A train ride out of East St. Louis becomes the first step in a fighter’s rebirth. Trevion Boyd arrives in Albuquerque with little more than a blessing from his grandmother and the grit to start over. What he finds is a gym that takes pain off his shoulders and replaces it with focus, a team that raises his ceiling, and a path that turns a rough past into measurable wins—two New Mexico Golden Gloves titles and a growing presence at national tournaments.

We dive into the moments that shaped him: the charge that derailed school, the judge who recognized a change of heart, the first amateur loss to a friend that became a blueprint for growth. Trevion opens up about judging politics in amateur boxing and the only answer that matters—execute so clearly that scorecards don’t decide your fate. He breaks down the Tulsa stoppage, the cost of not listening to your corner, and the mindset reset that now guides his prep for Colorado. Along the way, he talks about building with a respected Albuquerque coach, training around winners, and embracing the competitive pressure that forges pros.

Threaded through it all is faith and family. His grandmother, Sandra Denise Johnson Byrd, remains the voice in his head and the standard he measures against. He wants a pro career not just for belts and lights, but to give back—choosing community over flash, purpose over hype, legacy over likes. We also trade takes on Shakur Stevenson and Teofimo Lopez, the surge of young talent, and what staying relevant really demands in modern boxing. If you’re chasing your own pivot—out of chaos, toward clarity—this story is fuel.

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The Boxing Grind

Jayden Utarro, a teenager with pink hair won Golden Gloves in his very first boxing match and hasn’t lifted his foot off the gas since. We sit down for a candid look at how bullying sparked a turn to self-defense, how early kickboxing wins and losses shaped his composure, and why a shock debut victory became the fuel for an unforgiving training routine that starts before dawn. This is a story about ownership: of time, of identity, and of what it takes to stand out without losing yourself.

We get into the nuts and bolts of his schedule: 2 a.m. alarms, strength and conditioning before most alarms ring, fast two-mile efforts that sharpen pace, and midweek sparring sessions where visiting hitters bring fresh looks. He breaks down how switching gyms gave him a multi-coach team with distinct roles, why footwork days are as valuable as heavy bag days, and how open-invite sparring keeps the ego in check. He also shares how his mom stepped into matchmaking, how teammates push him past his limits, and how sponsors help keep the lights on when travel and gear stack up.

Identity and ambition run through every minute. The Pink Panther look isn’t a gimmick; it’s a flag you can see from the cheap seats. He talks about wearing local merch, choosing pink because no one else did, and staying open to causes that matter. We trade takes on favorite fighters like Sean O’Malley and Ryan Garcia, then wade into the sanctioning debate around Terence Crawford and what makes a champion beyond belts. School is online, college is a maybe, and the only certainty is the next round. If he could pick any spar, he’d choose Crawford, because the fastest way to learn is to step where the air is thin.

If stories of grit, routine, and clear-eyed ambition move you, this one lands. Hit follow, share it with a friend who loves combat sports, and leave a review telling us which fighter you’d choose for a dream spar and why.

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A little side note to the audience

The Boxing Grind

Some prospects talk about becoming champion; others live like it before the belt arrives. We sit down with a featherweight phenom called “The Bank,” whose nickname was minted in a bet-fueled tournament moment and whose mindset shows why people keep wagering on him. Fifteen national titles and a countrywide buzz are the backdrop, but the mission is singular: world champion or bust.

The story winds through a turbulent first year as a pro—scheduling chaos, late pullouts, stalled momentum—and the strategic reset that followed. He explains how aligning with the right company solved the brittle parts of his schedule and why patience beat quick deals. Then the tape study begins. We break down the craft: how a live jab and disciplined feints control range, why he can flip to inside pressure when needed, and where that adaptability comes from. It’s a masterclass in ring IQ, not theory, backed by rounds with Shakur Stevenson, Keyshawn Davis, and years training around Terence “Bud” Crawford’s camp.

One pivotal thread: the Grand Prix draw. At first it felt like a loss because it ended the run, but a hard look at the conditions—last-minute travel, a tough cut, a seasoned opponent, and judges slogging through sixteen fights—shifted the meaning. He now treats it as earned experience and proof he can handle chaos against older, deeper pros. From family coaching roots—with his grandfather, father, and uncle shaping different chapters—to altitude camps in Colorado, focused work in Vegas, and a mini-camp in New Mexico, his path reads like a blueprint for sustainable growth.

He lays out what’s ahead: four to five fights this year, a calculated path at featherweight, and a promotional announcement he believes will turn heads. The motto stays simple—kill when you hunt—because when opportunity opens, hesitation costs. If you’ve been waiting for a prospect who pairs poise with pressure and skills with substance, this conversation is your scouting report. Listen, subscribe, and leave a review to tell us who you want “The Bank” to face next.

The Boxing Grind

A fighter can chase an image or chase the truth. Arnold Barboza Jr. chooses the truth—about risk, loss, faith, and the weight class that fits who he is now. From stepping into a gym at five and a half to sharing cards with his pro kickboxer father, his foundation was built in real reps: smoker bouts, 75 amateur fights, and a career defined by taking chances instead of protecting a spotless record.

