Kaipo Gallegos has honed his skills by sparring with some of the best fighters in the world.
The experience has allowed the 19-year-old to quickly grow and develop in the pro ranks.
Gallegos, 11-0-1 (9 KOs), earned a third-round technical knockout over Wilson Akinocho on January 24. The win now vaults the Las Vegas-based Gallegos to the No.10 ranking by the WBA in junior lightweight rankings.
The success is attributed to the knowledge he gained from sparring elite boxers in his early teen years. Trained by his father, Jayson, he didn’t have an easy start.
“My dad made sure I wasn’t protected in the gym,” Gallegos told BoxingScene. “He wanted me in there with guys who could really test me.”
That led to the development of his outstanding trait, his ability to make in-ring adjustments quickly. This was forged by sparring sessions with Shakur Stevenson, Keyshawn Davis, and Mario Barios, as he learned the pacing of a fight and how to think under pressure.
“When you’re in the ring with elite fighters, there’s no hiding,” Gallegos said. “You either adapt, or you get exposed. I take a lot of pride in my ability to adjust mid-fight—reading tendencies, changing rhythm, switching looks. That comes from all those hard gym rounds and trusting my corner.”
Gallegos is still a teenager, but the Las Vegas resident is ranked No.10 in the junior lightweight division by the WBA. He also has 53 rounds as a professional. Gallegos reflected on his professional career, which started in April 2023 and has consisted of fighting grown men at an early age.
“Fighting older, stronger, more experienced opponents means you can’t rely on just talent,” Gallegos said. “That foundation is why I’m comfortable in the ring at such a young age, and why I know my best years are still ahead of me.”
Another influence for Gallegos is one of the best modern journeyman boxers, Cameron Krael. Krael, 21-38-3 (7 KOs), has made a career out of testing prospects. Krael even upset many prospects. Gallegos grew up in the gym beside him.
“Growing up in the gym, learning alongside veterans like Cameron Kreal, showed me what professionalism really looks like: how to train, how to recover, how to carry yourself,” Gallegos said. “Watching those guys, asking questions, and getting corrected daily gave me a mature mindset early. It taught me patience, respect for the craft, and the importance of grinding every day, even when no one’s watching.”
Gallegos commented that despite being a teenage boxing phenom, he hasn’t gotten a lot of media attention just yet. Some of that could boil down to the changing landscape of boxing over the last couple of years. Paramount+, DAZN, FAST channels, and ProBox TV are the major avenues to watch the sport this year. An interesting up-and-comer like Gallegos will develop off-television. For example, his last fight on a Matchroom Boxing undercard had no YouTube prelim stream.
When asked about being underrated as a fighter, Gallegos commented.
“As far as being underrated, I do feel like some people still sleep on me, but that’s fine,” Gallegos said. “I’m not chasing hype. I’m focused on development, stacking performances, and letting my work speak for itself. Being underestimated has always fueled me.”
Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @BigDogLukie.
