Yuma amateur boxer heading to Las Vegas to compete in National Junior Olympics

Daniel Chavez Jr. will be getting back in the ring following a quick exit from a national tournament in April

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Yuma amateur boxer Daniel Chavez Jr. will be heading to Las Vegas, Nev. to compete among the nation's best young fighters.

Chavez Jr. will be boxing in the National Junior Olympics from June 14-21.

"I'm really excited, I'm really looking forward to it, I feel like I've prepared myself a lot more," Chavez Jr. said.

The 14-year-old last competed in a major tournament back in April, losing in his first match.

Now, Chavez Jr. is hoping to take the lessons learned from the loss for more success in Sin City.

"My main mistake was not throwing, and we've been working a lot on that, we've been putting a lot more pressure while we've been sparring," Chavez Jr. said.

Looking to be more aggressive in the ring, Chaves Jr. says his work with his hands has been another main focus in training.

"We've been working on just punching, punching, punching, coming forward and with more head movement," Chavez Jr. said.

In addition to in-ring adjustments, Chavez Jr. also says the comfort level of competing in major events has grown for him.

"I don't feel as nervous as I did before, he butterflies are starting to go away, obviously they're still there, but not until like a couple moments before I step in the ring," Chavez Jr. said.

With every single match, Chavez Jr. expects his self-belief to increase even more.

"As I'm getting these fights in, I'm getting more confident and I'm starting to feel better and more confident in myself," Chavez Jr. said.