CARLOS DE LEON CASTRO EMERGING AS PUERTO RICO’S NEXT GREAT BOXING STAR

 

Credit: Boxlab Promotions 

Press Release: September 15, 2026 By Mario Serrano For Boxlab Promotions  -  ORLANDO, FL (September 15, 2026)

 — Puerto Rico has produced some of boxing’s greatest champions, and undefeated super featherweight 

Carlos De Leon Castro 

(9-0, 7 KOs) believes he has what it takes to become the island’s next great star.

The 21-year-old Caguas, Puerto Rico native, who is promoted by 

Boxlab Promotions

, has quickly emerged as one of the island’s most promising young fighters. De Leon has combined speed, power, ring intelligence and an aggressive style to remain perfect through his first nine professional fights.

Most recently, De Leon, a vicious and tenacious fighter, scored another impressive stoppage victory on August 28 at Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida, stopping veteran 

Maxwel Montes

 to improve to 9-0 with seven knockouts.

“I’m grateful for everything that has happened in my career so far, but I know I still have a lot of work ahead of me,” said De Leon. “Puerto Rico has such a rich history in boxing, and when you think about all the great champions who came before me, it motivates me. I want to earn my place among those names. Nothing is going to be given to me, so I’m going to keep working, keep learning and let my performances speak for themselves.”

De Leon entered the professional ranks with an extensive amateur pedigree. He compiled a 91-4 amateur record, captured multiple Puerto Rican national championships and represented Puerto Rico internationally. He began boxing at just six years old and developed under the guidance of his father, 

Carlos De Leon Sr.

His amateur experience has translated quickly to the professional game. Since making his debut in June 2024, De Leon has remained undefeated while steadily increasing the level of competition.

Amaury Piedra, President 

of

 Boxlab Promotions

, has witnessed De Leon’s development firsthand from the beginning of his professional career and believes the young Puerto Rican is beginning to show the qualities of a future contender.

“I’ve watched Carlos grow from his professional debut to where he is today, and the development has been very impressive,” said Piedra. “The talent was always there, but what stands out to me is how much more comfortable and mature he has become as a professional fighter. He’s learning how to control the pace, set up his punches and be patient instead of trying to force things. Every fight we’re seeing another layer of his game, and its inspiring.”

Piedra continued, “Carlos is still only 21 years old, so there’s no reason to rush the process. We believe he has the ability and personality to become a major name in Puerto Rican boxing, but he has to earn it. Our job is to keep developing him, continue raising the level of competition and put him in position to succeed when those bigger opportunities come.”

“Representing Puerto Rico means everything to me,” De Leon continued. “Puerto Rican fans know boxing. They expect their fighters to have heart, skills and pride every time they step into the ring. I accept that responsibility. I’m not going to call myself the next great Puerto Rican champion, that’s something I have to prove. But I believe in myself, I believe in my team, and I’m ready to chase that position.”

De Leon grew up admiring Puerto Rican icon 

Felix “Tito” Trinidad

, while today he studies fighters such as 

Terence Crawford

. His own style is built around technical ability, ring IQ and a strong jab, but his seven knockouts in nine professional victories have demonstrated that he also possesses the power to end fights.

For De Leon, the ultimate goal is clear…win a world championship and establish himself as the next great star in Puerto Rican boxing.

“I want to become a world champion and make Puerto Rico proud,” De Leon said. “I know there’s going to be pressure as the fights get bigger, but I welcome it. I’m young, I’m hungry, and I’m willing to fight the best when my time comes. Puerto Rico is ready for its next generation of champions, and I’m working every day to make sure my name is part of that conversation.”

Material Courtesy of: Mario Serrano/ Photo Courtesy of: Boxlab Promotions  Used with permission.

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Boxlab Promotions’ Rising Middleweight Sweeps Every Round on All Three Scorecards at MVPW-05

Credit: Harry Aaron/ Most Valuable Promotions 

 

Press Release: A By Mario Serrano/Boxlab Promotions  - ORLANDO, FL (August 13, 2026)

 – The record will show another victory for 

Sebastian Juarez

. Another six rounds in the bank. Another step forward for an undefeated young fighter with bigger goals ahead of him. But for Juarez, Saturday night was about more than adding another win to his record. It was about showing that the work being done when nobody is watching is beginning to show when everybody is.

