El Centro’s Anael Alejo set to compete at 2026 USA Boxing Junior Olympics

The 12-year-old Amateur Boxer eyes gold in her return to the Junior Olympics

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) - After earning a silver medal at the 2024 USA Boxing Junior Olympics, El Centro's Anael Alejo will return to the national tournament looking to finish one spot higher.

The 12-year-old boxer will compete at the 2026 USA Boxing Junior Olympics in Wichita, Kansas, after months of preparation alongside her father and head coach, Angel Alejo.

Angel Alejo said Anael's training schedule has intensified leading up to the tournament, with early morning conditioning workouts followed by afternoon boxing sessions focused on bag work, mitt work, reflex drills and sparring.

"Normally our mornings start pretty early, 5 or 5:30 in the morning," Angel said. "We've been going to the Navy base a lot to use the equipment over there."

Anael said her sparring schedule has also increased as the tournament approaches.

"Since I'm going to Wichita, Kansas, for a boxing tournament, we've been sparring about four times a week," she said.

State Silver Gloves Champion, Regional Silver Gloves Champion, Junior Olympics Silver Medalist, and an International Champion.

The increased workload comes after a successful start to her amateur career. Anael is a State Silver Gloves, Regional Silver Gloves and an international champion.

Before she was securing championships though, her interest in boxing began at age seven after watching her brothers train.

"I would watch from across the street, and I really liked it," Anael said.

Training with her father has also strengthened their relationship outside the ring.

"It's really cool to have my father as a coach," Anael said. "When we're training, we're not only training, but I get to bond with him as well."

Angel said balancing the roles of coach and father has been one of the biggest challenges throughout Anael's development.

"It's been a learning experience for me to turn that off once training is over and go back to dad mode," he said. "It's a balance that I've learned to deal with."

He said one of his priorities has been making sure Anael continues to enjoy the sport despite the demanding training schedule.

"It's something that I deal with constantly," Angel Alejo said. "Sometimes I go overboard, but she takes it, and she's tough."

Representing El Centro remains one of Anael's biggest motivations as she prepares for another appearance on the national stage.

"I'm really happy to be representing El Centro because it's my hometown where I grew up," Anael said.

Angel believes his daughter has already accomplished something few young boxers from the Imperial Valley have achieved.

"I don't think anyone has done it here from the Valley as a female boxer at her age," he said. "She was ranked No. 2 in the whole country at a really young age. That's a huge accomplishment."

The training and preparation has been going great for the Alejo family, but they are seeking community support to help offset travel expenses for the trip to Wichita, where Anael will compete for a national championship.

If you would like to donate, click this link here.