In a sport often defined by solitary discipline and individual glory, boxing occasionally delivers stories rooted in connection, purpose, and shared journey. This Saturday morning in East County San Diego, one such story will unfold inside the walls of Bomber Squad Boxing Academy, where two of the city’s most promising fighters invite the public into their world.
Cousins Jonny Mansour and Julius Ballo, rising professional boxers with deep San Diego roots, are hosting an open workout ahead of their upcoming bouts at Championing Mental Health 2 Rematch Season in Los Angeles. The event is more than a tune-up session. It is a reflection of family, resilience, and the evolving role of athletes as advocates beyond the ring.
From Amateur Circuits to the Professional Spotlight
Mansour and Ballo grew up traveling together, chasing competition across the country as amateur standouts. They shared long drives, early mornings, and the grind that defines boxing long before the lights ever come on. While their amateur careers often ran parallel, their professional paths have only recently converged.
On December 13, both cousins will compete on the same professional card for the first time. Mansour enters the ring undefeated, carrying a polished record that reflects years of refinement and composure. Ballo, newer to the professional ranks, brings momentum from a confident debut that turned heads far beyond California.
Their upcoming appearance together marks a symbolic milestone. Not just two fighters sharing a card, but two journeys intersecting at a moment when both are poised for bigger stages.
A Home Gym That Built More Than Fighters
Bomber Squad Boxing Academy is not a glossy training facility designed for spectacle. It is a working gym, grounded in discipline, mentorship, and community. For Mansour and Ballo, it is home.
The open workout offers fans, families, and aspiring fighters a rare look behind the scenes. Attendees will see the controlled violence of pads and movement, the quiet focus between rounds, and the chemistry between fighters and coaches that cannot be manufactured for cameras.
Guiding the session are respected trainers Berlin Kearney, Robert Garcia, and Tez Avant, whose collective experience has shaped champions at every level. Their presence reinforces what sets this moment apart. This is not about showmanship. It is about preparation, respect for craft, and honoring the process.
Fighting With Purpose Beyond the Ring
Championing Mental Health has emerged as one of boxing’s most meaningful platforms, using the visibility of the sport to address an issue long ignored within competitive culture. The December 13 event in Los Angeles continues that mission by providing every fighter on the card with a full year of mental health services following the bout.
For Mansour, the cause is deeply personal. Earlier this year, he headlined the inaugural Championing Mental Health event in a performance dedicated to his mother, Bushra, who was battling cancer at the time. His victory that night carried emotional weight far beyond the judges’ scorecards.
Ballo, meanwhile, steps into the spotlight in his home state for just the second time as a professional. After debuting with a decisive win at Madison Square Garden, the opportunity to compete closer to home while supporting a cause larger than boxing adds significance to the moment.
Global Preparation With Local Roots
In recent weeks, Mansour and Ballo took their training overseas, traveling to Saudi Arabia for a rare opportunity to train at the legendary Mike Tyson Boxing Club. The experience exposed them to elite-level preparation, international fight culture, and a global boxing community increasingly shaping the sport’s future.
They returned to San Diego sharper, focused, and grounded. The open workout reflects that balance. Global ambition anchored by local loyalty. It is a reminder that while boxing careers may expand outward, the foundation is always built at home.
A Community Morning With a Giving Spirit
Saturday’s open workout also carries a charitable dimension. Mansour and Ballo are hosting a toy drive benefiting TURN Behavioral Health Services Courage to Call program, which supports military veterans through peer-based assistance and crisis intervention.
The pairing of physical intensity and community compassion speaks to a broader evolution in how athletes engage with their platforms. Strength, in this context, is not limited to punches thrown or rounds won. It is measured by presence, responsibility, and willingness to give back.
Looking Ahead to December Thirteen
The December 13 fight card promises elite competition, headlined by a highly anticipated rematch between WBC cruiserweight champion Badou Jack and former titleholder Noel Mikaelian. With global streaming access and nationwide availability, the event places Mansour and Ballo on a stage that extends far beyond Southern California.
Yet before the bright lights of Los Angeles, the journey pauses briefly in El Cajon. Inside Bomber Squad Boxing Academy, amid the familiar sounds of gloves and footwork, two cousins invite their city to witness the final steps of preparation.
For San Diego’s boxing community, it is a moment of pride. For Mansour and Ballo, it is another chapter in a story still being written. One defined not only by wins and losses, but by purpose, resilience, and the power of fighting for something greater than oneself.
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