As sweat runs down his face, he stays focused and concentrated. Jab, jab, right uppercut and another right. Ector Madera, a junior, is a boxer at Los Gallos Boxing Club and has been boxing since the age of 10. He started when he was a little boy looking up to his brothers and cousins who were involved in boxing. It was then that a fire began to spark inside of him. This fire would lead him to become No. 3 in the nation in his weight division.

He trains six days a week for three hours a day and runs five miles every day. His goal is to take the No. 1 title. Madera says the reason he is not No. 1 in the nation is because he has not run into No. 1. However, he will be fighting in Reno on Jan. 5 for five consecutive days for the title.

In addition to competing to become No. 1 in the nation, he will also be placed on the 2016 Junior Olympics team if he keeps winning. He has one more tournament to qualify. With all the competition, Madera has no doubt he will do great. “I put up a good fight and I always fight my heart out.”

With the burden of always competing placed on Madera’s shoulders, he has no plans on giving up. Boxing has become his therapy — his outlet for aggression, his ticket to a better life. “Little kids try to fight like me and they want to be like me.” He has now become an inspiration to others which has helped him with his inspiration.

Aside from the trophies and belts, it hasn’t always been a smooth ride for this athlete. In the eighth grade he faced family problems and decided to quit boxing. This took a toll on his life. “It broke my heart,” Madera said. “I would cry because I wasn’t able to fight no more.”

Two years later he found himself a new coach, Gabriel Flores. “He is like my son and is a joy to have around,” Flores said. “I have no doubt Ector will be a world champion one day.”

“Everyone has gift and this is mine,” Madera said. Since he resumed fighting, he has participated in various tournaments. Some include him fighting against people who are two times national champions with fights ranging in from 100 and above. With lack of experience, Madera doesn’t get frustrated but rather gains more confidence.

Training with professional boxers, sparring against them and beating them, is all the confidence he needs. Yet there is much more to being a good boxer: discipline, structure, and persistence. All of these things have made this young athlete who he is.

At times he may not feel like waking up early to run or even go to the gym and train for hours and hours, but this doesn’t stop him. “He always comes and is always working hard,” Flores said. “With the power and speed he has, I know he will destroy the No. 1 in his divsion.”