From Bronze To Bright Future

Jorge Villarruel, 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 

Transcript

Meet The Young Contender

SPEAKER_01 0:00

How are you today?

SPEAKER_00 0:01

I'm good. How are you?

SPEAKER_01 0:02

I'm doing great. Blessed and highly favored. So I'm here. I have a couple of questions for you, but before we get started with the questions, I just wanted you to give the audience some information about yourself, a little bit about your career. I know you got a bronze medal, and then we'll we'll dive into it.

SPEAKER_00 0:15

So I'm 19. I have over 110 boxing fights as an amateur. I won junior Olympics. Well, I didn't win it. I took bronze in junior Olympics at 2023.

SPEAKER_01 0:25

Okay. And you were born and raised here?

SPEAKER_00 0:27

Yes, ma'am.

SPEAKER_01 0:28

Okay. So when you were an amateur, what was the turning point for you when you decided to

From Amateurs To Turning Pro

SPEAKER_01 0:34

become pro?

SPEAKER_00 0:34

Like my last two fights, I don't know, just like the point system and amateurs, I just didn't really like. I was getting robbed in a lot of my fights.

SPEAKER_01 0:42

You know, you're not the first fighter that has told me that. And definitely about the point system and just the way the judging is done. Do you feel that that was something that happened numerous occasions? And why do you think that's happening?

SPEAKER_00 0:55

Oh yeah, I don't know. It's just I feel like I have more of a pro style in general, so just that amateur style is different. I guess it's more like tap tap tap instead of like actual technical boxing.

SPEAKER_01 1:06

Yes, yeah. Okay. So now when you decided to become pro, everybody was on board with that. And how did how did you transition over? Like how did you get the first fight?

Coaches, Family, And Readiness

SPEAKER_01 1:16

And and who, you know, who did that for you?

SPEAKER_00 1:18

My dad and Donald Sanchez. My dad didn't really want me turning pro right away. He didn't think I was ready, but I felt that I was ready. And Donald felt that I was ready, so he turned me pro.

SPEAKER_01 1:27

Okay. And uh, you know, if you don't mind me asking, what was it that your dad thought you weren't ready with? Was he just hoping for more amateur fights, just a little bit more?

SPEAKER_00 1:35

He wanted he wanted me to do a little bit more nationals, and he wanted me to like train a little longer to like fix my like style a little bit. Okay. And who what is your father's name? Oh Jorge Vieruel.

SPEAKER_01 1:47

Okay, I does he go by Cholo? Yeah. Okay, yes, yes. I okay. I've met him before. And now your coach is also Donald Sanchez. You have two coaches?

SPEAKER_00 1:56

Yeah, I have three. My dad, Donald Sanchez, and Lee Rebazon.

SPEAKER_01 1:59

Oh, okay, okay. And now what is your training like right now?

First Pro Fight Lessons

SPEAKER_00 2:02

Right now it's just I'll wake up in the morning and I'll go run and then I'll go to the gym at 4 30 and hit strength and conditioning, or or I'll do boxing.

SPEAKER_01 2:09

Okay. And now you just recently had your first pro fight, and what was that experience like for you? Did you feel that you were ready once the fight was over? I mean, I know obviously you won the fight, so that was a great feeling. Was there anything that you took from that fight that you said I need to work on something or I want to apply something different for my next fight?

SPEAKER_00 2:29

I think I need to work on my job a little bit more. I was kind of lacking my job. That's really it. I think I did pretty good overall.

SPEAKER_01 2:35

Okay.

Upcoming Bout And Mindset

SPEAKER_01 2:36

And now you have a fight coming up on January 31st. Is that correct? That's okay. Okay, yeah. I'll actually be doing the media there, so that'll be exciting. Do you know who you're fighting?

SPEAKER_00 2:45

No, I don't yet. I don't think they have a pony yet.

SPEAKER_01 2:47

Okay. Now, what happens in a situation like that for you mentally when you're prepared and then you know, if somebody doesn't show up to fight, how how do you readjust?

SPEAKER_00 2:57

I just have to stay ready and for and just yeah, just stay ready to be

Weight Class And Goals

SPEAKER_00 3:01

honest.

SPEAKER_01 3:01

Okay. And now what weight class do you fight in?

SPEAKER_00 3:03

Uh 114.

SPEAKER_01 3:05

Okay. And now were there any talks about you ever moving up in weight class or what what's the what's the future projections for you?

SPEAKER_00 3:12

I think I want to stay at 114 for a couple more fights and then maybe move up at to 118 in about a year or two.

SPEAKER_01 3:19

Okay. And did you have any long-term aspirations as far as getting a belt? What you know, what have you talked with your your coaches about this?

SPEAKER_00 3:28

Or of course, yeah. I want to be world champion, of course. I want to be undisputed, like I think every every boxer would world chapter.

