15-year-old Merced boxer wins 16th national title, ‘blessed’ to fight for hometown

Jesus Haro entered a boxing ring for his final fight of the tournament in Mesquite, Nevada last month with his national championship on the line against a boxer from Oregon.

Haro, a 15-year-old teen from Merced, said he recalled his research into his opponent and saw how he fought in previous bouts at the 2018 National Junior Golden Gloves tournament.

“I didn’t want to underestimate him, so I kept on thinking he was the better fighter,” Haro said.

But Haro was backed by experience of more than 80 sanctioned fights and 15 titles at various national tournaments, including winning the previous two years at the Junior Golden Gloves tournament and winning his fourth straight Junior Olympics gold in June.

Haro won his latest championship bout by unanimous decision and earned his 16th national title.

So what is Haro’s motivation that keeps him going?

“I really feel blessed fighting for my hometown,” Haro said, noting pride as a prime motivator. “Merced isn’t as appreciated as it should be.”

Haro also is motivated by his family and coaches.

“My parents work really hard,” Haro said, noting his father is one of his coaches and expressing gratitude for his parents’ support for him and his younger brother Daniel traveling to out-of-state tournaments.

The Haro brothers’ father, who bears his elder son’s name, said his elder son’s work ethic is what sets him apart from other boxers his age.

“He really loves boxing so he dedicates himself,” the senior Haro said. “All he does is go to school, eats, sleeps and boxes.”

Haro wasn’t the only son of Merced to win a championship at the Junior Golden Gloves tournament.

Joseph Martinez, a 9-year-old Pioneer Elementary School student, won his second straight Golden Gloves title for his age group in the 50-pound class.

“I put my whole heart into it and give it all I got,” said Joseph, who started practicing after he turned 6 and started fighting in the ring at 8 years old. “No one else exists except my opponent.”

Both Haro and Joseph are part of the Haro Bros Boxing gym in Merced.

The elder Jesus Haro said the next part of Haro and Joseph’s journey will be fighting in an amateur boxing show his gym is hosting from 2 to 6 p.m., Sept 15, at the American Legion Post 83 hall located at 939 W. Main St. in Merced. It will feature 30 matches including a team of four Merced kids fighting against others from different towns and states.

“Not a lot of people from our town go out to become famous and big,” the younger Haro said. “I want to be an example to other kids (from Merced) and show them it can be done.”