On a Sunday morning in October, Riel Martinez walked into the Nelson Boxing Club ready to train. He had every reason not to.
Riel was greeted by club owner Jesse Pineiro who had been training him for the B.C. provincials set to begin later that week. Pineiro had already notified organizers that Riel may not be on the card.
Less than 24 hours earlier, Riel’s older brother Elias unexpectedly passed away just shy of his 20th birthday.
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