Hadi Almashhadi has been around boxing for most of his life.
The Taylor, Michigan, native began boxing in 2015 after watching everyone at the gym as a young kid. While soccer was once something Almashhadi wanted to pursue, boxing quickly caught his attention and became the sport he wanted to see how far he could take.
“Growing up, I wanted to be a soccer player when I was younger, but boxing grabbed my attention right away,” stated Almashhadi. “Just seeing everyone in the gym as a young kid made me want to compete.”
Since then, Almashhadi has built a strong résumé in his age group. The Darkside boxer has won the USA Boxing National Championships three times, along with two National Junior Olympic titles, and four National Open titles.
A big part of Almashhadi’s path in boxing has been his uncle, who he looked up to growing up. His uncle built a successful amateur career before turning professional and is now 15-1 with 12 knockouts. Having someone close to him who has experienced the sport at a high level has given Almashhadi someone to look up to as he continues building his own career.
Now, Almashhadi will have the opportunity to represent Team USA on the biggest stage at the 2026 World Boxing U19 Championships in Budva, Montenegro.
“It means a lot to make it this far and to represent Team USA,” stated Almashhadi. “It’s a big opportunity that I have been dreaming of, so I’m grateful just to be there, but I am ready to bring home a gold medal.”
Almashhadi is ready to take what he has learned from his family, coaches and national competitions into the U19 World Championships next month.
The 2026 World Boxing U19 Championships will take place in Budva, Montenegro., from October 14-28. For more information on the 2026 World Boxing U19 Championships, please click HERE.
