MEET OUR BOXERS

 Born in Posadas, Argentina, Alejandro “El Cuervo” Silva moved to Buenos Aires to chase his dream of becoming a professional soccer player until an invitation from a friend to train at a boxing gym ignited an unknown passion in Silva and changed the course of his life forever. 

As a child, Alejandro did his best to be self-sufficient, and carried with him a dream of leaving his hometown and making a name for himself in the world. In chasing that dream, Silva’s journey has been defined by perseverance and later driven by the goal of providing a better life for his family. 

After a hard knockdown in a fight many thought he would lose, Silva rose to his feet and claimed victory—showcasing not only his skill, but his mental fortitude. Being knocked down and staring down the possibility of defeat reportedly made Silva the fighter he is today in facing what he fears and coming back stronger. “When I’m in the ring, my mind thinks that the person in front of me wants to ruin my dream; he wants to ruin everything I’ve contributed every day of my life,” he says. “I wouldn’t let anyone or anything ruin it.” Silva has utilized his grit and vision to successfully obtain titles for WBC Latin American Super Welterweight and Argentinian Super Welterweight, and in doing so began creating the legacy he has pursued for so long.

Hailing from a multi-generational line of boxers, Jalen Walker has always dreamt of following in the footsteps of his family patriarchs, and defines his journey into professional boxing as his destiny. "Boxing means the world to me. Boxing is my religion."

Jalen first began boxing at the age of 7, competed for the first time at 8 years old, and since then has never stopped. Empowered by his sense of destiny to become a world champion, boxing isn't just what he does, it's who he is. His father, Norman, and grandmothers, Rose & Tinkie, have been his greatest supporters along the road to his currently 12-1-1 & 10KO career. For those who know him, "disciplined" doesn't even begin to scratch the surface in describing him. "I leave it all in the ring," says Jalen. "I never back down and let my opponent take control. What's on my mind [when I step into the ring] is to completely dominate."

Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, Walker is no stranger to the different paths laid out before him, and names his father's guiding hand and sacrifices over the years as some of his biggest motivators for staying out of trouble. Seeing firsthand how differently life could have gone for him is a constant reminder of how the choices he makes every day impacts his future, and how quickly it all can change. Forever humble and appreciative of what he has been able to experience and achieve in this life so far--from sparring sessions with the likes of Anthony Davis to partnerships with Adidas  to sponsorships with GymShark to receiving two silver medals at the Junior Olympic Nationals--his motivation to achieve greatness does not stem from a lack of love for his roots, but everything to do with etching his family name into the pages of history. However, Jalen  has recently discovered that success is not permanent, though failure itself would not prove fatal. While his record on the whole speaks for itself, during his last fight before signing with us at Westside, Jalen experienced his first big setback--his first loss--following a stint in the hospital for swollen nodes the week before a scheduled fight. "I should have postponed the fight," he said, "but my pride didn't allow me to do that." While this blemish to his undefeated record was a devastation at the time, it also gifted Jalen with a powerful learning lesson to take with him as his career continues to unfold. Since then, Jalen has been welcomed as one of the new faces to the Westside Promotions roster, and feels as though this new chapter has gifted him with a second chance and opportunity to redeem himself. "[I'm] a guy who's not gonna let failure define him," he told us. Whether you are a boxer or not, this mentality to power through and not let adversity define us is one we can all be inspired by.

There are certain words that come to mind when you think of a heavyweight boxer: formidable, impervious, powerful. However, these words were not necessarily synonymous with Jett's experience of adolescence. "I've always been bigger than everyone around me," Jett recalls. "At 7 years old, I weighed 150 lbs, and it wasn't easy for me in my neighborhood being an easy target." 

At age 15, Jett fell in love with the sport of boxing, and decided then that this would be his path in life. Since then, boxing has taught him humility, respectfulness and perseverance, while teaching him how to be emotionally bulletproof. With a number of those whom Jett grew up with, including 2 of his best friends, being either deceased or incarcerated at young ages, Jett made a decision to write a different story for himself. Doing what he can for his community, Jett worked for the city, helping to coordinate shelter for the homeless. And while, throughout his life, Jett has experienced waves of depression, he views his trials and tribulations with a growth mindset and a curiosity for what lesson he can take away from each bump in the road. For this, we admire him. 

Jett signed with Westside Promotions at 22 years old, and debuted as a pro during our "Resurrecting the Palace" series at the Cow Palace in San Francisco; since then, he has become 3-0 against 3 undefeated opponents. "As an amateur, I never felt valued as a fighter, even though I knew I has value. Westside Promotions has made me feel valuable." Jett says. He also thanks his dad and his trainer, Frank Aleman, for being his biggest supporters and seeing greatness in him since the beginning. Jett names his baby boy as his biggest inspiration--diagnosed autistic, Jett fights for him and other children who can't fight for themselves. This cumulative group is who Jett keeps in mind when he steps into the ring, armed with a passionate group of supporters and ready to come out swinging. 

Of the people you encounter every day, each has a story — and some of the most inspiring come from unexpected places. In Fresno, California, you might find Osmel Avila working at a fast-food restaurant or behind the chair at a local barbershop. What you might not realize is that he is also an undefeated professional boxer on the rise.

Osmel “El Gato” Avila began boxing at age 7, inspired by his father’s pursuit of the sport, which planted the seed for their shared dream of turning pro. To the Avila family, boxing represents more than a sport—it symbolizes hope, opportunity, and a gateway to uplifting hometown community. Already, Osmel has embraced the role of mentor for the youth at his gym by sharing lessons he first learned as a beneficiary of a local nonprofit boxing program dedicated to teaching discipline, life skills, and core values to underserved youth through combat sports. Through the support of that program, along with his family and community, Osmel developed an unshakable belief that he can do anything he sets his mind to, regardless of what life throws his way.

Like everyone, Osmel has faced adversity, but the mark of a good fighter is his ability to get back up and fight after being knocked down. Events in his personal life kept Osmel out of the ring for 3 years. Others may have gotten discouraged; Osmel grew determined. He returned to competition with purpose, winning the first 2 fights of his professional career by knockout and earning a promotional contract with Westside Promotions, who view him as a rising prospect. “I had God and my wife that supported me all the way and never let me quit,” Osmel says. 

Inspired by the technical style of Lomachenko, Osmel values sharp footwork, speed, and ring IQ. His alias, “El Gato,” was given to him by friends who recognized his smooth, cat-like reflexes in the ring. Guided by the belief that discipline surpasses talent, Osmel’s dedication to craft has earned him opportunities to spar with elite fighters including Vergil Ortiz Jr., Alexander Besputin, and world champions Terence Crawford and Mario Barrios.