Given his impressive record and background, it’s clear that Yoenis Tellez is a rising star in the super welterweight division. His name might not ring a bell for casual fans, but if you’re a true boxing aficionado, you’ve likely already heard of him. But for those who haven’t, you’ll soon. The 24-year-old is set to face Julian Williams in one of the undercard events of the Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach Jr. fight on March 1st. Tomorrow, they will be going toe-to-toe for the interim WBA World Super Welterweight title at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
With an unbeaten record of 9-0 and 7 knockouts, Tellez’s stats speak for themselves. So, if you’re the type who enjoys rooting for the underdog and keeping up with up-and-coming talents, this is the story you won’t want to miss. Here’s everything you need to know about his ethnicity, roots, and background.
Is Yoenis Tellez from Cuba? Ethnicity and Nationality
So, Yoenis Tellez, the rising star in the super welterweight division, is actually from Cuba, born in Santiago de Cuba, to be exact. His surname, “Téllez,” is Spanish in origin, a patronymic that’s linked to a medieval personal name, “Tello.” A bit of history there!
Now, when it comes to his religion, we don’t have much info on what he follows. But since Cuba has strong Catholic roots from its Spanish colonial past, it wouldn’t be surprising if Tellez follows one of the major faiths like Catholicism or even Santería (which blends Catholic and Yoruba beliefs). But hey, that’s just an estimation based on Cuba’s history!
About Yoenis Tellez’s Background and Religion
Yoenis Tellez, who’s currently 24, stands at 5’10” and has a reach of 74″. He’s been boxing since he was just 8 years old, and he wasn’t playing around when it came to his training. With an amateur record of 102-7, the guy knows what he’s doing in the ring. Now, he’s 9-0 as a pro with 7 knockouts, which is pretty impressive. His favorite punch? That left uppercut to the body sounds like it packs a serious punch!
Tellez’s journey to where he is today hasn’t been a smooth one, though. He got his big break during the pandemic, having been sent to Russia for training. But bad luck followed, as everything was shut down due to the COVID-19. Oh, and by the way, the “El Bandolero” turned pro in 2020, and in his debut, he wasted no time securing 2 TKO victories in a blaze of fury.
But when you take a look at his journey, it’s clear it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Stuck in a foreign country with no way to train or return home to his newborn daughter, his dreams seemed to be slipping away. Things took another bad turn when he planned to escape to Ukraine. The Russia – Ukraine war broke out, making it even harder for him to get back on track. But Yoenis wasn’t going to give up that easily.
He eventually made his way to the U.S. through South America. There, he met high-level coaches and started training with big names like Canelo Alvarez and Bob Santos. Now, he’s been picked up by Warriors Boxing Promotions and Boxlab Promotions, and he’s got his eyes set on the top of the 154-pound division.
Over a year ago, he made waves with a 3rd-round TKO victory over Sergio Garcia in one of the undercard events of the Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence Jr. fight on July 29, 2023. And again, last year, he came off a 7th-round TKO victory over Johan Gonzalez at Caribe Royale Orlando in Orlando, Florida.
Yoenis Tellez isn’t just talking about becoming a champion—he’s putting in the work to make it happen. His ultimate goal? To bring his family to the U.S. and become a world champion. As he prepares to take on the much-experienced Philadelphia native, the boxing world will definitely keep an eye on him.
With that said, who do you think will win between Yoenis Tellez and Julian Williams? Do share your thoughts with us below.
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