Cuba-born boxer carries New Mexico and Native pride into the ring
By Roger Rael
Staff Reporter
CUBA, N.M. — Malaya “Lil Tomahawk” Castillo is still young enough to be thinking about school assignments, but inside the boxing ring she has already built a résumé that would make many older fighters proud.
Originally from Cuba and now based in Albuquerque, Castillo has emerged as one of New Mexico’s most promising young amateur boxers. She carries Navajo and Zuni heritage into every bout and has developed a reputation for discipline, sharp combinations, and the kind of calm that can be difficult to find in a teenage fighter.
Her nickname fits. “Lil Tomahawk” sounds playful until the bell rings. Then Castillo works behind a steady jab, closes distance without wasting motion, and looks for openings instead of simply throwing punches. That approach has helped her collect two Silver Gloves championships, a Gold Gloves victory, a National Silver Gloves medal, and medals at the USA Boxing Junior Olympics.
Castillo earned silver at the 2024 Junior Olympics in Wichita, Kansas, and later added a bronze medal at the national tournament. A Navajo Times profile published in November 2025 reported that she was ranked No. 3 nationally in USA Boxing’s 106-pound division, placing her among the best young fighters in the country at that weight.
Those accomplishments did not appear overnight. Amateur boxing demands early mornings, repeated drills, controlled diets, travel, and the willingness to keep training when friends are doing almost anything else. Castillo has represented Duke City Underdogs in Albuquerque and has remained closely connected to Cuba, where Tomahawk Boxing has drawn new attention to youth boxing.
The road to major tournaments can be expensive. Registration fees, equipment, meals, hotels, and travel quickly add up, especially for families supporting young athletes who compete several times each year. Community fundraising and online donations have helped make those trips possible while giving supporters a way to follow Castillo’s progress.
The people around a young boxer matter almost as much as the fighter’s determination. Coaches must teach technique without rushing development. Families must balance school, training, and travel. Teammates provide the rounds that sharpen timing and build confidence. Castillo’s success reflects that support, but she still has to climb through the ropes alone and answer the bell herself.
What makes her story larger than a collection of medals is the example she gives other young people. Boxing offers structure, accountability and a place to turn frustration into work. Every round requires focus. Every practice demands that a fighter listen, adjust, and return prepared to improve.
Castillo has spoken through her actions more than slogans. She trains, competes and keeps moving forward. Her rise gives young athletes from rural and Native communities proof that national competition is not reserved for children from large cities or heavily financed programs.
She has also discussed a future that reaches beyond her own bouts. The discipline she found in boxing has helped shape her goals, and her growing platform gives her an opportunity to encourage other children to enter a gym, stay active, and believe they belong in competitive sports.
New Mexico has a deep boxing history, built in small gyms where coaches wrap hands, families sit on folding chairs, and fighters learn that talent means little without discipline. Castillo is adding her own chapter to that tradition.
The next stage will bring stronger opponents and greater expectations. National rankings can change quickly, and one tournament can alter a fighter’s path. Castillo will have to continue improving her defense, strength, and ring judgment as she moves through the youth divisions.
For now, “Lil Tomahawk” is carrying the pride of Cuba, Albuquerque and Indian Country into rings across the nation. Her medals show how far she has come. Her work ethic suggests she is nowhere close to finished.
