Humble Cain Velasquez 'not really sure' if he's a role model for Hispanic youth yet
Cain Velasquez never had designs on becoming a professional athlete growing up. The more he watched television, the more he believed playing in the NFL or becoming a world-class boxer was out of reach.
"I didn't have a hero playing in sports that looked like me," Velasquez told FOX Sports. "I loved football as a kid. Of course, I loved boxing. But I didn't see any heavyweights like me. I didn't have those dreams."
Velasquez, a Mexican American, made his own way, finding wrestling and MMA growing up in Yuma, Ariz. Now, he's the UFC heavyweight champion and one of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet.
But as far as being a role model for young Hispanic men and women, the kind that he didn't have growing up, Velasquez is hesitant about that idea. The gravity of that distinction is important to him and he's not quite ready to commit to it yet.
"I'm not really sure," Velasquez said. "I'm hoping to be."
On paper, Velasquez, 32, has everything required of being someone kids look up to. He's obviously a fantastic fighter with a 13-1 pro record. Velasquez even avenged his lone loss, beating Junior dos Santos twice in dominant fashion.
There doesn't appear to be anyone in the heavyweight division who can defeat him right now, including his next challenger and significant underdog Fabricio Werdum. The two meet at UFC 180 on Nov. 15 in Mexico City. It was an event geared for Velasquez. UFC president Dana White admitted that the organization would not hold a card in Mexico until Velasquez, its lone Mexican American champion, returned from a shoulder injury.
"It's very special," Velasquez said. "It's just a dream of mine that I wanted to fight there. I've been waiting a bunch of years for one moment and it's finally happening."
Boxing has always been the top combat sport -- and one of the biggest sports, period -- in Mexico. MMA has come along recently. White has predicted it could be the UFC's new Brazil with the company holding six to eight shows there per year within the next five to 10 years.
"Between now and a year or two years ago, it definitely has risen a lot," Velasquez said. "The popularity has risen. It's growing really popular there. MMA is so exciting. It doesn’t matter if you know the rules or not. If you like a fight, it's automatically gonna draw you in."
Velasquez feels like his style -- fast-paced and always moving forward -- is a tribute to Mexican fighters of the past. His heritage means a great deal to him. When he was 19 years old, he got the words "Brown Pride" tattooed on his chest.
"It's my heritage overall, my people," Velasquez said. "Mexicans are known for being hard-working people, showing a lot of heart. I wanted to show people I am Mexican and I'm proud of it."
In a month, he'll have thousands of people in Mexico City screaming his name in the fight against Werdum. Kids will see a professional athlete who looks like them starring on a major stage. Maybe then Velasquez will begin to consider himself a role model.
"It all comes down to winning," Velasquez said. "You have to win. You don’t have all the perks and people knowing you unless you're a winner. … I don't think I have to do anything extra, but win and live my life the way I want to as an athlete and family man. That itself people will look up to."
