As a young athlete about to turn professional, Jonathon Perez has simple yet profound advice for his fellow boxers.

“Work hard every day and never give up,” Perez said. “In boxing some days go well and some days go bad. But no matter what happens, never give up. Just work harder every day.”

Perez, who is 19 years old and trains at Circle of Discipline, will have his first pro fight at Target Center Dec. 18.  Perez attended Shakopee High School and fought for 7 years prior to turning professional. While growing up, he was inspired by his uncles and his father, who were boxers. One of his uncles was a world champion and that helped him to become interested.

“I think it’s in my blood and my genes,” he said. “Boxing for me is natural; I love to fight.”

Perez said he is training hard for his fight on the 18th, and he expects a win. His biggest strengths as a boxer are speed, footwork and power, he said. Over the years, he has grown in the sport because he has become much more disciplined. The sparring training he’s had at Circle of Discipline has helped him with that.

Although there are many great fighters out there, Perez greatly admires Julio César Chávez and Floyd Mayweather, for their discipline and hard work. Additionally, he is proud to work with Jamal James at COD.

Perez’s jump to the professional ring is met with great excitement.

“I’ve been dreaming about this since I started boxing,” he said. “My dream came true, and I’m just excited to be a professional. I am training to be a world champion, and I’m excited to turn pro.”

*To find results for Jonathon Perez’s first fight as a pro, please visit MinnesotaBoxing.com