A sea of red bandanas filled the crowd, bearing one fighter’s name – “Poision” Ivy Enriquez. The 18-year-old stepped into the ring at Memorial Gym in February to begin her professional boxing career. Years worth of training and motivation led her to be co-main event of the night.
In four furious bouts, Enriquez’s hand was raised declaring her a winner, and inscribing Enriquez’s first professional win onto her book. Following her win earlier this year, Enriquez was bound to be the star of another main event, her high school graduation.
Currently a senior at Bel Air High School, the Lady Highlander carved a strong path both in her boxing and academic career.
“I would say I’ve just gotten used to it, because I grew up boxing and going to tournaments, (while) still in school. I’ve always had my priorities, which is school and then boxing,” Enriquez said. “But it’s definitely a lot more different now that I turned professional because the trainings are more intense and longer. So, it’s a lot more discipline; it’s a handful, but it’s nothing that I can’t do.”
Even with graduation nearing, Enriquez recently tallied her second professional win in Odessa, Texas. Enriquez said being able to balance both aspects of her life stemmed from her family’s support.
“My family is my motivation, my dad always tells me, ‘I know one day, you’re going to be a world champion,’” Enriquez said. “This pushes me and keeps me on that path to where I want to be.”
Soon walking the stage to her high school graduation, Enriquez said she aspires to be a dental hygienist. Beginning her education at El Paso Community College (EPCC), Enriquez hopes to build her way up to an orthodontist.
Looking far into the future, Enriquez would like to open a gym with her dad in El Paso to train others. Several friends of Enriquez have begun to box as well; she said garnering attention for the sport brings her joy.
“I’m glad I can share (boxing) with (my friends) because boxing is not for a lot of people, so we need to share my passion with someone else and help them. It really does make me happier,” Enriquez said.
A passion for boxing is also rooted in Moises Rodriguez’s livelihood. Boxing since he was 8 years old, the amateur with over 200 fights on his record, said going to school while juggling boxing was not an easy feat.
“When I would go to nationals, I would miss a week or two weeks. I’ll come back, and have a bunch of work,” Moises Rodriguez said. “So, on top of the work, I still have to work out, and I have to make sure I’m eating good. I wake up before school and train and when I get home, I have to train as well. It’s definitely hard, but you have to sacrifice if you want to be good at the sport.”
Dedicated to boxing, Moises Rodriguez said he is training for bigger opportunities.
“I can’t wait to get out of school and see because I feel like I have a lot of opportunity in boxing, and also other job careers,” Moises Rodriguez said. “I’m hoping to go into the 2028 Olympics with Team USA, it’s a goal of mine. I want to also go professional making it as far as I can because I’ve been doing this for 10 years, and I can’t stop now.”
Once he graduates El Dorado High School, Moises Rodriguez would like to continue his education with the U.S. Military under the World Class Athlete Program – where soldiers abide by their military careers while also training for Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Moises Rodriguez said he has been boxing for so long, it’s now instilled into his blood.
“I’ve been in boxing so long, that I can’t even remember what I would do without it,” Moises Rodriguez said. “Boxing has made me who I am, it’s kept me doing good things, and I’m not out doing bad things.”
Discipline and strength are skills all boxers echo, including Dominic Rodriguez. The Montwood High School senior has been boxing since he was 7 years old, yet as he grew older, he shifted to other sports. Yet, the spark for boxing reignited thanks to Warrior’s Edge Gym.
“(Boxing) made me more focused and more disciplined with myself,” Dominic Rodriguez said. “My family says, ‘No boxing if you do bad in school,’ so I got to get good grades. There were times where I felt like giving up, but you know any boxer goes through that, even pros, so I kept discipline and kept going and made it to the next level.”
Throughout high school, Dominic Rodriguez kept quiet about his boxing career but hopes to soon build his name amongst the others in the Borderland.
“I’m really humble, so I don’t really talk about it, I’m like a quiet kid,” Dominic Rodriguez said. “So, if people do ask, (I’ll say), ‘Oh, yeah, I do some boxing,’ but I’m not really like (bragging about it) – I want to be humble all the time.”
The Montwood High School senior said he would like to continue his education at EPCC as well.
Grit, discipline, and strength are common themes amongst high school boxers. Having a slew of things to handle, including hours of training mixed with hours’ worth of homework, these boxers have shown dedication to their craft. And as the tassel shifts from right to left, these soon-to-be graduated high schoolers will continue to persevere with their sport, despite all the obstacles.
Sofia Sierra is the sports editor and may be reached at [email protected].
