BUENOS AIRES — It takes only a sporting bag, hand wraps and gloves to put a smile back on Carrasco’s face, who is from Mendoza.
The 23-year-old is the first Argentine to have fought at the AIBA World Series Boxing.
Since January 2016, he has been training at the National Centre of High Sport Performance (CENARD) in the capital of Buenos Aires.
He walks into the sports complex every day with an unwavering spirit.
He is resolute to become an international boxing champion.
Carrasco fights in the 64-kilogramme welterweight class.
The young pugilist boxed in Europe, Russia, India and the United States.
He was part of the Italian boxing team, the Dolce and Gabbana Milano Thunder squad, in 2013.
As he practices dodging an opponent’s punches, he has one thought in mind: winning the World Series of Boxing.
“My dream is to qualify for the Olympics Games and try to bring back a medal forArgentina. This is my main dream. Then, I would like to become a professional (boxer) and achieve what we all seek: to be the world champion.”
Juan’s dreams of becoming a boxing medallist collapsed in the blink of an eye.
In 2013, he was sentenced to 10 years for murder, threats and use of firearms in the Boulogne-Sur-Mer prison in Mendoza.
He had not committed any of these crimes.
He was acquitted and released in December 2015.
Even behind bars, the young pugilist would train daily.
His trainer and family would visit him three times a week to cheer him up.
Free again to hit the speed ball, Carrasco returned to his beloved ring only a few weeks after being released from jail.
It was enough time to spend with his wife and three-year old son, Valentino.
Born into an athletes’ family, the boxer has been inspired by his siblings and father’s perseverance.
With his 80 amateur fights, he represents a hope for Argentina‘s boxing.
With his eyes filled with pride, his trainer Ricardo Meloni is one of the first to believe in Carrasco’s potential to become a professional boxer.
“Juan is someone who goes forward, very strongly. He comes out with one thought only when the bell is rung: to grab his opponent’s head. This is what he has proven. He is a savage in the ring.”
With his future in his hands, Carrasco will be able to compete for the first time in the Olympic Games if he wins the World Series of Boxing.
This video was produced exclusively for The Associated Press on March 9, 2016. Click here to watch it. If the link is not working, search “OLYMPICS BOXING CARRASCO”.
