SAN DIEGO – There are those who lament the ills with boxing, and then there are the spirited others who are thrilled by the challenges and beauty of the sport, seeking to raise it beyond.

For East County San Diego cousins Jonny Mansour, 25, and Julius “JuJu” Ballo, 22, their campaign to take boxing out of a rut and re-emphasize its appeal was on full display Tuesday through a unique promotional stop on the San Diego Bay.

Setting out to sea on a charter City Cruises Admiral Hornblower cruise that drew an estimated 500 fans, friends, family and reporters, Mansour, 6-0, and Ballo, 2-0, simultaneously hyped their separate April 18 headline bouts at Frontwave Arena up the coast in Oceanside, California, while breathing fresh air into the sport.

A white-haired television reporter beamed at the event, remarking, “This is something I’ve never done in all my years.”

NFL player Tony Jefferson, retired NFL receiver Andre Reed and dozens of social-media influencers were summoned to comment on and record the happenings, and the entire fight card took their turns getting in mitt work and flashing their ring skill on a platform as the cruise boat skimmed over the picturesque San Diego Harbor waters.

“This is amazing. Look at how many people are here,” Mansour told BoxingScene. “Shout out to my publicist [Danny Brener] for setting this up. It’s something we talked about last year and it’s all fallen into place. To be training on a yacht is a blessing itself.”

Mansour, with 260,000 Instagram followers and 160,000 on TikTok, and Ballo, with 611,000 followers on Instagram and 650,000 on TikTok, built their following since the start of the decade through boxing workouts, giveaways and skits detailing both their dedication to the sport and their own magnetic, enthusiastic personalities.

Ballo, a super-featherweight signed by 94-year-old Bob Arum’s Top Rank, meets Santa Ana, California’s Roman Reyes, 6-1 (5 KOs), and Mansour, represented by Shakur Stevenson advisor James Prince, will be in the main event in a lightweight bout versus William King, 6-3-2 (3 KOs).

“I’m looking to become 7-0 as I step up to my first eight-round fight. I’m here to prove I’ll pass every test that they give me,” Mansour said.

The cousins, part of the sizeable Iraqi Chaldean Catholic community that has streamed toward the East San Diego towns of El Cajon and La Mesa since the turn of the century, last appeared on the undercard of Noel Mikaelian’s WBC cruiserweight title victory over Badou Jack in December at a studio warehouse in Los Angeles.

Now, as they return to their home community, they are investing in capturing the attention and hearts of America’s eighth-most populous city while setting their sights on nationwide prominence.

“From my first fight, I’ve had this [amazing] support,” Ballo said. “The crazy part is it’s only going to get bigger.”

Part of the charm of Mansour and Ballo is that they don’t box out of financial desperation.

Ballo’s father, Jack, owns a string of gasoline station-convenience stores across San Diego County.

“We’re boxing because we love it,” Mansour said. “So everyone watching us is watching someone who’s following their dream, following their heart and doing something they truly love to do. Boxing, for me, is something I do with a passion, and something I intend to be the best at.”

Jack Ballo said the cousins have already sold 3,400 tickets for the 5,500-seat-capacity arena, setting up a possible sellout given the potential of fight-night sales.

The event sets up Mansour and Ballo to carry the allegiant fan base to wherever they fight in the future.

“We want to capture San Diego and then all of the USA,” Jack Ballo said. “It all starts right here.

“They’re so disciplined, they love the sport. They’re good kids, so humble. They don’t have to box. They do it because they love it – because they’re addicted to it.”

Jefferson, a hard-hitting safety for the Los Angeles Chargers, appeared at the yacht to show support for the cousins who were born in San Diego, as he was.

“Shout out to my dog, JuJu – he’s going to be knocking them out April 18 in Oceanside. Tell them JuJu did it,” Jefferson said.

With that, Ballo wanted to make it clear he respects his opponent, emphasizing he and his sport need the fans.

“It’s not a pushover,” he said. “All the fans will be in for a great night of boxing, so I want them all to be there and bring the support.

“I need the support.”