David Navarro was named an alternate on the United States Olympics Boxing team in January. (photo by Tony Ault)
By March, coronavirus caused the 2020 Summer Games to be moved to 2021, and thus, muddying the future of the touted 20-year-old amateur who comes from a family of boxers, and former Olympians.
The 5’8” and 125-pound (57 kg) Navarro was content with being the back-up for Bruce Carrington and riding out the Olympics wave in Tokyo with perhaps filling in for the Brooklyn-based boxer should the opportunity ever come up.
Instead, Navarro’s fate is now tied to how another man wants to guide his own future over the next year.
“I’m patiently considering my options. It does get frustrating and upsetting, but there are better things waiting for me. I still have hope. Hopefully, things turn out for the better. I’m still keeping in shape and in rhythm. I’m ready for anything that comes up,” Navarro told BoxingScene.com in an interview. “I know I’m more talented [than Bruce] and that I should have the No. 1 spot. My goal is the Olympics. It always has been. But if there is money on the table and everything goes right, I will turn pro.”
If Carrington forgoes the Olympics, the Mexican-American Navarro, who has 160 wins and just 12 losses, will take his spot in a heartbeat.
“No matter what the pro offer would be, I will definitely take that spot,” said Navarro. “Going to the Olympics would complete my dreams. It would mean so much to me.”
Carrington scored a unanimous decision victory over Navarro on Dec. 15 in the U.S. Olympics Boxing Team Trials in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Despite the defeat, Navarro and his father Salvador, who trains and manages his son, are receiving calls daily from managers like Shelly Finkel and Tim VanNewHouse and promoters like Eddie Hearn to sign the potential star-in-the-making.
Navarro not only has the skills, but boxing-rich bloodlines as well.
His uncle José Navarro competed in the 2000 Olympics for the U.S. and finished with a pro record of 27-6 with 12 KOs. Another uncle, Carlos Navarro, was poised to compete in the 1996 Olympics and even beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the Pan American Box Offs but turned pro instead of going for the Atlanta Games. He finished his pro career with 22 wins, 6 losses and 1 draw.
“I come from a family where you go to each other’s houses, and there are boxing bags in the backyard,” said Navarro, who’s been boxing since the age of five. “The sport runs in our blood.”
David’s cousin Chantel Navarro is just 16 and could be poised to be a U.S. Olympian for the women’s team in the 2024 Paris Games. He’s also related to cousin Steven Navarro, who is representing Team USA in the amateurs.
David’s older brother Jonathan Navarro is currently signed with Golden Boy and has a record of 17-0 with 9 KOs.
Although David is from Boyle Heights and has hailed from East Los Angeles his entire life, he doesn’t envision joining a tag-team duo with his brother and signing with Oscar De La Hoya’s Southern California-based promotional outfit.
“It’s crazy. I have so many offers right now,” said Navarro. “One promotion stands out to me right now, and that’s Matchroom Boxing. That’s the best I see for me right now. Golden Boy is good, but everyone has their own fit. As of right now, I see something differently for myself. I don’t see myself signing with [Golden Boy]. I don’t envision it.”
“If anything is going to make me lose my patience, it’s not getting the deal that I want.”
The orthodox Navarro’s style in the ring is anything but calm.
Navarro describes his fighting style between a blend of Floyd Mayweather and Mike Tyson.
The lofty comparison is followed by an even bolder statement that he will look to prove whenever he decides to turn pro.
“It’s hard to score knockdowns in my weight class, but I do. I’ve sparred with so many pro fighters that I got used to their styles. I have the power and the speed and I adapt to anything. I can come forward, box and brawl. I love to destroy, but be smart about it,” said Navarro.
“I think I’ll be the best that’s ever going to be. I’m going to make it really big. A lot of people have been waiting on me.”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist and member of the Boxing Writers Assn. of America since 2011. He has written for the likes of the LA Times, Guardian, USA Today, Philadelphia Inquirer, Men’s Health and NFL.com and currently does TV commentary for combat sports programming that airs on Fox Sports and hosts his own radio show in Los Angeles. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan or via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com.