Chasing Gold: Lorenzo Patricio Journey To Represent Hawaii And His Family

In a world where sports bring families closer together, the Patricio family stands out as a prime example of that. Lorenzo Patricio, one of eight siblings, embarked on his boxing journey at just five years old after listening to a simple observation from his dad. Lorenzo's dad, Lyndon, quickly noticed his son’s pure athleticism and his special skills on the football field and made a pivotal decision that would lead Lorenzo towards a successful boxing career.

“Boxing was a natural fit for me,” Lorenzo recalled. “Once I started, it felt like home.”

The Patricio house is full of pure boxing talent. Their competitive nature is what fuels their dreams to become a reality, but at the same time they are each other's biggest supporters.    

“In my family, it’s a love competition,” Lorenzo explains with a smiling grin across his face. “We love each other, and we support each other and always cheer each other on in the ring, but you always want to be just a little bit better than the other sibling. So, when one sibling is doing well you want to be at their level. So, we just constantly push each other to the max.” 

Each sibling's success sparks a fire within one another, creating a competitive environment where each sibling challenges one another. However, Lorenzo represents a lot more than just his family name. The state of Hawai’i and boxing have a culture like no other state. Lorenzo stated that representing his home state and his family name is a dream come true as he prepares to compete for Team USA at the 2024 World Boxing U19 Championships in Pueblo, Colo.

“It means a lot to represent Hawai’i,” he states with pride. “Since we are isolated from the other states, we really are different than all the others. We love and support each other to the max. So, Hawai’i is my family. I love representing my family, but I also love representing Hawai’i.”

However, Lorenzo's road to success has not been without its hurdles. What started like a normal day of his older sister, Shera Mae Patricio, picking him and his siblings up from school was anything but ordinary. An electrician truck tried to merge into their lane and clipped the back of their car, causing the Patricio car to spin out of control. Patricio explained that the car would flip three times before finally landing.  Lorenzo was ok but his older sister, Sheelyn, was in the middle of the interstate with severe injuries as she was ejected out of the car when it flipped.

His sister was rushed to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with a hip fracture and required a skin graft. The doctors at the time were scared Sheelyn was going to need to amputate her hand. However, their dad was against that, and she received multiple surgeries to improve her condition. Since then, Sheelyn has returned to the ring and recently competed at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Boxing, where she finished in second place.

“It changed our perspective of life, and that life can come and go,” Lorenzo reflects. “But it just pushed us to do more. We realized how quickly things can change. It motivated us all to pursue our dreams with even more intensity. We all push each other now to do what we want to do and to become what we want to become.”

Today, the Patricio family is carving a name for themselves in the boxing world and is becoming one of the more dominant boxing families in America. The youngest sibling is just eight years old, while the oldest of the group, Shera Mae Patricio, represented Team USA on the Elite High-Performance team in 2024. Shera Mae won the 2024 Olympic Trials and competed at multiple Olympic Games World Qualification Tournaments. Shera has since become a professional boxer and currently holds a 2-0 record in her professional career.

“Shera Mae has always been the leader of the pack,” Lorenzo stated when talking about his role models in his life. “But my dad is a huge inspiration. He pushes me to reach my full potential and believes in me.”

Now, it’s Lorenzo’s time to shine. After dominating countless national events, and patiently waiting for his moment, he earned a spot on the Team USA Youth High Performance team. Boxing isn’t just a skill or a hobby for Lorenzo, it is a passion that shapes his identity.

“This sport means a lot to me. I really do want to make it, but you got to love what you do, and I really do love what I do,” he stated. “I want to succeed, but I also genuinely love what I do. I make sure to have fun in the ring, yet I stay focused. It’s all about balance. I push myself while staying relaxed, so I don’t overthink anything in the ring.”

When Lorenzo steps into the ring, you can see the pure joy and confidence on his face, a combination that sets him apart from others. Patricio is determined to achieve his goal and that is to win gold at the 2024 World Boxing U19 Championships in Pueblo, Colorado.

“I’m ready to dominate,” he stated. “Anyone who steps into the ring with me better be prepared for a challenge.”

As the Patricio family continues to rise, they represent the sport of boxing through resilience, caring, and greatness. For Lorenzo, the journey is just beginning, but with the support of his family and the heart of a champion, there’s no limit to what he can achieve.