By Herman Delgado
For some fighters it takes a little motivation to help them overcome obstacles, set their minds straight, and persuade them to do things the right way. For Joey “Hustle” Saenz it’s a quick glance over to the ringside area where you see his children and fiancé…that’s what his hustle is all about…Family. His biggest and prettiest fans are his fiancé Adriana Sanchez, and two daughters Kiana (7) and Kaylin (6) sitting around the ring area glowing with pride. Saenz and Sanchez are expecting a baby boy sometime in September 2020.
Saenz is currently 3-2-1 in his young professional career as a lightweight professional fighter, but if his record were to match his courage, discipline, and passion for the sport, he would easily stand at 6-0…all by knockouts! Fighting out of Doña Ana, New Mexico, under the tutelage of veteran professional boxing trainer, Rick Vasquez, Saenz has taken on a different approach to his training…both physically and mentally. Saenz is no stranger to taking his skills on the road as he’s taken his hustle out of New Mexico, four times in his first six pro fights. Losing a unanimous decision to Deonte Brown in his last outing in Atlanta, Georgia on July 18, 2020. It was also Saenz first time not fighting in front of a crowd…there was no fans in attendance due to the Covid-19 regulations put in place by the CDC.
When he’s not lacing up the gloves and preparing for a fight at the Doña Ana Boxing Gym, Saenz can be found at New Mexico State University where he is employed as a Facilities Tech. At 28-years old, his dream and his goals are to make the most out of his professional boxing career, so it’s tough to work a full-time job and then head to the gym and put in the grueling work that goes with being a prize fighter. “I’m training to go as far as boxing takes me…I want to fight until I’m about 35 years old before I hang up the gloves,” said Saenz. What motivates Saenz to work so hard? All you have to do is look and listen to the children’s voices around the ring…the beautiful company he keeps and the three young women in his life. “My kids…my whole family is my motivation to the fullest,” said Saenz.
Saenz definitely has the right trainer in putting him in line with more big fights starting in 2021. Vasquez is no novice to the sweet science, as he trains and manages his daughter Ayanna Orona, who is the current ABF Continental Americas Featherweight Champion and Royal Boxing Organization 130-pound Champion. Vasquez only trains professional boxers, and that is how and why Saenz reached out to him about three years ago. Saenz was sitting on a 0-1-1 record and wanted to take his pro career in a positive direction. He asked Vasquez for help and Vasquez responded, “You have to make me a promise that you will put God first, get right with your family, because they’re beautiful people, and if you can do that in six months, you got me. We can then talk about working on your boxing.” Needless to say, six months later Saenz returned to the gym. “He’s a man of his word, so we’re stuck together,” said Vasquez. “His honesty is what got me…he was very honest with what he wanted to do.”
With the pandemic situation at hand, there are no immediate fight plans for Saenz. But Jeremy Lantz, President of the ABF (American Boxing Federation) has been helping Vasquez in getting Saenz some looks from promoters around the country. It was in Tampa, Florida, on March 2, 2019, that Saenz got a big boost of confidence when he faced Evander Lamourt (5-1) and won a majority decision. “Winky Wright was in attendance at the fight and he kept screaming out commands and combinations to Joey,” said Vasquez. “Then he jumped into the ring after the decision and praised Joey for putting on a great fight and a dominating performance.” It wasn’t until they got to the locker room that Vasquez informed him that the guy screaming was none other then two-time light-middleweight world champion Winky Wright.
