By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published Sep 05, 2017 at 1:08 PM

While growing up on Center and Richards Streets in the Harambee neighborhood, Luis Feliciano started watching boxing on television as a toddler. By the time he was 3 years old, he was in love with the sport, and at age 7 he told his father he was ready to start training.

His father brought him to the United Community Center, 1028 S. 9th St., where Israel "Shorty" Acosta became his trainer. Feliciano, now 24, continues to train with Acosta today.

Although he knew he wanted to be a professional boxer someday, Feliciano says he wanted to have a solid "plan B," so he graduated with a degree from Marquette University in criminology and law studies in 2015.

After graduating from Marquette, he turned his focus completely to his boxing career.

"I had to give it a shot," he says.

Feliciano became a five-time national champion, and Golden Boy Promotions, the largest promotional company in the world started by 10-time world champion Oscar De La Hoya, signed him in February. Feliciano moved to Los Angles and later won his first three fights as a professional boxer, including his most recent match in Puerto Rico.

"My goal, my dream, is to become a world champion," says Feliciano. "I’ve been dreaming of this since I was a little kid."

Recently, Feliciano was in Milwaukee for his sister’s wedding and agreed to be the subject of Jeremy Baccash’s latest video. Through his videos, Baccash – who is the creative director for a start-up called Social Candy – shares underexposed Milwaukee people, groups and happenings.

"My goal is to dive deep into subjects that people wouldn't normally know about in the city," Baccash told OnMilwaukee earlier this month.

Check out Baccash's video about Luis Feliciano:


Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.

Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.