We talk through that nine-month sprint against three top-five opponents, the sting and lessons from the Lopez loss, and the decision to move up to 147 to unlock health, strength, and timing. Arnold opens up about how he and his dad keep their bond strong by drawing a hard line between trainer and father—strict in the gym, warm at home. He extends that wisdom to his own son, choosing a dedicated amateur program over trying to coach him himself, prioritizing learning, joy, and longevity.

Faith anchors the comeback. Arnold describes a dark season that shifted when he turned to God—daily prayer, renewed habits, and a calmer approach to career delays and near-miss negotiations, including a Ryan fight that fell apart over a rematch clause. The theme is resilience through clarity: build on fundamentals, respect your body, honor your people, and trust timing enough to make the next shot your best one. If you’ve ever had to rebuild after a hard hit—on the canvas or in life—this conversation offers practical wisdom and honest hope.

Listen, subscribe, and share with someone who needs a measured, fearless blueprint for a comeback. If the story resonates, leave a review and tell us the toughest adjustment you’ve made to get better.

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The gloves came on long before the spotlight. Growing up in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Kaleb Medina learned to turn raw emotion into focused work, guided by a father, grandfather, and uncle who lived the sport. That lineage runs through every story he tells, from childhood shadowboxing to collecting 70-plus amateur bouts and navigating a pandemic pause before landing in Albuquerque’s tight-knit boxing community.

We get into the nuts and bolts of a Golden Gloves win at 143, why moving up from 132 made sense, and how amateur tournaments punish the undisciplined with daily weigh-ins. He breaks down conditioning that actually translates, especially sprint work that builds second and third winds when fights get gritty. With one last international tournament ahead, he looks toward the pro ranks at 130, backed by coaches who emphasize smart matchmaking, real development, and accountability. He has no time for padded records or triangle theories; styles make fights, and respect is earned the hard way, round after round.

There’s a studied eye behind the swagger. He analyzes recent pro action with detail—dropped hands, tempo shifts, broadcast bias—and names current favorites like Bam Rodriguez, Nakatani, and Benavidez for their blend of craft and aggression. Beneath it all sits a steady faith shaped by family and fortified through hard years, the kind that turns road work into ritual and setbacks into fuel. If you’ve ever wanted to step into a boxing gym but hesitated, you’ll find practical advice and an open door here: start with the bag, build the habit, and let the confidence follow.

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The Boxing Grind

What does it take to chase the Olympics when you started late and the odds say slow down? We bring you a candid, high-energy conversation with a 20-year-old Albuquerque fighter named Santiago Saavedra in his first official year of boxing, sitting at 2–2 and aiming boldly at the open division, national tournaments, and the Olympic trials. Guided by faith, family, and a father who doubles as coach, he lays out the habits that turn raw hunger into a plan: six training days a week, a goal book split between short-term wins and long-shot dreams, and a mantra he repeats when doubt creeps in.

We dig into the technical side that separates a brawler from a boxer’s boxer. He explains why footwork is his signature, how to frustrate pressure with the jab and angles, and when to switch sparring from touch work to fight pace. You’ll hear about three hard rounds at Top Rank in Las Vegas, what he learned when an opponent simply wanted to trade, and how amateurs win bouts by pairing movement with clean scoring. He’s honest about setbacks, transparent about his 2–2 start, and clear about the mission: stack experience, learn fast, and compete at 132 when it matters most.

Weight cuts, mindset, and community pride round out the story. He shares why he prefers old-school dieting over sauna suits, what foods he dreams about during camp, and how family support grew as his results did. There’s hometown fire here, too—keeping Albuquerque on the map, showing love to underrated New Mexico talent, and drawing inspiration from names like Johnny Tapia and Danny Romero. If you’re building something from the ground up—late start or not—you’ll walk away with practical training insights, a sharper view of the Olympic path, and a reminder that self-belief is a skill you can train.

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A nineteen-year-old with the ring miles of a veteran sits down with us to unpack the leap from a decorated amateur run to the disciplined chaos of the pros. He’s honest about why the amateur point system never fit his style, how that frustration became fuel, and what it took to push past family hesitation and trust a coach who believed he was ready. From the first pro win to a sharpen-the-jab takeaway, you’ll hear the craft, the nerves, and the clarity that comes with stepping under brighter lights.

We walk through his daily engine: early runs, strength and conditioning, and focused rounds that build timing, balance, and composure. Weight management shows up as the toughest mental fight, and he explains how “stay ready so you don’t have to get ready” became more than a slogan after a month off forced him to rebuild conditioning. He breaks down life at 114 pounds, a measured plan to test 118 later, and why five fights in 2026 would be the perfect crucible for growth. There’s room for real talk too—pizza and a double quarter pounder after a win—because even the most disciplined fighters need a release valve before the grind resumes.

The style shop talk hits a new gear when he names Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez as a dream dance partner and weighs that against Naoya Inoue’s speed and ring control. He sees the small tactical moments others miss—pressing ropes, finishing sequences, exploiting hesitation—and uses them as lessons for his own blueprint. We also explore the future of youth boxing: more local tournaments, better access, and how a year of wrestling built the cardio and grit that still serve him today. It’s a story of sacrifice, family accountability, and faith, told by a fighter who knows exactly what he wants: belts, respect, and a body of work that stands up anywhere.

Listen now, share with a boxing friend, and tell us who you want to see him face at 114. If you enjoy the show, follow, rate, and leave a quick review—your support helps more fight fans find conversations like this.

The Boxing Grind