‘Lil Tomahawk’ Castillo rises in the ring with a mission beyond boxing
Courtesy | Malaya Castillo
Malaya Castillo shows the medals she has earned through years of training and competition, reflecting her rapid rise in youth boxing.
By Kyle Leslie
Navajo Times
GALLUP
Fourteen-year-old Malaya “Lil Tomahawk” Castillo has built a reputation as one of the strongest young boxers in the Southwest.
Her record, discipline and growing national presence, however, are only part of the story. The sport that fuels her ambitions also helped her navigate loss and shape a clear path forward for herself and for the youth she hopes to support.
Castillo is originally from Cuba, New Mexico, and now lives in Albuquerque. She has already collected a series of major titles, including two Silver Gloves championships, a Gold Gloves win, a National Silver Gloves medal, and silver and bronze medals at the Junior Olympics. She is currently ranked No. 3 in the country in the 106-pound division of USA Boxing.
To read the full article, please see the Nov. 26, 2025, edition of the Navajo Times.
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Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow