CONCORD, CA (May 23, 2025) — Braulio Ceja-Navarro (4-0-0), a Concord-based boxer, will be fighting in the undercard of the “The Next Generation of Fighters” event on Saturday, May 24th at the Alameda Fairgrounds in Pleasanton.

Navarro, 20 years old, grew up in Concord and had a strange start to his boxing career. After his sister began playing soccer at the Concord Community Youth Center, Navarro’s father urged him to pick a sports class that the Youth Center offered. Navarro wasn’t a sports fan and was more interested in reading books, but he wanted to learn Mixed Martial Arts. Fortunately, the Youth Center didn’t offer MMA, but they did offer Boxing.

Navarro commented on his interests in combat sports as a child saying, “I was honestly just a little kid naming off random sports that I could think of off the top of my head. I don’t know why. I literally could have said basketball.”

Navarro started his amatuer career at 9 years old and turned pro at 19. He made his pro debut fighting Jaycee King on August 31st, 2024 in Oakland. That night Navarro earned a knockout victory using the bob-and-weave method to great success.

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The Making of a Young Pro

“When I was younger, turning pro was always a goal that I had in mind, ” said Navarro about his decision to turn pro. “But you get so caught up in the process as an amateur of just developing, that you don’t pay too much thought to it. But as I got older and fell in love more and more with the sport, it definitely became something that was on my list.”

To keep an active career, Navarro took two fights in Mexico, where there are more opportunities for young boxers. He won both fights and returned to California to face David Minter on March 8th, 2025 at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort. Navarro took the fight with only a 3 days notice after Minter’s original opponent dropped out of the fight. Also, it was a fight set two weight classes heavier, 140 lbs, than what Navarro had previously fought at, 130 lbs. Seeking a challenge, Navarro took the fight, despite facing a heavier and more experienced fighter. However, for this fight Navarro changed his style completely, ditching the bob-and-weave for power punches and an in-fighting method. This different style allowed Navarro to outclass Minter and earn a unanimous decision victory after 4 rounds.

Adapting and Evolving in the Ring

“It’s more about adapting to your opponent,” commented Navarro about his style change-up. “If you fight the same fight no matter who your opponent is in front of you, you’re not going to have the same success. I can’t fight everyone with the same style… I truly feel like I’m a fighter who, no matter who you put in front of me, I can figure him out…”

Navarro joined the Lion’s Den Gym three years ago to stay in-shape in between fights. However, when he does have a fight set, Navarro leaves his home to go to El Centro, California, which is an hour outside of San Diego. He stays with his coach, Joseph Perez, and the two focus entirely on boxing. To spar with other young and hungry fighters, Navarro and Perez travel south of the border to train in Mexicali gyms.

“There’s a lot of pride in it,” said Navarro about the Mexican based gyms. “A lot of the people out here in Mexicali don’t really have any way out of the situation they’re in, other than boxing…It’s a more poor city, so boxing is one of the only outlets for the people to be able to make it. And that’s created a really rich culture in boxing.”

Driven by Heritage and Family

Navarro is the son of Mexican immigrants from La Soledad, Michoacan. His parents migrated to the United States at a young age and worked hard to provide for their family. His family’s story has inspired Navarro throughout his boxing career.

“They’re the classic immigrant story, they came here for a better life,” Navarro said about his family. “They worked from the day they got here to now, they’re still working. That’s really the reason I’ve had the opportunity to box. Thanks to my parents and the effort that they’ve given. They set themselves up to give me a better life, and that’s really where a lot of my drive and passion comes from.”

Navarro’s versatility and Ring IQ has made him confident that he will delight boxing fans stating, “When I fight I really try to put on a performance. No matter who I fight, my fans are looking forward to it. They know when I get in the ring, it’s going to be a good night. If you’re attending the event you’re going to have a lot of fun…”

Tickets to “The Next Generation of Fighters” boxing event are available at eventbrite.com or be available at the door. The match will take place on May 24th, doors will open at 5 PM with the first fight starting at 6 PM.