Wilkins Santiago

charisma Barreiro saw in Santiago, or maybe it was the tears, but two weeks later Barreiro showed up at Santiago’s door and told him to come back to the gym and begin training.

Everything, however, was not easy from then on. Much more still had to be endured by Santiago and each happening only made him stronger.

Youthful and easy influenced, the streets became more fun for Santiago than the gym. “I’ve been away from the gym for quite a few years because I got caught it the streets,” Santiago said. “Basically I started getting inpatient and started slacking off on the streets.” The time spent on the streets took time away from Santiago’s boxing, a time and age which is critical for boxers to develop their skills and talents. Santiago was sentenced to five years in prison in 2003 and was released in late 2008.

So at 29, an age some would say is old to be turning pro, Santiago is now poised to take what he has learned as an amateur, and to make a career out of it. Something he can use to support his family. “Don’t let the age fool you,” Santiago warned. “While I was gone five years I was getting preserved.” That is the attitude Santiago carries which has brought him thus far.

Santiago has a new way of looking at things. When he returned to the gym, he became serious about boxing and his career. “I thought life was all about partying, women, hanging with the fellas, and hanging around the corners selling dope,” Santiago said. “But there’s more to life, and now that I have kids, they mean the world to me. That’s the hunger inside of me, and I got to show them ...