PALM BAY, Fla. — Many sports kids are involved in usually include a ball, such as soccer, lacrosse, football, volleyball, and softball/baseball to name a few. However, there are two young kids in our area who take sports to another level in the area of boxing. Yes, boxing and in Brevard County!

Karma Farber and Allan “Nano” Hernandez are two youngsters who enjoy this sport and excel! Let’s learn a little more about the sport and these two phenomenal athletes.

Karma has been involved in the sport of boxing for 1 ½ year and takes it seriously at the age of 11. She is dedicated to this sport and says, “it is an all-year-round sport for a champion.” Working out at a cardio boxing gym next to their house a few years ago, she was introduced to the sport. She was there so she could stay in shape for tennis. However, she fell in love with boxing.

Karma attended a Sugar Bert tournament and knew from watching the event that she wanted to compete. Sugar Bert is a retired boxer in Georgia, who hails from Florida and trained with Sugar Ray Leonard many years ago. He now runs an amateur boxing tournament with competitions all over the country. After this introduction to the sport, Karma knew she wanted to continue boxing when her family relocated to Florida.

Karma’s mother, Nicole, searched for the best coach to train her daughter. She drives 200 miles to and from Palm Bay 5 to 6 times a week to train with Coach Johnny Hernandez at Round 13 boxing 1 to 2 hours a day. This hard work and training have paid off as Karma is a 4-time title champion.

School is important to the Farber family and even with this training and the time in the car, Karma is an honor roll student. “School is top priority but I always make time to do my cardio and training”, she says.

Boxing has taught her she can push herself to her limits and she has found new goals in life. She has learned how to control her emotions, has determination, and the will to do well. This is not only in the ring but outside of it as well. Gaining confidence after winning titles, she also wants to help others do well in the sport and has goals of making the 2028 Olympic team. Her sights are set on becoming a doctor one day, a Pediatric Neurologist in fact, as she has traveled to many countries and sees that the children don’t get the care they need.

COVID- 19 didn’t slow down her training, as she continued to prepare for an upcoming competition this past September. This was the Sugar Bert Nationals Championship in Punta Gorda and an exciting time for her! She fought a girl from North Dakota and won by TKO in the first round! Awarded the WBC Green Belt, she felt very special to be a green belt champion.

Karma feels blessed to be coached by Coach Johnny “Sarg.” “He teaches us the proper technique, he shows us to master the jab and left hand. His way of life matches his teachings and he is very wise. He is a great coach that I trust is showing me the best boxing and I am listening to his direction. This is very important to be able to win. I would say he is a master in boxing.”

Her advice to other youngsters is to try boxing if it is something you are interested in. Don’t be scared to try a new sport and boxing applies to all aspects of your life.

Her teammate, Allan “Nano” Hernandez has been competing as a boxer for the past 6 years. A former martial arts enthusiast, he fell in love with the sport when he was a spectator at the State Police Athletic League (PAL) Boxing Championships in Fort Pierce years ago.

He trains the same days as Karma and feels that this sport teaches him to, “Be a better listener, take better care of yourself, be independent, responsibility, dependable, and that hard work pays off.” He loves the competition, travel, and also the challenges of boxing.

When asked about the championships in Punta Gorda, he said he prepared himself by working hard 6 days a week. He loved being a part of the competition! Just like Farber, he also took home a national championship and this was number two for both of them at the age of 11.

He also agrees with Farber that Coach Johnny “Sarg” is a great coach and knows all the skills and teaches not only the two of them well but anyone at Round 13. He encourages other kids to not give up on sports and keep looking to find what they can excel in. Allan’s goals are to be a “Pound for Pound” World Champion and be a car engineer, creating automobiles as a career one day.

Karma leaves us with her favorite quotes:

“To be a champion you just have to be the best you can be and help others see their own greatness.”

Savage not Average ~ KARMA

Allan wants everyone to know he appreciates all the supporters of boxing and his team-mate, Karma, for helping in his journey.

Next up for both of these youngsters is the USA National Boxing Championships in Shreveport, La. that will take place from March 25 to April 3, 2021. We wish them the best of luck!

Round 13 Boxing is a local non-profit 501c3 organization seeking sponsorship opportunities to keep the program going. If you would like more information about Round 13 Boxing, visit their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Round13BoxingPalmBay

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