Building Champions in Life
In 2004, Tony Collins Cifuentes opened the doors of Highlanders Boxing Club with a simple belief: structured mentorship and youth-development programming could reach kids that nothing else could.
Twenty years later, that belief has been proven more than 7,000 times over.
The Origin
Growing up in the Inland Empire, Tony saw firsthand what happens when young people lack structure, mentorship, and a safe place to channel their energy. Gang violence, substance abuse, and academic disengagement were not abstract problems — they were the daily reality for kids in his community.
Tony’s answer was a youth-development center built around the discipline of boxing. Not because he wanted to create fighters, but because he understood that the discipline, respect, and self-confidence that come from structured programming could transform a young person’s trajectory.
The Method
“A strong body makes the mind strong.”
Tony’s coaching philosophy blends hands-on instruction with Positive Youth Development (PYD) and Trauma-Informed Care. Every session at HBC teaches more than technique — it teaches the six social-emotional skills that form the backbone of the Iron Strong program: Emotional Management, Initiative, Responsibility, Empathy, Teamwork, and Problem-Solving.
The Impact
Under Tony’s leadership, HBC has grown from a small after-school program to a comprehensive 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving the entire Inland Empire:
- 7,000+ youth and families served
- 25+ years of continuous operation
- 200,000+ toys distributed through the annual Toy Drive
- Partnerships with San Bernardino County Probation, local schools, and community organizations
- Expansion into nature-based education through Tabernacle Ranch
Still in the Ring
Tony continues to coach daily at HBC — working with everyone from first-time youth to professional contenders. His door is always open, and his mission hasn’t changed: use mentorship and programs to build champions in life.