SW New Mexico News

From a young age, Joscelyn Olayo-Munoz has been passionate about boxing. Now a senior at Las Cruces High School, she began her journey in the sport at the age of five. Her stepfather, Danny Melendrez, who has been coaching since 2002, took on the role of her coach when she expressed interest in boxing.

Joscelyn, also known as "Jos the Boss," has achieved significant success in her boxing career. She has won 16 USA Boxing amateur titles, with her most recent victory at the 2024 USA Boxing National Championships. Her accomplishments have earned her a top ranking in her division by USA Boxing.

Her initial goals were to win a national title and secure a spot on Team USA. Joscelyn has not only met these goals but exceeded them by earning gold in her division and joining Team USA during her junior year of high school. Competing in the youth female division for the 106-pound weight class, she now aims to win her first international gold medal in Germany this summer and plans to turn professional.

Training is an integral part of Joscelyn's routine. She trains six days a week at the Doña Ana Village Boxing Club and intensifies her regimen when preparing for matches by training twice daily.

“I knew this was what I wanted to do when I had my first fight. I got my hand raised, and I was eager to keep going with the sport. I just love that feeling,” said Joscelyn. “It was a feeling you couldn’t describe. None of the other sports gave me the spark that boxing did,” she added.

Despite her commitment to boxing, Joscelyn prioritizes academics as well. Her mother emphasizes the importance of education, motivating Joscelyn to maintain good grades alongside her athletic pursuits.

“I give props to my mom because she pushes me a lot to keep going with school because you never know what can happen in life. My mom keeps me motivated, so school has always been a top priority for me,” Joscelyn said.

In addition to boxing, Joscelyn participates in track events at Las Cruces High School, running the 800 and 400-meter sprints. The seasonal nature of track complements her schedule and enhances her boxing training through additional running.

“If you want to be great, there’s a lot that comes with it,” Joscelyn said. “I miss out on a lot of things because I’m a high school student. I missed out on prom last year because I was with Team USA, but my mom and my coaches always tell me those are the sacrifices you have to make to be great. So, I know that I’m going to be great because I make those sacrifices.”

At just ten years old, after consecutive victories in fights, Doña Ana County Commissioners declared October 11 as "Joscelyn Olayo-Munoz Day" in recognition of her achievements.