The industrial-grade fans were cranked up to full power — their low hum punctuated by the concussive thud of punches hitting bags.
The Hazel Dell warehouse that’s home to Young Guns Boxing wasn’t much cooler than the 90-degree temperature outside.
Cain Elizondo Jr.’s work was just beginning.
For the next three hours, the Vancouver 14 year old would do cardio training, punching drills and sparring sessions in the boxing ring.
Then, after a meal and a nap, it was off to a 24-hour athletic club for another three hours of cardio work. Bedtime usually arrives after 1 a.m.
When the next day comes, Elizondo Jr. does it all again.
Such is the dedication it has taken for Elizondo Jr. to become one of the nation’s best young boxers. Since March, he has held the No. 1 ranking in USA Boxing’s 125-pound weight class for 13-14 year olds.
Elizondo Jr. won another title July 14 at the So Cal State Amateur Boxing Championships, an event that drew more than 700 boxers from across the country.
Up next are tournaments in Colorado Springs and Las Vegas, two of six national-level events on Elizondo Jr.’s schedule this year.
So far, he’s won two of three — a second-place finish at the National Junior Olympics in Wichita, Kansas is his only loss in the past year.
Elizondo Jr.’s ultimate target is the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Jason Davis, owner of Young Guns Boxing and Elizondo Jr.’s coach, is confident his boxer will reach those lofty goals.
“I plan on taking him all the way and getting all the belts,” Davis said. “He has that work ethic. He doesn’t quit. You can push him and he’ll still do it.”
Davis went 13-12-2 as a professional boxer, including a headlining fight in 2009 against former IBF champion Steve Forbes. He said Elizondo Jr.’s punching power is what sets him apart.
“I’ve been in the ring with everybody and that’s the first thing about him that I noticed,” Davis said. “He’s far along for his age. I would put him in there with some pros right now. He’s got that special talent.”
Quick ascent
When he began boxing at age 10, Elizondo Jr. weighed more than he does now. He believes his power advantage comes from his frame being naturally larger than most kids in his weight class.
“I was a heavier and chubbier kid,” he said. “I’ve lost all that weight but I’ve kept that strength. … When I first started I couldn’t run half a mile. Now I’ll run seven or eight miles in an hour.”
Though he lost his first fight, Elizondo Jr. was immediately hooked.
“It was his home town and his gym that put it on,” Elizondo Jr. said. “I felt like I won, but I didn’t.”
As the wins started to come, Elizondo Jr.’s hunger for victory increased.
“I’m a super competitive guy when it comes to winning,” he said. “I want to win every single thing I possibly can.”
Family, community support
As a child, Cain Elizondo Sr. dabbled in boxing and saw his older brothers succeed in the sport. In his son, he saw the talent, discipline and work ethic to know that with support, “Junior” could be special.
Working in construction, Elizondo Sr. is on the job in the early morning so his evenings and nights are free to guide his son’s training.
“We instill in him, look I know some of your childhood is going to be robbed,” Elizondo Sr. said. “But talk to any champion and they’re OK with that. They’re in the gym while other kids are playing video games.”
Elizondo Jr. ramped up his training early in 2023. That came after a second-place finish at Silver Gloves, one of the top amateur tournaments in the country, showed that an elite level was within reach.
Elizondo Sr. said a balance must be struck between being a motivator and a father.
“As a coach, I have to look at the bigger picture,” he said. “I have to push him to get to the top. But as a father, I can’t be more proud. He’s polite. He’s humble. He doesn’t walk around where you’d know he’s a boxer.”
The Elizondo family used to raise money via GoFundMe to pay for travel to tournaments. Recently, Vancouver-based Muchas Gracias Mexican Food has signed on as a sponsor to cover those expenses.
Davis believes it’s experience in elite tournaments that will propel Elizondo Jr. to greater heights.
“I try to get him as much sparring as I can,” Davis said. “But I don’t have a lot of guys who are good enough to get him a lot of work.”
The long days of training don’t discourage Elizondo Jr. He believes repetition paves the path to greatness.
“You do the same thing over and over to perfect your art,” he said.