SPEAKER_01 3:35

Yeah, I'm I you know you'd be surprised. Some boxes haven't said that to me, but they haven't. Yeah. I mean, everybody's different, but for the most part, for the most part, they say that.

Dream Opponents And Style Talk

SPEAKER_01 3:45

If you had the opportunity to fight someone right now in your weight class that's world title holder or somebody that's just really high esteem in the boxing world, who would that be?

SPEAKER_00 3:55

Bam Rodriguez.

SPEAKER_01 3:57

Oh, okay. And why is that?

SPEAKER_00 3:59

Just because I don't know. I think he has a good style and it'd be a good fight, to be honest. And right now he's an undisputed champ at 114.

SPEAKER_01 4:06

So that's right. And actually, they're trying to set up a fight against uh Inouway. Yeah. What do you think about that?

SPEAKER_00 4:10

I don't know. I think Inouway has that on, I'm not gonna lie.

SPEAKER_01 4:14

Bam, did you hear that? We're gonna get Bam up in here. Uh you know what though? I have to kind of agree with you on that. See, the thing is if Bam can get him on the ropes and capitalize, because a lot of times, like even when he just when Picasso fought him, like he just kept on going forward with a one-two. He wasn't even fighting in his usual style. And like he had him up against the ropes a couple of times, he didn't capitalize on it. And I think, you know, I think that a lot of times people with in a way speed, uh like his agility, they're like, damn, you know, they're not really expecting that. So, but enough about that. We we we clearly have an in a way for that one.

Growing Youth Boxing

SPEAKER_01 4:51

Is there anything that you feel should change in the boxing world and the boxing community to make it, I guess, more available to people, especially the youth? I've noticed that there's a I noticed that youth boxing is really big out here, but if you go to other places it's not. What do you think uh is attributed to that?

SPEAKER_00 5:11

I don't know. I think we should have more tournaments and more local fights.

SPEAKER_01 5:14

Okay. Why do you think there's not more local fights? Is it just about about getting venue space or I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 5:20

I think it's like it's limited on kids. I think not a lot of kids want to do it.

SPEAKER_01 5:24

Okay. And now you said that you won a bronze in where was that again?

Staying Ready And Conditioning

SPEAKER_00 5:29

It was Lubbock, Texas.

SPEAKER_01 5:31

Okay. And was that um how when was that?

SPEAKER_00 5:34

2023 2023 Junior Olympics.

SPEAKER_01 5:37

Okay. And now when you so after that, after winning that medal, did you feel was that when you started thinking about becoming pro?

SPEAKER_00 5:47

Yeah, around that time, yeah. Okay, I was I was still young, I was still 16, 17.

SPEAKER_01 5:52

Okay. And now, what do you think the future of boxing is is going to consist of? Like, I know that you're gonna obviously you're gonna have a big year in 2026. Is there any certain amount of fights that you're trying to get?

SPEAKER_00 6:03

Or I want to get at least five fights in 2026.

SPEAKER_01 6:06

Okay, and if that doesn't happen, will it be how will you adjust to that? I mean, you'll probably you'll definitely get at least two or three, right?

SPEAKER_00 6:13

Yeah, I'll just stay ready, to be honest. That's one thing that I think

Sacrifice, Lifestyle, And Support

SPEAKER_00 6:17

I didn't do for my last fight was stay ready. So I want to stay ready. What do you mean by that? Like, like I had to take like so I took like a month off before I decided to turn pro, so I had to get like back into shape.

SPEAKER_01 6:29

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 6:30

So I'd rather just stay ready so I don't have to get ready, you know?

SPEAKER_01 6:33

Okay. And when you say that you kind of I guess fell off, was it because of the food that you were eating or you just weren't running? Oh, I know I I always hear from fighters that running is like their least favorite thing. And but you know what? The the running is probably the best thing for endurance. So, like, I don't know why everybody hates it, but it just sucks.

SPEAKER_00 6:54

Oh my god. On my knees and my legs.

SPEAKER_01 6:56

Oh, okay. Did you ever have to run with the sauna suit on?

SPEAKER_00 6:58

Yeah. Oh yeah. I've had to sit in the sauna suit on okay.

SPEAKER_01 7:02

What do you think in your boxing career so far and all of the training, what do you think has been the most challenging thing for you mentally to overcome?

Starting Young And Wrestling Roots

SPEAKER_00 7:10

I think just getting down to my weight.

SPEAKER_01 7:14

Okay. And do your coaches work with you as far as nutrition and things like that? Yeah. Okay. And when you're done with a fight, what's your favorite thing to eat?

SPEAKER_00 7:24

My last fight, I ate McDonald's and pizza.

SPEAKER_01 7:27

Oh, all in one shot? Um, and you weren't sick?

SPEAKER_00 7:29

No, I woke up the next morning.

SPEAKER_01 7:31

Oh, you were what did you eat from McDonald's? I have to know.

SPEAKER_00 7:34

Double quarter poundry with a large fry.