Boxlab Promotions’

 undefeated middleweight prospect Sebastian Juarez (12-0, 8 KOs), of Brownsville, Texas, continued his rise through the division with a dominant six-round unanimous decision over 

Rance Ward 

(9-7-1, 2 KOs), of Houma, Louisiana, this past Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 

Caribe Royale Resort

 in Orlando, Florida.

The bout was presented by Most Valuable Promotions in association with Boxlab Promotions as part of MVPW-05.

From the opening bell, Juarez took control and never gave it back. He dictated the pace, stayed disciplined and consistently got the better of the exchanges against a more experienced opponent. By the time the final bell sounded, there was little doubt about the outcome. All three judges scored the fight 60-54, giving Juarez every round.

For a young fighter accustomed to ending nights early, eight of his 12 professional victories have come by knockout, the opportunity to control a fight for the full six rounds offered another kind of satisfaction.

“I felt like I was in control from the beginning, and that was important to me,” said Juarez. “Of course, as a fighter you always want to get the knockout, but you can’t go looking for it and get away from what you’ve worked on in the gym. I stayed patient, listened to my corner and kept winning rounds. Going six rounds and winning every one of them against a tough opponent tells me I’m moving in the right direction.”

The performance was another sign of Juarez’s continued development. At 12-0, the conversation is gradually changing. The goal is no longer simply to remain undefeated. With each fight, the level of opposition will increase, the rounds will become more meaningful and the expectations will grow. That progression is something Juarez and respected trainer 

Bob Santos

 have been preparing for in the gym.

Juarez credits Santos with helping him understand that becoming a complete fighter requires more than power. It takes patience, discipline and the ability to make adjustments when a fight doesn’t unfold exactly as expected.

“Working with Bob has made a big difference in my development,” Juarez said. “He pushes me every day and makes sure I understand why we’re doing certain things, not just how to do them. We’ve put in a lot of hard work together, and I could feel that work paying off in this fight. I was seeing things better, staying composed and not forcing anything. I know I still have a lot to learn, but I feel myself becoming a better fighter every time I step into the ring.”

Those improvements have not gone unnoticed by Boxlab Promotions President 

Amaury Piedra

. Piedra has watched Juarez develop from a promising young puncher into a more patient and polished professional. Saturday’s performance, he believes, was another example of a fighter beginning to put all the pieces together.

“Sebastian continues to show us something new every time he fights,” said Piedra. “We already knew he could punch, but now you’re seeing the other parts of his game continue to develop. He’s becoming more comfortable, more disciplined and more mature in the ring. He didn’t need to chase a knockout Saturday night. He boxed, controlled the fight and won every round. That’s growth.”

For Piedra, there is no reason to rush that growth. Juarez is still developing, but his perfect record and steady improvement have created optimism about how far he can eventually go.

“The exciting thing is that Sebastian is 12-0 and we still haven’t seen the finished product,” Piedra continued. “He listens to his team, he works hard and he wants to get better. Those are qualities you can build around. Our job is to keep putting him in the right fights at the right time and allow him to earn his way toward bigger opportunities. As he continues progressing the way he has, I believe he has a very bright future in this division.”

Juarez has no intention of standing still. The Brownsville native has set an ambitious target for the next phase of his career: within the next 12 months, he wants his name among the top 10 middleweights in the world. He understands that getting there will require more difficult fights and stronger opposition. That is exactly what he wants.

“My goal is to break into the top 10 within the next year,” Juarez concluded. “I know nobody is going to give me that position. I have to earn it. That means continuing to fight better opponents, continuing to improve and being ready every time my name is called. I believe in myself, I believe in my team, and I believe I can compete with the best fighters in this division. Now it’s about proving it one fight at a time.”

Material Courtesy of: Mario Serrano/Boxlab Promotions/Photo Courtesy of: Harry Aaron Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission 

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.