Discipline, dedication, perseverance, and plenty of prayers—that’s proven to be a winning combination for national boxing champion Carlos Balderas, a 17-year-old Santa Maria High School senior who has earned the chance to represent the United States at the 2016 Olympics.
“It’s a good feeling to know that all of my hard work is paying off,’’ Carlos said. “To be able to travel with Team USA, to represent the United States, and to possibly compete in the Olympics—it’s just amazing.’’
For Carlos, the boxing ring has been a familiar arena since the age of 7. He practices and trains twice daily with the help of his father, Zenon, and uncles Emilano and David—all of whom have trained and coached Carlos for the past decade. Currently, they train at the family’s gym, Santa Maria Elite Boxing.
Now, after defeating a National Golden Gloves Champion in the lightweight final round bout at the WSB and World Championships Team Trial in Chattanooga, Tenn., Carlos has the opportunity to travel to seven different countries over the next six months to further his career.
“We are all very proud of Carlos,” Zenon said. “In all of my years, I have never seen anyone quite like him; as a boxer, he’s a natural. He is dedicated, disciplined, and he’s smart. He goes the extra mile; he is very humble, and he knows how to carry himself.”
From Jan. 14 to June 14, Carlos will fight against other Olympic hopefuls in seven separate international boxing rings. If he wins five of those fights, Carlos will secure his spot on Team USA for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, according to Zenon.
At 5-foot-8, Carlos fights in the lightweight division (132 pounds) and has a record of 129 wins and seven losses. After winning the Youth World Championship in Reno in early 2014, he was one of a dozen members chosen for the Youth National Boxing Team, fighting internationally and training at the official Olympic Training Center in Colorado. During the summer, he visited and fought in far away destinations, including Russia, Bulgaria, and Ecuador.
“I had some people saying how nice it must be to travel,” Carlos said, “but I am working very hard while traveling. It is not as easy as some may think, and it is difficult to be away from my family, but I feel very honored and blessed that I have been given this opportunity.”
Having his son travel far from Santa Maria is thrilling for Zenon, but it can be a bit nerve-wracking at times, he admits.
“Whether we are with Carlos or he is away, we pray for him and for his safety,” Zenon said, adding that he and his wife, Maria Luisa—along with Carlos’s older brother Rudy, his two younger sisters, and his younger brother—are all supportive. “We also pray for the safety of all of the other fighters.”
Around his high school campus, Carlos has earned the respect and support of the staff and his fellow students. To ensure the senior continues his studies while traveling and training, Carlos’s teachers—along with Principal Joseph M. Domingues, Assistant Principal of Student Affairs Pete Flores, and others—work to keep him current on assignments and testing.
“We are extremely proud to have someone like Carlos representing SMHS at the National level of the U.S. Olympic Boxing,’’ Flores said. “His character and determination, like his boxing skills and his record, are unshakable.’’
Unshakable indeed: Sticking with and succeeding in a sport for more than a decade is a rarity for many young athletes. Carlos cites his family and faith in God as being instrumental to keeping him focused and helping him advance his boxing career.
“Boxing is a hard sport to stay with; I have given up a lot of time with friends, and I avoid negative people and activities because I am dedicated to doing my best,” he said. “Family is everything, and I thank God for all of the blessings in my life.”
His uncle and coach, David, added that Carlos’s dedication includes rising early each morning to run, do pushups, pull-ups, and more. After school, the training continues into the night, with Carlos having a “never quit” attitude.
“Carlos is always working, always improving,” David said. “He is a great fighter and, above all, he is kind and has great character—we know this, and other coaches comment on this also.”
As with most sports, raising funds is an ongoing process for the athlete and his family. Over the years, the Balderas family has held barbecues, sold candy, and solicited sponsorships to help with travel and other expenses.
“Carlos always thinks about others when we do our fundraisers,” Zenon said. “Whenever we have had a barbecue, he makes sure we set aside 150 to 200 plates of food to feed the homeless.”
Those wishing to donate funds or find out about sponsorship opportunities to assist with Carlos’s boxing career may contact Zenon at balderasbestboxing@gmail.com for more information.
“I also would like to ask the community of Santa Maria to keep me in their thoughts, pray for me, and support me while I am overseas,” Carlos said.
Contact Sun contributor Meagan Friberg through Managing Editor Camillia Lanham at clanham@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jan 1-8, 2015.
