On the last weekend of April, the 2025 Florida State Boxing Junior Olympics Amateur Tournament was held in Orlando, Florida. The Spring Hill-based dojo Primal Striking and BJJ represented the area well with five fighters, two of whom won individual state titles in their respective divisions.
“Good squad,” said Primal Striking Coach Frank Alagna. “I am so proud of them. Honestly, we really had a great time. It was a great weekend in Orlando, and for them to come back with new hardware for the gym – really special.”
The coach’s five fighters included:
– Brayan “The Cuban Missile” Diaz Granado
– Anthony “Ant-Man” Page
– Francesco “El Coqui” Alagna
– Luis (LJ) “Lockjaw” Rodriguez
– Jayden “El Flaco” Soto
The nine-year-old Anthony was victorious in the 85-pound class, earning him the Junior Olympic Gold Medal on Sunday.
“It was just cool knowing that I was going to go to the Junior Olympics,” said Anthony.
Brayan, 18 years old, took the state title in the Youth 132-pound weight class. When discussing Granado further, Coach Alagna paid homage to Four Corners Boxing Coach Anthony Vasquez, whom he called “one of the best coaches in the state.”
Coach Alagna and company have held several joint sparring sessions with the New Port Richey-based Vasquez. Across their interactions, Coach Vasquez relayed to the Primal Striking instructor who Brayan was and that the boxer was moving from New Port Richey to Spring Hill.
Granado had no fights under his belt, but Coach Alagna noted that “it was kind of a blessing that he gave me.” Once Brayan became a part of Primal Striking in the spring of 2024, Alagna had the boxer train for about six months before flying him up to New York for his first fight.
His coach added that Granado won a New York State Championship at the New York State Fairgrounds in front of thousands of people. Now, Granado has competed in six fights (excluding two no-shows by his opponent) and has a state title to his name.
“It meant a lot to compete [in Orlando] because I am coming off two losses, so I really needed this big win for the Olympics,” said Granado. “I feel like boxing is all I got […] I needed this win so I could keep on advancing in boxing because it is a need. It is not like I want to do it, it is like all I got.”
The boxers began their time at Primal Striking having never competed in an official match, and now they are both Florida State Junior Olympic Champions. At 9 and 18, the pair represents the youngest and oldest boxers who competed for Coach Frank Alagna in Orlando. The fighters are varied not just in age, but in styles, too.
“Very proud of these boys,” said Coach Alagna. “Every one of them has their own style and their own skills that they bring to the table […] It is a wide range, and how they work together and care about each other and really truly have that team attitude […] they are all right there cheering, video recording, and supporting each other as well as in the gym.”
It has been exciting for the Primal Striking coach to see the program grow over the last four-plus years. Founded in 2021 with only four members and Francesco Alagna as the sole fighter representing the dojo, Primal Striking and BJJ has grown each year. Last year, three fighters were sent to the Junior Olympics, while this year, five made the trip.
For Coach Alagna, though, it is not solely about boxing but rather the skills that the sport can foster. He wants boxing to be just one part of the athletes’ fulfilling, multi-faceted lives.
“That is what I want these kids to get excited about. Going to college and using their skills in the classroom […] using that mental skill in a boardroom, learning how to debate somebody [and being quick and accurate].”