SPEAKER_01 7:37

Damn, okay.

SPEAKER_00 7:38

That's a little Caesar pizza too.

SPEAKER_01 7:40

Damn, I haven't had any of that stuff in like 25 years. I would probably be sick if I ate that. I don't know. Right? So now, as far as like your lifestyle, right? It takes a lot of time, and I'm sure that you're here in the boxing gym all the time.

Father As Coach And Tough Love

SPEAKER_01 7:58

How do you balance that and your personal life?

SPEAKER_00 8:01

I don't know, to be honest. Like, boxing is a very lonely sport, so it's mostly like throughout my days, just boxing for real. That's my life, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:10

So, I mean, I guess you kind of just miss out on like other family events and things like that. And I guess you have to have a very supportive family, right? Because a lot of times I'm sure they might be upset that you might not be coming.

SPEAKER_00 8:21

Yeah, I missed a lot of birthday parties, I've missed a lot of things to be honest, for boxing. So there's a lot of sacrifices that go into it.

SPEAKER_01 8:29

When you were growing up, were there any boxers that stood out to you that that made you say this is this is something that I want to do?

SPEAKER_00 8:36

Oh yeah. Teal Fimo Lopen. Oh, a Teofemo and uh what's his

Advice For New Boxers

SPEAKER_00 8:41

name? I can't think of it right now.

SPEAKER_01 8:45

Oh no. And when you so wait, how old were you again when you started boxing?

SPEAKER_00 8:50

Uh nine.

SPEAKER_01 8:51

You were nine. And what was that conversation like?

SPEAKER_00 8:53

I had put I was I went to my uncle's and he had put gloves on with me and my little cousin, and I had to beat up my little cousin, and he was a bully. No, I wasn't a bully.

SPEAKER_01 9:04

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 9:05

I'm messing with you. And then uh my my uncle went to my dad and told him that I should get in boxing. So and my dad didn't really want me to do boxing, so he put me in wrestling first to see how I

Gratitude And Shoutouts

SPEAKER_00 9:15

would do with all that like physical stuff. And after a year of wrestling, he thought I was ready for boxing.

SPEAKER_01 9:21

When you were wrestling, did you were you enjoying the wrestling? Or okay. How do you think that having that wrestling can translate over into your boxing? Did that help at all?

SPEAKER_00 9:30

Yeah, because wrestling was a lot of cardio.

SPEAKER_01 9:32

Okay. So, because I do hear a lot of people uh around your age, they say that they have a wrestling background and it's helped them with other sports and things like that. So I was just wondering how you were able to apply that. Was there ever a time that you didn't like having your dad as a coach?

SPEAKER_00 9:49

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:50

Can you tell me about that?

SPEAKER_00 9:52

Yeah, well, because my my dad's very supportive and he's always like, he's always on my butt. So he's gonna make sure I'm at the gym, he's gonna make sure I'm ready. Okay. There's some days where I just don't want to do it, and I'll give him attitude.

SPEAKER_01 10:03

Well, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:03

I'll get to a little fight, but it's all right.

SPEAKER_01 10:05

It's all good, but you know, you want him in your corner. Yes, right. And was there is there any advice that he's ever given you in the corner that that still resonates with you now?

SPEAKER_00 10:16

Nothing I could think of right now.

SPEAKER_01 10:18

What about during training?

SPEAKER_00 10:19

Yeah, stay ready, so I'm gonna get ready.

SPEAKER_01 10:21

Stay ready, right? So what about what about for people, young people that are looking to get into boxing? I know that I know that obviously, you know, just get into the gym and and you know, stay consistent to get something going. But what about for for young people that struggle maybe with self-esteem? Like, do you have any words of advice to give them? Because I know a lot of a lot of young people I've spoken with said, you know, they feel like people are looking at them in the gym and it makes them feel a certain way, and they kind of avoid that. Anything that you can tell the public?

SPEAKER_00 10:56

Honestly, just do it and stay focused on yourself. Don't worry about whatever what other people think about you, because at the end of the day, if you want to do boxing, you're gonna do it for yourself and not for the people around you.

SPEAKER_01 11:05

Amen. And now, is there anything else that you wanted to close with?

SPEAKER_00 11:09

Any words of wisdom, anything that you feel would be helpful or just no, I just want to give all my glory to God and just want to say thank you to all my coaches and all my sponsors.

SPEAKER_01 11:20

Absolutely. Any any specific people you want to give a shout out to?

SPEAKER_00 11:23

Donald Sanchez, my dad, Leroy Brazan, and the redheaded legal lady.

SPEAKER_01 11:29

Okay, that's Tiffany. Yes, yes, ma'am. Hi Tiffany. Okay, all right. Well, I thank you so much. Was there anything else that you wanted to go over?

SPEAKER_00 11:36

No, ma'am.

SPEAKER_01 11:37

All right, God bless you. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_00 11:39

God bless you, thank you.