On a quiet afternoon in south Rockport, two of the Coastal Bend’s toughest young athletes sat side by side, their gloves off but their passion for boxing unmistakable. Juan Valadez and his sister, Analee Valadez, may still be in their teens – but they’ve already become two of the most respected fighters in the region.
Boxing runs deep in the Valadez family. The brother-sister duo, along with their younger sibling – who’s also lacing up the gloves – have turned what began as a pastime into a shared dream. And together, they’ve put Rockport on the boxing map – one match, one tournament, one victory at a time.
For Juan, who has been boxing for four years, and Analee, with three years under her belt, the sport is more than competition…