La Mesa’s Mansour battles back, returns to boxing ring after blow of losing mom

Dante Ulanday - News Moderator Dante Ulanday - News Moderator
Dec 12, 2025 - 21:00
La Mesa’s Mansour battles back, returns to boxing ring after blow of losing mom
A man, Jonny Mansour, with boxing gloves on in a boxing ring waves during a workout.
A man, Jonny Mansour, with boxing gloves on in a boxing ring waves during a workout.
Jonny Mansour thanks friends, family and fans for attending a public workout at the Bomber Square Boxing Academy, his home training gym in El Cajon. (Photo by Gayle Falkenthal)

Pro boxing prospect Jonny “Magic” Mansour of La Mesa hasn’t lost a single round since his professional debut at Pechanga Arena in May 2024. To date, in the five fights since his debut, Mansour has either won with shutout decisions or scored knockouts.

The boxer will work to keep his streak going on Saturday as part of a world championship boxing event in Los Angeles featuring WBC World Cruiserweight champion Badou Jack, a Swedish native training in Las Vegas, and former titleholder Noel Mikaelian of Armenia.

Mansour hoped to fight more often in 2025, but has spent time recovering from a big blow outside the ring. Just a few hours after he returned home from his fifth victory in May to hand his mother the winner’s belt, she passed away from stage 4 colon cancer.

Two men, both wearing boxing gloves, during a workout at a gym with a mirrored wall and a punching bag behind them.
Jonny Monsour (left) and cousin Julius Bello training at their home gym, the Bomber Square Academy Gym in El Cajon. (Photo by Gayle Falkenthal)

Mansour has been candid about struggling with mental health issues and grief. Appearing on Saturday in an event billed as “Championing Mental Health 2: Rematch Season,” with a focus on mental health, will help him close out the year fueling his dreams while honoring his mother’s memory.

Also appearing on the card at Crypto.com Arena with Mansour is his cousin, Julius “Juju” Bello, who recently won his professional debut. It will be the first time the cousins have appeared together as professionals, while scoring each a valuable opportunity for exposure on a world stage.

Mansour last week gave his family and supporters a chance to see him and Bello in a public workout at his training home at the Bomber Squad Academy Boxing Gym in El Cajon. On hand were kids from City Heights Und1sputed Fitness and Training Center’s boxing program.

Diego Reyna, 11, got the chance to get in the ring with Mansour, who explained why it’s so important to him to spend time with kids. Boxing, he said, changed his life.

“As I continued to evolve in the sport,” Mansour said, “it taught me hard work, not only inside the gym. Outside the gym, it taught me being disciplined, listening to my parents. So thankfully, I come from a great family. I’m here for the kids to be their role model as well.”

Children surround two boxers, Julius Bello, left, and Jonny Mansour, center, in a boxing gym in El Cajon.
Julius Bello (left) and Jonny Monsour (middle) with young boxers from the Und1sputed City Heights Gym boxing program at a public workout at the Bomber Square Academy Gym in El Cajon, Dec. 6, 2025. (Photo by Gayle Falkenthal)

Mansour is excited not only to fight, but to do so on a platform that calls attention to
mental health issues.

“Everybody goes through things in life. Surround yourself with the right people, and speak about it publicly, like I do,” Monsour said. “I speak about all my issues publicly, because I realize that I’m not the only one who goes through things in life. Everybody you know loses someone they love. Everybody you know goes through hardships, but it’s important that we stay strong and stay together.”

Local fans can watch on pay-per-view beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday through cable, satellite and digital platforms, including Prime Video, DISH Network, TrillerTV+ and PPV.com.

One dollar from every $29.95 purchase will benefit the Championing Mental Health Foundation.

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