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By Michael Kinney

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Brandon Noriega has a problem. Despite being only 15 years old, the boxing phenom has gained a reputation in his backyard of Oklahoma City.

For the past three years, Noriega had been looking to showcase his boxing skills in front of his home fans. Unfortunately, finding someone to step into the square ringed with him has been difficult.

The drought came to an end in July when Noriega was able to compete at the Inaugural Rival Amateur Boxing Championship Tournament at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds. He showed why many have avoided his path by rolling through the tournament to win the 101-pound championship.

After Noriega took down Brian Perales Porras (Kansas City) in the finale, he spent close to an hour taking photos with fans and supporters.

“This is my first time fighting in my hometown. It’s almost been like three years. I felt great coming back to my city and putting on a show for my whole crowd,” Noriega said while carrying the orange and black title belt. I don’t know why it’s been so long. People don’t like to fight me anymore. Thankfully we found some opponents and we put on a show for my city.”

Noriega is currently USA Boxing’s No. 1 ranked 95-pound boxer In the Junior Male division. He is the only boxer from Oklahoma to sit atop any of the 17 divisions and just one of two from the state ranked anywhere. He is also still ranked No. 4 in the 90-pound category.

Noriega’s high ranking and growing reputation of being able to throw hands in the sport may explain why it’s been so hard for his coach, Nikki Burleson, to find him a fight at home.

It’s a good thing, but it’s also a bad thing because I mean, we need that experience,” Burleson said. “We need that to be able to grow. So just because he hasn’t fought in his hometown in Oklahoma.”

Burleson is the owner and coach at Rival Boxing Gym, which is located in Oklahoma City’s Capitol District. The gym was recently featured in a short documentary film by director Michael Zubach titled “Built Different,” which had its world premiere in June. Noriega was one of the young boxers spotlighted.

It was also Burleson and her gym which hosted the July tournament in which Noriega was able to box in front of his family and friends.

While Noriega has proven he is adept at finding success on the road, he admitted it’s a different feeling to showcase his craft in front of those who have supported him on his journey. Especially now that he carries the No. 1 ranking.

“It motivates me because they paid for their tickets and I’m here to entertain them,” Noriega said. “I think I did that.”

Noriega didn’t pick up a pair of gloves until he was 9 years old. But even before then, he said he and his brothers were always fighting each other for fun growing up In Kansas.

But as soon he moved to Oklahoma City and joined Rival Gym, he knew he had found his calling and had quickly set his sights on being the best.

“Being No. 1 means you’re the best in your weight division and in the United States,” Noriega said. “So, conquering that means I’m doing what I’m having to do and I’m getting my name out there by being known as the best. It’s hard work and dedication. It’s a really hard sport. It’s harsh and you have to make a lot of sacrifices if this is what you really want to do. And working for that No. 1 spot isn’t easy because there are other kids with the same goal as you.”

Yet, Burleson said what makes Noriega unique for his age is that he truly lives the sport every day.

“Brandon’s just different. Brandon’s just one of those kids that when you see him and you get to know him and you’re around him, he’s just different,” Burleson said. “He’s a kid that eats, sleeps, breathes boxing from the time he wakes up in the morning until the time he goes to bed. And the kid’s work ethic is better than most professionals that I know. First one in the gym, the last one to leave. He’ll win a national tournament on Saturday. He’s back in the gym on Monday. I have to force this kid to take a day off and rest his body. He wants it. He’s hungry. He doesn’t know anything other than boxing and it’s just a dream that he has and is extremely passionate about. And I mean, that kid’s going to go somewhere someday.”

That somewhere, according to Noriega, is the 2028 Olympics, which will be held in Los Angeles. After that, he plans to turn pro.

“That’s going to be up to Brandon,” Burleson said. “If Brandon wants to be an Olympian, Brandon’s going to be an Olympian. If Brandon wants to be a world champion, Brandon’s going to be a world champion. That’s all on him. That’s on his determination, his dedication, his work ethic, what he puts into it.”

However, going forward, Noriega and Burleson still have the same problem of going out and finding competitive fights.

“I know that if we want to get better and we want to get to the next level, or we want to stay at the level that we’re at, we got to go find the work because there’s nothing here in the city that can challenge us,” Burleson said. “We don’t want to be the best fighter in Oklahoma City. We want to be the best fighter in the nation, in the world, and so we got to go find that and that’s what we do.”

Noriega has already found one solution for that. After winning the gold medal at the National Junior Olympics in early July, he decided it was time to make a move.

“I had one goal in my mind and that’s leaving the 95-pound division number one and at the last nationals, we won it and now we are No. 1 one and now we’re looking to take over 101,” Noriega said. “We got to go back to the drawing board and see what’s next. But we got another tournament in December and this time I’m going at 101 and we’re going to try to take over again.”

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