For Vito Mielnicki Jr. school’s out and boxing is all in

Vito Mielnicki Jr. is less than a year out of high school, but the young fighter is fully focused on boxing as his profession as he enters his ninth fight. 

At 18 years old, New Jersey’s Vito Mielnicki Jr. is set to battle James Martin on Saturday, April 17, at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles. This fight marks Mielnicki’s ninth professional bout as he continues to grow literally and figuratively in front of our eyes.

Mielnicki (8-0, 5 KOs) has matured faster than most. He has been boxing for most of his life, and the four-time amateur national champion had many great mentors along the way. He turned professional the summer before his senior year of high school and later signed to manager Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions (PBC). Milenicki is in year two of his pro boxing career and his first as a full-time boxer.

Mielnicki graduated from high school in the summer of 2020 during the height of the pandemic. He didn’t have to struggle with contemplating his future. Mielnicki was living it and is now ready to make it his primary focus in life.

“I’m just living my dream,” Mielnicki told FanSided. “Like now it’s I’m a full-time fighter. This is what I do. Before, when I was in high school, it was more of like, I got to wake up, go to the gym, come back, shower, go to school. Come home, do some homework, then go back to the gym. Then come home again. Do some more homework, not get to bed until late.”

Now, things are different. Mielnicki knows his calling in life and is pursuing it with everything that he’s got.

“I’m really like living my dream,” said Mielnicki. “Every day I wake up, where just all I have to do is go and do what I got to do in the gym. I live in the gym. If anyone needs to find me, you know where I’m at. I’m always in the gym. I’m always working, looking for ways to get better.”

Mielnicki has certainly gotten sharper and stronger throughout the last two years. In his last bout, Mielnicki stopped Noe Alejandro Lopez in round 3 in February. Five of his eight career opponents have had winning records. His next opponent, Martin (6-2), also has a winning record but lost his last fight against Xander Zayas by decision.

Vito Mielnicki Jr. is only 18 years old but has lived a boxing lifetime.

Mielnicki is a welterweight but has a big build for a young fighter. He’s 6-feet tall with a 70-inch reach. As he physically matures, he likely move up several weight classes. Mielnicki already sees physical growth.

“I’m actually six-foot,” said Mielnicki. “This fight is actually a catchweight of 152. That’s also because it was a shortened camp. I came off a flight. Had a week to recover, but we got right back in the gym.”

Even though this fight is at a catchweight, Mielnicki wants to stay at welterweight for the time being.

“I would love to stay at 47 just because I feel, after I weigh in and stuff, I feel so strong, and I feel bigger,” said Mielnicki. “I feel great after weigh-ins.”

As long as he can still comfortably make weight, Mielnicki will stay at welterweight. His size gives him a natural advantage over most welterweights.

Outside of his physical growth, Mielnicki has amassed a wealth of boxing knowledge. According to his PBC biography, he has worked with Walli Moses, Buddy McGirt, and Virgil Hill between his amateur and professional boxing experience.

He also briefly worked with Joe Goosen but returned to trainer Muhammad Abdul Salaam. Mielnicki learned a lot from Goosen but missed being away from his family in New Jersey.

“Being in the gym with a guy like Joe Goosen, it was a great experience,” said Mielnicki. “I was out there for six months in LA. It was probably one of the best six months in my career in terms of learning. I’ve learned things in those six months, and I’ll keep that with me the rest of my career.

“I always love being around my family. So a happy fighter is a good fighter, and for me, family comes first. And if that meant me coming back to Jersey, then that’s what we had to do.”

Mielnicki has an incredibly sound boxing foundation that’s been aided by some of the best trainers and boxers in the world. He has held on to something from each of those experiences, and they will benefit him in the future, which is bright for the advancing Mielnicki.

Watch Vito Mielnicki Jr. vs. James Martin on Saturday, April 17 on FOX. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET.