FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – On Friday night, Kamakani "KJ" Waialae Jnr will compete in his third professional fight, just four months after he turned over. The 23-year-old from Waianae, Hawaii, will risk his 2-0 (1 KO) record against Rashad Bowens in a four-round junior middleweight fight at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on the undercard of a ProBox TV show headlined by a crossroads showdown between Francisco Veron and Roiman Villa.
Fighting on a worldwide platform with former world champions comparing you to past greats on commentary is the dream for all who ever lace up gloves, but it’s a far cry from another life that awaited Waialae.
Just two years ago, Waialae had nearly given up on his boxing dreams. Despite being a successful amateur who had been ranked as highly as No. 3 in the United States, he had grown frustrated with the broken promises of those he tried to turn pro with, and had taken up a job working construction for his uncle’s company. He worked from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., building scaffolds that go up as high as 50 feet, and insulating pipes at a gas refinery.
It wasn’t as glamorous a life as the boxers he grew up admiring, but as expensive as traveling to national construction at least promised steady income.
His trainer, Carlos “Nito” Tangaro, and his father, Kamakani Snr, wanted to see him give one last chance at pursuing the sport into which he had invested so many hours since the age of six. With the 2024 Olympic Trials nearing, Waialae gave himself an ultimatum: if he doesn’t win the Last Chance Qualifier in Colorado, and earn a spot in the trials, he would go back to work for his uncle’s business and never look back. Five wins in six days later, Waialae answered what he believed to be his true calling.
“After that, I felt like this was a sign from God that this is what I should be doing,” said Waialae. “I knew I was one of the best in the nation. I was like, I might as well just hold on to this and just see how far I can go.”
Coach Nito, who, like Waialae, was a student of the late Hawaiian boxing legend Fred “Pops” Pereira, wasn’t going to allow Waialae to give up on his dreams so easily.
“Even the times he thought about quitting, me and his dad would be like, fuck that. We had seen something in him from when he was young,” said Tangaro.
“I would always put it in his head: you're not gonna be just an average fucking Joe.”
This was a common refrain for Waialae since the first day he followed his two older twin cousins, Breten and Brennen, into the gym. “A lot of the coaches would gas me up like, ‘Oh, this little kid knows what he's doing,” remembers Waialae, whose father, who is Hawaiian, is an insulator for Hawaiian Electric and whose mother, who is of Mexican descent, is a hospital worker. Waialae had about 20 amateur bouts by the time he was nine years old, but left the sport at that point until he was in ninth grade, focusing on football instead, playing quarterback for the Waianae High School Seariders. He returned to boxing with a purpose, making expensive trips to the mainland for national tournaments.
In all, he competed in about 60 amateur bouts, and seven national tournaments, winning two of them, including the 2019 National PAL Championships, where he beat Eric Tudor in the 152lbs Youth final.
After a stop-and-start struggle where he’d train for pro fights that failed to come to fruition, Waialae’s fortunes turned when he linked up with Robert Diaz, the former matchmaker for Golden Boy Promotions turned boxing manager. Diaz had previously signed two of Tangaro’s other boxers, Asa Stevens and Dalis Kaleiopu, and had taken a liking to Waialae.
“The key to success in a young fighter is of course talent, dedication and discipline. KJ is a young fighter that has those ingredients to achieve his dream,” said Diaz, who looks to have Waialae fight at least five times next year.
Now, with the help of his sponsor, clothing designer Pat Tenore, Waialae is able to find sparring in California’s Orange County, moving with unbeaten prospects like Eric Priest and Fabian Guzman.
While ProBox’s commentators compared Waialae’s aggression to Felix “Tito” Trinidad, Tangaro says he thinks a more appropriate comparison would be Jaron “Boots” Ennis because of how comfortable Waialae is switching stances. Waialae says his favorite fighter growing up was Manny Pacquiao, but has grown to appreciate his rival, Floyd Mayweather Jnr, as he got older.
Coach Nito feels confident in his fighter’s chances of succeeding as he moves up in the boxing world.
“The more he fights he gets, the better he'll get. He has a lot of talent, and I think his looks help too,” said Tangaro. “He's a handsome kid, he’s got talent to back it up. The sky is the limit.”
With all the pieces in place, Waialae is now focused on constructing a world championship career.
“All I needed was an opportunity to show the world what I can do. And with ProBox, they're starting to keep me busy,” said Waialae. “So I give it like two, three years, and I feel I'm gonna be up there as a contender, or even a world champion.”
