Timothy “Two-Time” Ruiz takes first place at Junior Olympics

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) - Just three years into his boxing career, 10-year-old Timothy “Two-Time” Ruiz is already building an impressive résumé.

The boxer from El Centro’s Sparta Boxing Youth Academy Gym recently captured a first-place finish at the Junior Olympics in Wichita, Kansas, adding another major accomplishment to his growing collection of medals and trophies.

Ruiz typically competes in the 75-pound weight class but chose to challenge himself by moving up to the 80-pound division for the tournament. The decision presented a new set of challenges against larger opponents.

“I didn’t have to lose more weight, but the training was kinda hard, ‘cause, like there’s better boxers out there, and you may never know what was gonna come,” Ruiz said.

According to his trainer and uncle, Alan Ruiz, the weight difference made the achievement even more impressive.

“He was like, 70 when he went up - 77 when he fought that day. He was underweight by like three pounds, and those other kids are like 90 pounds walking and they drop down to 80,” Alan Ruiz said.

Boxing runs deep in the Ruiz family, giving Timothy a strong support system filled with experience and knowledge. His uncle believes the young fighter possesses natural talent but still pushes him to reach his full potential.

“We gotta push him a lot. We gotta yell at him sometimes, but he’s naturally gifted, like, he’s very, very good,” Alan Ruiz said.

While his family background has helped shape his development, those closest to him say his success is driven by a work ethic uncommon for someone his age. Ruiz trains twice a day throughout the week, balancing morning and afternoon sessions as he continues to sharpen his skills.

“I train in the mornings and in the afternoons. I’m doing it Monday through Friday,” Ruiz said.

His dedication has stood out even to his coach.

“He’s here ’cause he wants to. I asked him to get a day off and ‘hey, go home,’ and he was like, ‘no, I wanna go train. Let’s go get the other one already,’” Alan Ruiz said.

For Ruiz, winning a Junior Olympics championship validated the countless hours spent in the gym.

“It feels good to know that all of my dedication, that I actually worked off, that it was actually worth it and I actually won,” Ruiz said.

With a Junior Olympics title already on his résumé and years of development still ahead, Ruiz is quickly emerging as one of the Imperial Valley’s most promising young boxers. In a region known for producing talented fighters, “Two-Time” may be the next standout name to follow in that tradition.