Local boxer hopes to represent USA in 2020 Olympics
On a day where we celebrate our freedom, one teen wants to fight for the nation, but not on the battlefield.
16-year-old La Quinta boxer Santos Ortega has risen through the ranks of boxing in the Coachella Valley, starting in local competitions like the Desert Showdown at Fantasy Springs, and now national fights. He hopes his next stop will be at the international level on the USA Olympic team for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Ortega most recently earned the title of number one in the nation for his youth division after judges unanimously chose him as the winner in his four fights in the Inaugural Junior Olympics and Prep National Championships in Dallas.
Santos’ father, Daniel Ortega, says he had never seen his son train so hard. Daniel began coaching Santos when he was just 8 years old, saying the sport has been passed down through the family for multiple generations.
The family says this most recent win was particularly special for Santos. He won against a previous opponent who had beat him in January, taking away an opportunity for Santos to travel to Russia.
His father says this win makes him number one in the nation with more points than anyone else in his division, putting him in a good position to be chosen for the Olympic team.
Santos is newly sponsored by Nike, after his father shared News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2’s previous coverage and interviews with Santos.
