Framingham Boxer Teo To Fight at Olympic Trials Qualifier

The first thing you notice about Miguel Teo is his smile and his curling hair. His personality can take over a room.

He’s hoping his punch is bigger than his personality in Colorado this month.

The Framingham High student recently left town hoping to fight his way to the Olympics.

Teo, 18, will participate in one of three Pathway to the Podium events leading to the Olympic Trials for men’s boxing later this month. His first fight is June 22. Boxers who finish first or second in Colorado Springs will be invited to the Olympic Trials. The 2016 Summer Olympics are in Brazil.

Last year, Teo won the National PAL (Police Athletic League) Championships in California at the 178 pound or light heavyweight category.

Teo battled Sharif Rahman, who was ranked #2 in the country.

The fight was a boxing second-generational battle as Rahman is the son of former World Heavyweight Champion Hasim Rahman and Teo’s dad was a professional boxer.

In January, Teo won the gold medal at the Youth National Championships at his weight. By age 17, Teo had won four national championships.

“We are so proud of Miguel’s accomplishments, he is proof of what hard work and dedication can do for you,“said Framingham Police Chief Ken Ferguson.

Teo, who started boxing at age 8, won the New England Golden Gloves championship in 2014.

The Framingham High junior is currently ranked the #1 light heavyweight in his age division (17-18) in America.

But when he gets in the ring in Colorado, age won’t matter, said Sgt. Lenny Pini, who runs the Framingham Police Athletic League boxing program. He will be fighting all ages at his weight, he said.

Teo says he has a classic boxing style.

“I stay calm in the ring,” said Teo. “As I have the fastest jab in the country, at least in my division.”

Teo trains at Framingham PAL, under coach Carlos Cancel.

Four times a week, he is up at 4:30 a.m. and training until 6:30 a.m. before heading to school.

And then after school, its back in the ring for him. Most days he trains through dinner at 6 p.m.

He has incredible discipline, said Cancel.

Cancel and his boxer said this year’s historic snowfall made training difficult, but they adjusted.

“You have to self-motivate yourself,” said Teo.

Besides his workouts in the ring, Teo does yoga, weights, conditioning and strength training.

Teo said what he loves about boxing is that he has to prove himself in the ring. There are teammates to rely on.

Teo is another in a growing list of boxers who started at the Framingham Police Athletic League (PAL) program.

The non-profit PAL Boxing program has about 70 boys and girls in the program now, said Pini, a former amateur boxer. The program is supported by the Framingham Police Association and donations.

At-risk youth in Framingham are identified to participate in the program.

Famed PAL alumni include boxers Danny’ O’Connor and Timmy Ramos.

“The PAL program is quickly turning into one of our premiere youth outreach initiatives.” said Chief Ferguson. “Our goal is to continue to grow the initiative as it is vitally important that we strengthen our relationship with the youth in our community.”

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