West Essex alumnus Vito Mielnicki will fight Kamil Gardzielik on June 21 at the Prudential Center in N.J. Mielnicki, the hometown kid, is an up-and-coming middleweight fighter looking to notch the 21st victory of his young career.
A graduate of the Class of 2020, Mielnicki has become an increasingly respected boxer. Starting at the age of seven, Mielnicki began training to eventually become a professional. Throughout his childhood, Mielnicki competed in global competitions, eventually becoming a four-time Junior National Golden Gloves champion. Before each fight he competes in, Mielnicki ensures that he prepares and trains intensely.
“My training camps are usually 8-10 weeks,” Mielnicki says. “Those weeks are grueling on the body, on the mind and everything in general. Leading up to the fight, you are locked in on your opponent, on the game plan, and you are zoned in on your work.”
Mielnicki, also known as White Magic, made his professional debut during his junior year of high school, where he defeated Tamarcus Smith in one round. Through 22 career fights, he is 20-0–1. Mielnicki describes the surreal feeling of stepping into the ring for the first time, surrounded by his friends and family.
“That feeling of being in the ring, surrounded by supporters- it is a dream come true,” Mielnicki says.
Over his career, Mielnicki has fought in highly well-known arenas, including Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Barclays Center in Brooklyn and Madison Square Garden in New York City. His fight in June will not be his first time fighting in N.J.; his pro debut in 2019 was also at the Prudential Center. Mielnicki describes how memorable and special his debut was at home.
“My most memorable fight is my pro debut,” Mielnicki said. “Mine was pretty insane. I fought at home as a high schooler, and then what happened after my pro debut, with how it blew up, that was one of the coolest moments of my career. For me to be on a big stage and have my moment, it was a blessing.”
Mielnicki is ready for another fight in the Garden State. He has made numerous sacrifices to achieve his current position and has already attained great success. From moving to Los Angeles alone at 18 during a global pandemic to now headlining a fight on ESPN in his home state, Mielnicki exemplifies how hard work and dedication pay off in the long run.
