BOXING: Odessa boxer to compete at Mike Tyson Invitational

For the third time this year, Odessa boxer Jayden Navarrete will be going back to the Mike Tyson Invitational.

The 17-year old boxer, who is a senior at Odessa High School, will compete at the MTI Oct. 24 at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn.

The West Texas fighter, who trains at Odessa Boxing Club, has already made a name for himself, competing at numerous different tournaments across the country and has already won a national title, back in 2024 and brought home a silver medal from the Junior Olympics that same year.

Navarrete was selected by the legendary boxer himself Mike Tyson to come back at compete at this month's invite after his performance at the last two competitions.

Jayden Navarrete poses for a photo at Odessa Boxing Club Wednesday. Navarrete will be competing at the Mike Tyson Invitational for the third time this year. Michael Bauer|Odessa American

"It means a lot," Navarrete said. "I'm very excited. It's the third one that I'm going to and I'm just getting ready, preparing myself, doing extra training so I could do good in this next one. Yeah, it means a lot. I'm really grateful that I got the opportunity to do this."

The last Mike Tyson Invitational took place July 25 in Las Vegas.

"I did well," Navarrete said. "All these other (tournaments) I've been doing well there. I've been having a lot of people talk to me and everything after the fights. A whole bunch of professionals come up to me telling me I did good. So, I feel like I've been doing a good job."

Navarrete fights at the 132-pound weight class.

Navarrete said it was his dad, Noe, that got him into boxing.

Jayden Navarrete punches a bag at Odessa Boxing Club Wednesday. Navarrete will be competing at the Mike Tyson Invitational for the third time this year. Michael Bauer|Odessa American

"I used to do baseball but I wasn't too good at it," he said. "My dad asked me if I wanted to do a different sport and he brought me into the gym and then ever since that, I've loved the sport. I've been doing it ever since."

Navarrete's been busy training at OBC after school each day. He also gets up for an early morning run each day.

"I've been getting up early, probably like 6, to go run in the morning and then after that go to school," Navarrete said. "And then I just come practice."

It should come as no surprise that for him, the best part about boxing is actually getting into the ring.

"Mostly, the most thing I like about it is the fighting part," Navarrete said. "… Whenever I get in the ring, that's what I like the most and for people to know me."

Knowing that he's competed at the Mike Tyson Invitational twice already, Navarrete said the experience should help him, confidence-wise.

"I'm very confident," Navarrete said. "I've been training extra hard, getting ready and preparing myself a lot. I'm Just doing the same things over and but I'm very confident. I know I'm going to win."

Matt Franco has been Navarrete's coach for eight years now.

"Jayden's come a long way since he first started," Franco said. "He can fight but he does better when he boxes. Here, lately, he's been listening a lot better and that's why I guess we've been having so much success."

Franco talked about how Navarrete has developed as a boxer over the years.

"He's learned," Franco said. "He's learned how to box. He's learned how to move. He's learned how to punch and not get hit. He's taking pride in it. He showed his dedication in it and that's why he's been able to improve the way he has. He's been ranked We've been in the top 10 for five or six years now. We've constantly improved and we just want to keep on improving."

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