BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — They go by the names "Chedda" and "Caveman" and they're putting boxing in Bakersfield on the map.
Both local, 21-year-old Miguel "Caveman" Contreras graduated from Bakersfield High School and 18-year-old Alex De Luna graduated from Ridgeview High School.
“I started boxing when I was eight years old at the Bakersfield Police Activity league," Contreras said.
The two have fought next to each other since childhood, creating an unbreakable bond.
“He’s been like a role model to me growing up," De Luna said. "I really like always looked up to him because he’s older."
They've gone from amateurs to professionals. Contreras is 9-0 with six knockouts while De Luna is 8-0 with five knockouts. The wins are great for rankings, but that's not Contreras' favorite part of the sport.
“I love the competitiveness of it as well," he said. "It’s like it's only two men once you get in that ring, you have your coach and all, but its only two men in that ring to see who's the better man.”
The two train almost non-stop year round. They train at the Kern County Fight Club two to three times a day, five to six times a week.
“It provides a lot of sacrifice and unless you’re willing to do it then the sports just not for you because like I said its physically demanding," Contreras said.
Up to this point, their hard-work has paid off. In fact, it's caught they eye of boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Sr. who has began training the pair.
The ultimate goal is to eventually fight in a title match, but for the time being the two local kids are fine representing the sport in their hometown.
“I like to say me and my buddy Alex, we’re definitely bringing it back to life and bringing the sports back home," Contreras said.
The next fights for "Caveman" and "Cheddah" are scheduled for early 2020 here in Bakersfield.
