Teen Jordan Fuentes Capped An Emotional Cinderella Run With A Win At The Olympic Boxing Trials

After Jordan Fuentes had his hand raised Saturday to mark his narrow victory in the championship bout at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Boxing, he momentarily took a knee, stood up, then pulled down the top right of his red Boxing jersey and pointed at a tattoo on the upper part of his chest.

That tattoo represents perhaps the saddest part of the 18-year-old’s life. It commemorates his older sister Jolissa, who died when her car went off a cliff in October 2022. But for two months, the Fuentes family only knew Jolissa was missing. It wasn’t until law enforcement found the wreckage down the embankment off a windy road about a half-hour south of their home in Fresno, California, that their fears had come true.

Now, 14 months later, Jordan Fuentes, the youngest member of his family, experienced a high point in his young existence and he wanted to make sure to share that moment with his late sister.

“It’s just a memory of her,” Fuentes said. “It reminds me that she’s with me. She was really tough, and she just keeps me pushing through.”

His sister would have been overjoyed at what Fuentes did at the Olympic trials in Lafayette, Louisiana, last week. Fuentes was one of 14 boxers in the 57 kg. weight class and entered as a wild card, but — with his dad, mom and brother in his corner — knocked off the top three seeds.

There are two things sports fans love: A powerhouse and an underdog. Fuentes provided a Cinderella story that could take him all the way to the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

And as with any Cinderella story, there were times where his success was in doubt. In his first-round bout, Fuentes, a left-handed boxer, was knocked down by William Luther and had a standing-eight count in the first round. But he recovered and went on to win the next two rounds and advance to the quarterfinals.

“After the way I beat him,” Fuentes said, “it gave me a lot of confidence that I can hang with these guys.”

Facing second-seeded Raimier Walker, who had a first-round bye, Fuentes came out strong and won the first round, while Walker came back to win the second. In the third round, Fuentes overcame Walker’s pressure to persevere and win a split decision.

That sent Fuentes to the semifinals, where he faced 25-year-old Francis Walker, the No. 3 seed. It was a battle of the youngest and oldest fighters in the bracket.

“I was a little nervous,” Fuentes said. “This is a grown man.”

Walker got the better of Fuentes in the first round, but Fuentes dug deep and rallied to win the next two rounds and claim a unanimous decision. Now, there was only one more opponent standing in Fuentes’ way — top-seeded Steven Navarro, setting up an all-California championship bout.

“There was not really too much stress on me because I knew he was a good opponent, but I know my skills speak for themselves as well,” Fuentes said. “Then we got in there and I got it done.”

But not without a little more drama.

Fuentes, who at just 5-foot-5 was a couple inches taller than Navarro, appeared to be the more confident and aggressive fighter in winning the opening round, 5-0. With an Olympic trials championship on the line and the intensity level increased, the result remained in doubt at the final bell. While the judges ruled Navarro had the better third round, 4-1, Fuentes had done enough, especially in the first round, to come away with a 3-2 split decision.

While that chapter of the Cinderella story is complete, there is more that needs to happen for Fuentes to make it to the Olympics. Jahmal Harvey has already clinched the U.S. spot at 57 kg. for Paris, but Fuentes does get to participate in the Team USA selection camp in January as Harvey’s alternate.

Four other men who won at the Olympic trials — Dedrick Crocklem (63.5 kg.), Keon Davis (71 kg.), Nathan Lugo (80 kg.) and Malachi Georges (92 kg.) — will take part in the selection camp against another boxer for the right to go to Paris.

Women’s winner Lisa Greer (60 kg.), Stephanie Simon (66 kg.), Christine Forkins (75 kg.) and fellow men’s winner Ali Feliz (92-plus kg.) are, like Fuentes, an alternate.

Fuentes knows it’s a long shot that he gets to Paris, but knocking off the top three seeds in his weight class proves that he belongs among the nation’s elite. If not Paris, he hopes to be in the mix to represent Team USA at the Olympic Games LA 2028.

“Honestly, if I don’t get to this Olympics, then I’ll probably try to shoot for the next one as well,” Fuentes said. “I’ll be a young fighter still. Hopefully I can get to this one. And even if I get to this one, my plan is still shoot for the next one as well.”