Magic City Boxing / Coaches

Who you'll train with.

Coaches who came up in the sport and stayed in it. Certified, and still on the floor every night rather than behind a desk.

Coach Erik Polnett

Founder and Coach

Erik Polnett is the founder of Magic City Boxing Athletic Club, an Orlando based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to developing athletes and strengthening the community through boxing, fitness, mentorship and personal development.

A USA Boxing Silver Level Coach and SafeSport trained coach, Erik works with athletes across multiple stages of development, from young beginners learning the fundamentals to competitive amateur and professional boxers pursuing higher levels of the sport. He is also enrolled in the USA Boxing Official's Pathway, expanding his knowledge of the sport beyond coaching and athlete development.

His coaching philosophy combines traditional boxing fundamentals with modern strength, conditioning, movement and performance training. More importantly, he believes boxing should develop more than fighters. The sport can teach young people and adults discipline, accountability, confidence, resilience, respect, and the ability to perform under pressure.

Credentials

• USA Boxing Silver Level certified Coach
• USA Boxing SafeSport Trained
• USA Boxing certified Official
• USA Boxing Member
• Founder, Magic City Boxing Athletic Club

Coach Miguel Cruz

Welterweight Professional and NASM Certified Personal Trainer

Miguel Cruz brings a professional career to the gym floor. He fought at welterweight to a record of 18 wins and 1 loss with 13 knockouts, was signed by Premier Boxing Champions from 2015 to 2020, and was ranked number 9 by the IBF and number 13 by the WBA in 2019.

The one loss came against veteran contender Josesito Lopez, a ten round decision in El Paso in April 2018. He answered it nine months later with a second round stoppage of Luis Eduardo Florez at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Before turning professional he compiled a 64 and 16 amateur record, represented the Puerto Rico National Team in 2009, 2011 and 2012, and took the Florida State Golden Gloves title in 2011 and the Florida State Junior Olympic title in 2006.

He is a NASM certified Personal Trainer, which is the combination that matters here: someone who has been in the ring at that level and also knows how to build a programme for a beginner who has never thrown a punch.

Record and honours

• Professional record 18 wins, 13 by knockout, 1 loss, at welterweight
• Signed by Premier Boxing Champions, 2015 to 2020
• IBF ranked number 9
• WBA ranked number 13, 2019
• Amateur record 64 wins, 16 losses
• Puerto Rico National Team, 2009, 2011, 2012
• Florida State Golden Gloves champion, 2011
• Florida State Junior Olympic champion, 2006
• NASM certified Personal Trainer

Coach Mike Veloz

Boxing Coach, in the corner since 2003

Mike Veloz has been coaching fighters since 2003. He worked with Demetrius Andrade, a two-weight world champion who held WBO titles at light middleweight and middleweight and the WBA super welterweight title, and with Kali “KO” Reis, also a two-weight world champion, who won the WBC middleweight title in 2016 and later held the WBA, WBO and IBO light welterweight titles.

He now works with prospects coming up through the amateur and professional ranks. What that means on the gym floor is that somebody who has cornered fighters at world level is watching a beginner throw their first jab, and that is not something most gyms can offer.

Background

• Coaching fighters since 2003
• Worked with Demetrius Andrade, two-weight world champion
• Worked with Kali “KO” Reis, two-weight world champion
• Currently developing amateur and professional prospects