JL Boxing Academy

JL Boxing Academy is one of Arizona's most respected boxing institutions and a proud partner of The MMA Network — bringing world-class striking coaching, deep community roots, and a proven track record of developing fighters at every level, from youth beginners to professional world title contenders.

Founded and led by Junior Lopez — one of the most decorated boxing coaches in the Southwest — JL Boxing Academy operates out of two facilities in Glendale, Arizona. Junior brings over 15 years of professional boxing training experience to the gym floor, including a celebrated tenure as a main trainer for the Benavidez team, one of boxing's most prominent professional camps. His reputation has made JL Boxing Academy a destination gym, drawing professional fighters from across the country — and around the world — to the Phoenix desert specifically to prepare for world championship fights.

"Boxing teaches you something that no other sport can — how to stay composed when everything inside you wants to panic. The fighters we develop here don't just learn how to punch. They learn how to think, how to adapt, and how to finish. When Mark came to me with what The MMA Network is building, I didn't hesitate. These are exactly the kind of athletes we want in our gym — wrestlers with heart, with discipline, with the foundation. We add the hands, and they become something special."
— Junior Lopez, Founder & Head Coach, JL Boxing Academy

What makes JL Boxing Academy exceptional isn't just the coaching — it's the culture. Junior built this gym on discipline, technique, and the belief that sport can change a young person's trajectory. The academy serves athletes as young as five years old through its community fitness programs, while simultaneously running one of the most serious advanced training programs in Arizona out of its professional-grade Big Gym.

The athletes supported by The MMA Network will train regularly at JL Boxing Academy, accessing their elite striking programs and world-class coaching staff as a core part of their development. For combat sports athletes transitioning into MMA, elite boxing is often the missing piece — and JL Boxing Academy is where that piece gets added.

"The MMA Network is filling a gap that has existed in this sport for a long time. These kids come from wrestling backgrounds — they already know how to compete, how to suffer, how to win. What they need is opportunity and access. We can give them that on the striking side. Together, we're building complete fighters — and complete fighters are the ones who make it to the top."
— Junior Lopez, Founder & Head Coach, JL Boxing Academy

Website: www.jlboxingacademy.com
Instagram: @jlboxingacademy
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