Submitted photo

By Ray Hamill — A local youth boxer enjoyed a successful debut in the ring this past weekend, traveling to Redding to compete at the Shasta April Cool Fights.

Angel Torres, who trains at the World Kickboxing Xtrm Fitness Humboldt Gym in Fortuna, brought home his first amateur boxing belt with a victory by decision.

The event was hosted by the Shasta Boxing Club.

And the 14-year-old, according to his coach Ryan Petersen, has the right mindset and attitude to continue to excel in the sport.

“He listens well and he’s respectful,” Petersen said. “You tell him something and he says ‘yes coach’ and gets to it.

“He’s a respectful young man and he carries that respect over to the street.”

Torres has been training in the sport for the past two years and woking closely with Petersen at the Fortuna gym since November.

And his coach believes he could have a bright future in the ring.

“He’s got heart, which is what you need in fighting,” Petersen added. “And he’s an intelligent kid.”

That intelligence showed in his fight debt and helped propel him to the victory.

“He came out and fought smart,” Petersen said. “I’m proud of Angel, very proud of him.

“There’s a lot of kids that talk about it, and Angel went in there and pursued it.”

No word yet on when the young Humboldt County fighter will be back in the ring, but Petersen expects him to continue boxing and says he’s looking forward to seeing what the youngster can achieve.