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Antonio Escalante was born on June 13, 1985 in CD. Juárez Chihuahua, México. He was raised in the Colonia Primero de Septiembre neighborhood until he was twelve years old. The time that he spent in Juarez didn’t seem to pass as fast as Antonio would have liked. Antonio said, “I remember getting on the mountains, and looking over the big buildings of El Paso, thinking, one day I will be on the fancy side in the rich city, I didn’t know anything, I thought that everything on that side was being rich and happy”. Antonio was a small kid with very big dreams.

Antonio was able to get his residency in the U. S. and made El Paso his home. He started his American education at Moorhead Middle School where he was a very good student with a big appetite for learning. In his spare time he began practicing karate, but soon lost interest. Antonio began his move toward boxing like most kids on the road to become legendary world boxing champions; fighting in school, on the street and even in his garage. His friends took notice of his desire to be the best and eventually steered Antonio to the boxing gym.

Antonio started his boxing career at the San Juan Boxing Gym with trainer Luis Maldonado who immediately saw that he really had the talent and the desire to become a great boxer. Maldonado trained Antonio throughout his five-year amateur career, which ended with a record of forty-three wins, three losses, and twenty five wins by way of knockout. His three losses added to his record while he was competing in the Golden Gloves in Forth Worth, TX. Antonio recalls some of the judges telling him not to dream of making it big because he was not a U.S. citizen. Antonio said,” You know what! No one can tell me what I can and can’t dream! Escalante continued to say… “I’m trying to make my family proud and no one can make their dreams a reality without going and making it happen”.

One of Antonio’s dreams was to make it to the Olympics and compete with the best amateurs in the word. But his dreams were stopped cold when he discovered he wouldn’t be allowed to compete for a spot on the US team because he wasn’t a U. S. citizen. His dreams were shattered yet again when he discovered that he could not compete for a spot in the Mexican team due to the fact that he was in the process of receiving his residency in the United States. Realizing he had gone as far as would be allowed to go in his amateur career Antonio made the decision to become a professional boxer a decision that would ultimately change his life.

During his first professional year, Escalante had many financial difficulties and challenges. Antonio was now a man with financial and adult responsibilities, with a daughter on the way and boxing taking a back seat. Antonio was contemplating putting his dream on hold. Maldonado his long time mentor and trainer stepped in and convinced Antonio to continue and he would help Antonio to stay in the gym by paying for his gym fees and gas so that he continue with his career. Maldonado’s health began to deteriorate and would later have a stroke that would put him in the hospital. While waiting for Maldonado to recuperate, Antonio continued training by himself at the gym or in his own garage. Maldonado’s began to improve and was able to make frequent visits to the gym but without the intensive training that Antonio needed to compete professionally, Maldonado continued to advise Antonio though he would eventually make a decision to part ways with his long time trainer.

Antonio saw Maldonado as a very important person to him both mentor and friend and would continue to seek advice from him although he would not be training him anymore. Antonio said, “I just don’t forget about the people that help me, I will make it big and then I’ll return and help Maldonado in any way I can because, he taught me a lot and I’m very thankful.

Louis Aguilar, a former amateur fighter, was part of Maldonado’s team. Aguilar offered to help Antonio while Maldonado was in recovery from his stroke. He began helping Antonio with strength training and conditioning and eventually joined Maldonado and Escalante, helping in every way he could. Aguilar began communicating with Golden Boy Promotions and booking fights for Antonio on Golden Boy cards.

On June 11, 2004 Antonio traveled to Forth Worth, Texas to face the local Jairo Sanchez, a fight that ended in disappointment for Escalante. Losing a four decision and his first loss as a professional, “I’m not making any excuses for my performance, the judges thought I lost so that’s how it is, and you can’t change it now”, said Antonio. After this bout Aguilar and Edwin Rosario also a former boxer trained by Maldonado assume the role of trainers for Antonio and brought new chemistry and life to the team. On June 16, 2005 in Sun Dance Square, Forth Worth, TX. Antonio had his first 8 rounds fight that ended earlier than everyone had expected. He won the Texas Super Bantamweight Title against Rigoberto Hernandez, dropping Rigoberto on route to a 1st round KO.

In late 2005 Antonio's career catapulted when Oscar De la Hoya and Golden Boy promotions came knocking on his door. A promotional company that only signs current and future champions signed Antonio to five-year contract. It's with this signing that made it possible for Antonio’s fights to be televised on Telefutura and HBO pay per view.

On January 27, 2006 Antonio Escalante traveled to Chicago to face local hero Jose Andres Hernandez 19-2-0, at the Cicero Stadium, Cicero IL. This fight was one of the toughest and most exciting fights that Antonio had fought in his eleven-fight career. The bout was televised by Solo Boxeo Telefutura and was voted fight of the year for 2006. Both Antonio and Jose Hernandez gave all they had in the ring bringing everyone to their feet until the final bell.

Antonio returned to Chicago IL, in May of 2006, fighting against Juan Ruiz 21-2-0 for the NABO (North America Boxing Organization) title, he not only won but also dominated the fight from start to finish. He proved his winning by unanimous decision on all three scorecards.

Antonio now has a record of 14-2 with 9KO's and is ranked number 3 by the WBO and has successfully defended his NABO title twice. Escalante is very thankful with Oscar de la Hoya for giving him the opportunity of showing him the kind of fighter he is and he would not let him or anybody else down. Most importantly he's thankful to all the people that support him and watch his fights, he promised to give everything in the ring and will try to give them the best show possible.

| To be continued... |