Putnam boxer David Garcia competed in the junior Olympic national championship in Dallas last week, and won.
In his 176 weight division, he competed against five other 15- to 16-year-old boxers, each time winning by unanimous decision.
He’s part of the police athletic league and has been boxing for four years.
“The only thing going through my head was, ‘ I can’t get beat, I’m at the top of my game and God’s on my side right now, I can’t let him down,’” said Garcia.
This is his second national title.
Action News Jax first told you about Putnam PAL in February.
They’re a group who helps keep teens off the street by offering boxing lessons and other activities.
"We have tutors on hand that can help, and we've keeping them off the street and keeping busy and engaged, and when they leave here they're too tired to go to the streets," said PAL Executive Director, Barry Stewart.
The Putnam County Sheriff's Office says since the first of this year there's been 48 juvenile arrests.
Garcia says its changed his life dramatically.
“If I didn’t have PAL, I wouldn’t be where I am, I’d probably be on the streets, or being a couch potato,” said Garcia.
He says he wants to continue to work on improving his technique and one day, go professional.
“It’s changed my life and brought be to a better place,” said Garcia.
Find more information about PAL on its website.
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