Flyweight Andy Dominguez has built his young career on grit, sacrifice, and the occasional leap of faith. After relocating from Las Vegas to Los Angeles earlier this year, the 26-year-old is adjusting to life in a new city—a challenge that recently got a boost from an unexpected source.

On September 29, three of Dominguez’s friends from his Vegas days—WBC welterweight titleholder Mario Barrios, junior middleweight Brian Mendoza, and welterweight Abram Martinez—made a surprise visit to L.A. The timing couldn’t have been better for Dominguez, who admitted that training in a new city had been a lonely grind.

“They’re my friends from the West Coast,” Dominguez said, smiling at the memory. “When they heard I moved here, they surprised me. They saw I was posting on Instagram about being bored, and Mario told Brian, ‘Let’s go see Andy.’ They drove out after training and spent the weekend with me.”

Dominguez, 11-1 (6 KOs), is preparing to face Angel Geovanny Meza Morales, 24, this Tuesday at Sony Hall in New York City. The fight marks another chapter in a career defined by tough opponents, ambitious moves, and unwavering focus. Morales, 8-2-3 (6 KOs), enters the bout coming off a close unanimous decision loss to Daniel Barrera in October on a 360 Promotions card.

“I’m not afraid of tough fights—that’s what makes me better,” Dominguez said. In February, he took on highly touted Puerto Rican flyweight Yankiel Rivera, falling short but gaining valuable lessons. “I want to fight, I want to fight everyone to get that opportunity,” he added.

Born in Mexico and raised in New York, Dominguez’s professional journey has taken him coast-to-coast. He relocated to L.A. earlier this year to train with Marvin Somodio after four years under Ismael Salas in Las Vegas. Initially drawn to Vegas during the pandemic to help Jason and Andrew Moloney prepare for fights, Dominguez decided to stay, sharpening his skills in a talent-rich environment.

“It’s almost the same thing,” Dominguez said of his time with Somodio compared to Salas. “I wouldn’t say they’re similar, but they both know when to push and when to stop. They know how many rounds you need to spar or how hard you should hit the bag. It’s all about balance.”