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Mateo Diaz: The next Johnny Garcia
(Courtesy: DoD; Credit: MGN)

Mateo Diaz: The next Johnny Garcia

HOLLAND, Mich. — While many children and teenagers love sports, most of them tend to go for the popular sport. One special teenager decided to go a different direction. Of all available sports, he chose boxing. Not many want to stand in a ring and watch as an opponent throws punches at them, especially a young boy. It takes a lot of courage to join the sport of boxing, especially at a young age.

The teenager we are talking about goes by the name Mateo Diaz. Diaz trains in the Sakwamdo Boxing Club, a boxing club that is based in Holland, Michigan. The club’s philosophy has greatly impacted young teenagers, not only in training but also in the ring, and Diaz is one of those lucky teenagers.

Sakwamdo Boxing believes in self-worth, discipline, dedication, self-confidence and teamwork. This was on display when Diaz was up against Giovanni Benvaides at the West Michigan Golden Gloves Tournament, which was hosted at the DeltaPlex in Grand Rapid in early June this year.

Diaz won the bout on a 5-0 decision, thanks to Coach Sakwam Heath. It took him only seven months to train the 15-year-old Diaz, and he is already winning boxing matches. So what will happen when Heath trains him for another seven months?

“(Mateo) conquered his fear and nervousness and boxed smart, moved well in his feet and showed a confidence that I haven’t seen,” Coach Heath said. “He works hard and does all that he is asked to do.”

The attitude of hard work instilled in Diaz during training is already yielding results in just a few months. He sure learned a lot at the training and used what he learned to win his debut match.

For most of Heath’s life, he has breathed and lived boxing. He has extended the love of the sport to the whole of Holland, and the likes of Diaz are already finding sound footing in boxing. His efforts have greatly impacted the teenagers in the society.

Through the Sakwamdo Boxing Club, Coach Heath has been able to provide not just a fitness center for the likes of Diaz but has also provided a family for him where he can be mentored to become someone great in life.

With a few months of training, Diaz has started walking on the path of becoming Holland’s next Johnny Garcia. We could see Diaz putting almost all boxing techniques on display during the match. His stance, punches and defense are already looking like those of a professional while he is still an amateur and debuting in his first real match.

Diaz is definitely on his way to the next world heavyweight champion if he continues at this pace.

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