When an athlete wins the US Olympic Trials, it’s usually a success story. For Jordan Fuentes, his success story is full of tragedy.
One of the greatest accomplishments of Fuentes’ career was the loss of his sister.
On October 10, 2022, the body of 22-year-old Jolissa Fuentes was found in a creek near Pine Flat Lake, 60 miles east of Fresno, California. The discovery ended a 65-day manhunt for Fuentes, who fled home one night in August and never returned.
The grief of the Fuentes family cannot be avoided. Fuente’s family received records of Jolisa leaving in the AM/PM and leaving the city instead of going to the city – which they said was different – and initially believed she had been kidnapped. “Adventure with a Purpose” comes together and the family goes to find Jolisa.
Jolisa and Jordan’s mother, Norma Nunez, recalled the ordeal as one of the worst of her life. “I always thought he was alive,” Nunes told BoxingScene. “We will go deep into the countryside and search every way – every way – to find, to find clues.”
But nothing was found. Jolisa disappears and Jordan stops training.
To make matters worse, the “advice” the Fuentes family received was unhelpful and harmful. People called to ask about the whereabouts of Jolisa’s body, which was either a lie or a slander. To his family’s surprise, Jordan quit boxing.
Scarred by Tragedy, Jordan Fuentes Begins a New Chapter for His Family https://t.co/PKSHFt54hP
— BoxingScene.com (@boxingscene) April 26, 2024
“It’s really sad that he’s gone,” Jordan said. – It’s a common type of pain. You don’t know where they are, whether they are alive or dead.
Grief is heavy.
“We just followed all the instructions,” Nunez said. – Jordan will not train for two weeks. He was just looking for his sister and trying to find her.
Finally, Selma, California Police Chief Rudy Alcaraz got a call, promising the family that he would find Jolisa and bring her back.
“He saw tire tracks coming out of the mountain (Lake Pine Flat),” Nunez said, holding back tears.
Alcaraz created a task force to fly drones in search and increase the image, showed the dop. Jolisa’s car was found and her body was eventually found. Officials said it was a one-vehicle accident and said a team had to be sent to perform a rescue operation more than 400 feet below the cliff face.
“And what happened next was heartache, heartache and the loss of a sister and a daughter,” Nunez said. “Jordan started training hard and he said, ‘Mom, I’m going to win for him.’
A lot has changed since Fuentes returned to boxing. After each victory, he gets a tattoo on his chest with his sister’s name.
“The first national [boxing] tournament after that accident, I lost because I wasn’t focused enough,” Fuentes said. “Then I started training hard, and I won the Grand Final, the Olympic Trials and the Nationals in New Mexico.”
Not only did Fuentes come back and win, but he beat some of the best players in the country.
Fuentes won the qualification round and defeated Cornelio Phipps in the final. Then, in December, he won the Olympic trials, defeating Steven Navarro in the finals – a feat Fuentes knew would be difficult.
“Playing with Steven Navarro, I was a little nervous at first,” he said. “I talked to my teachers and I know we can do it, we will pass and we will win the test.”
However, Fuentes was unsure whether to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics due to unclear eligibility criteria, which led to his decision to turn professional. As a seven-time national champion, Fuentes is ready to enter the new world of professional boxing, where he can’t just sign up for a fight and compete.
“So from now on,” Nunez said with a smile, “I always tell him, ‘Honey, go out and fight for what you love, there’s your sister than you.
Fuentes will travel to the SaveMart Center in Fresno on Saturday to watch one of his idols, Jose Ramirez of nearby Avenal, play at the “Home” Arena vs. Rance Barthelemy. It’s something Fuentes hopes to one day do.
“Jose is an inspiration,” Fuentes said. “For him to come from a small town and crowded places, that’s why I wanted to do it again.”
Central Valley boxing agent Rick Mirigian, who manages Fuentes, predicts that moment will come in the coming days — possibly against someone like the legendary Curmel Moton. “Jordan promised his little brother that he would become a world champion and help his family,” Mirijian said. · It’s a feat Ramirez has done and recently won the Olympic Trials through sheer power.
Now the wait for Fuentes’ debut is almost over. After waiting endlessly to find out about his brother’s death, the hero can look forward to starting his new career.
“A lot of people are going down because of this, but you have to be strong before God,” Fuentes said. After the tragedy, the Fuentes family often quoted a specific Bible verse: Philippians 4:11-13. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” says the verse. This shows how much strength Jordan and his loved ones needed, and also serves as a reminder of the need for patience in the future.