Juarez boxer Ariel Moreno off to strong start in pro career
Ariel “Apache” Moreno was destined to be a fighter.
The talented 23-year-old from Juarez didn’t begin fighting until he was 18-years-old and participated in a handful of amateur fights before turning professional.
"My mom didn't want me to fight," he said. "But I knew what I wanted to do, being a fighter is in me."
Moreno’s father, Santos was a pro boxer who had more than 40 fights, stepbrother Alejandro has more than 75 and his mother Imelda Arias was a boxer, all in lower weight divisions.
While he's still just a baby in terms of professional boxing, Moreno has shown plenty of skill with a 7-0 record, including six knockouts entering his April 28 fight in Juarez against 44-fight veteran Ivan Meneses at the Josué Neri Santos Municipal Gym and which will be carried live throughout Latin America on ESPN Knockout.
The 122-pound Moreno lives in Juarez but travels to East El Paso five to six days a week to train with veteran trainer Lou Anello at the Pound4Pound Boxing Gym.
“He’s a natural fighter,” Anello said. “He always had a lot of energy and he’s very skillful. It’s a matter of him continuing to grow and improve. But he’s a smart fighter, he’s a boxer-puncher. Apache fights with confidence.”
The left-handed Moreno is promoted by Promociones del Pueblo and despite his few fights as a professional, he already has made big noise in Mexico.
In his fourth fight, he defeated highly regarded Karim Arce, who had 20 wins in his career. Arce is the nephew of former world champion Jorge Arce.
“That win was big for me,” Moreno said. “A lot of people thought I was too young for that big of a fight, but I felt good, I felt great and fought well that night. I want to fight good fighters, I want to stay busy. I want to be a world champion and I have to continue to stay focused.”
Moreno said he had to grow up fast as a teenager and had to make his way in life the hard way.
“When I was 14-years-old, I moved to Denver, Colorado, I got my high school degree, I worked as a cook at Golden Corral, I worked construction, I had to grow up there and learn about life,” he said. “But I always had a dream to become a boxer. I have dreams of doing big things in the sport. On April 28, it’s another opportunity to prove myself. I feel good in training and have been focused.”
Moreno and Meneses will fight an eight-rounder that is the co-main event on the card, which is highlighted by Juarez boxer and former world title challenger Miguel Roman against Jorge Mata.
“Working with Lou has been great,” Moreno said. “He’s a great trainer, he knows the sport well and we work well together. I’ve learned a lot from him and I feel ready for this fight.”
Added Anello: “We worked well with the promoter and we want to keep Apache busy. He’s got a great future ahead of him. And he works hard in the gym, he loves the sport.”
Tickets are available for purchase through the Don Bulletón system at: https://ventas.donboleton.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=2670. The first fight is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on Twitter
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Juarez boxer Ariel Moreno off to strong start in pro career
