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West New York’s Own Jean Pierre Valencia Kicks Off Road to N.J. Golden Gloves

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Jean Pierre Valencia, a 23-year-old amateur boxer from West New York, started his journey towards the N.J. Golden Gloves on Saturday with a win over Deron Elias. The bout took place at the Must Fight Boxing Club in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania and Valencia dominated from start to finish, using hard body punches to open up Elias for hooks and right hands to the head. Valencia’s relentless pressure earned him a decisive win, improving his boxing record to 12-1, while Elias falls to 10-5.

Valencia has been working hard to improve his skills and conditioning following a successful year in which he won the N.J. Diamond Gloves novice title at 165 pounds. The N.J. Golden Gloves tournament, which runs from March 10 to April 15, offers Valencia the chance to win the state title in North Bergen, just a short distance from his home.

“I know that hard work beats talent and I just want to keep working. We are going to the top,” said Valencia, who was born in Esmeraldas, Ecuador and began boxing as a teenager in Barcelona, Spain.

Valencia’s trainer, Ryan Songalia, has set an ambitious goal for 2023, aiming for Valencia to compete in at least 20 fights in the year. To prepare him for the best amateurs in the country, Songalia has tested Valencia against some of the best professional boxers in the region, including former IBF lightweight champion Richard Commey and undefeated pros Jahi Tucker and Ismael Villarreal.

Valencia is looking to remain active leading up to the Golden Gloves, with another bout scheduled for February 10 in Kenilworth, N.J. and a return to Upper Darby on February 25. As Valencia continues on his journey towards the N.J. Golden Gloves, fans can expect to see a skilled and determined fighter, who is ready to take his skills to the next level.