasquez, father of silver-medal winner Angelo Velasquez.<\/p>\n Coach Velarde said, \u201cWe\u2019re making little gentlemen and little ladies out there. The process of being humble, and being humbled and mutual respect.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Velarde said that the club is a \u201chome away from home,\u201d and many kids have a lot to deal with: bullies, schoolwork and learning disabilities. She provides support children might not otherwise have.<\/p>\n \u201cLife lessons are not our job, but they become our job when they step into the gym,\u201d Velarde said.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Adair-Alvarez-Rodriguez-01-600x400.jpg\")
<\/a>Viviana Velarde coaches from the sidelines during a light sparring session between boxers at Double Punches Boxing Club, on Nov. 4, 2025. Velarde \u2014 after developing her own history in the ring \u2014 ended up at Double Punches where she enjoys coaching over 90 students every week. (Adair Alvarez Rodriguez<\/a>)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Adair-Alvarez-Rodriguez-06-600x400.jpg\")
<\/a>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<\/a>)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Adair-Alvarez-Rodriguez-07-600x400.jpg\")
<\/a>Mateo Perez faces his opponent during a sparring match at Double Punches Boxing Club, on Nov. 4, 2025. (Adair Alvarez Rodriguez<\/a>)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Adair-Alvarez-Rodriguez-08-600x400.jpg\")
<\/a>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<\/a>)<\/p>\n
![\"Adair-Alvarez-Rodriguez-02\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Adair-Alvarez-Rodriguez-02-1200x800.jpg\")