Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford is shaping up to be a night to remember! Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas is set to erupt as two of boxing’s biggest superstars collide in the ring. The Mexican powerhouse will put his super middleweight titles on the line against a dangerous and determined challenger in Crawford. But that’s not all! In the undercard, rising star John Ornelas will also look to make a statement.  

The 33-year-old will kick off the main card against Saudi Arabian contender Mohammed Alakel, who’s more than a decade his junior — a fact that only adds to the intrigue of their lightweight matchup. Ornelas will be aiming to put on a show for the crowd on September 13th, eager to prove himself on the big stage. But before he steps into the ring, let’s take a moment to get to know him a little better. 

What is John Ornelas’ ethnicity and nationality? 

For the unversed, John Ornelas is an American fighter. He was born on August 19, 1992, in Santa Ana, California, USA.  And when it comes to his ethnicity, he’s of Hispanic/Latino descent and proudly wears the USA flag every time he steps into the ring. That connection becomes even clearer when you look at his moniker, ‘Juanito El Maldito.’  

The surname Ornelas traces back to Portugal and Spain. According to MyHeritage, it is linked to the natural landscape of the region and often represents geographical features, occupations, personal traits, or even ties to agriculture. This means the Americans’ ethnicity carries some deep and historic roots. Now that we’re familiar with his ethnic background, let’s take a look at John Ornelas’ early life and what shaped him along the way.  

More about Juanito El Maldito’s early life and background     

Ornelas might be getting the chance to open the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford fight card, but surprisingly, not much is known about his early life. What we do know, however, is that his developing professional career has already given fans plenty to talk about. The American launched his pro boxing journey in 2020, but it didn’t start the way he hoped.

In his debut match in California, he faced Uriel Villanueva and lost via unanimous decision. That rocky start didn’t improve much as his second fight ended in a draw against Keith Carson. Still, ‘Juanito El Maldito’ bounced back, securing the first win of his career in an immediate rematch with Carson. From there, he put together an impressive four-fight winning streak — until Terell Bostic handed him a defeat earlier this year.

Now, Ornelas is set to make a comeback against Mohammed Alakael on September 13, with redemption on his mind. That raises the big question: can John Ornelas pull it off, or will he be humbled by a young and dynamic challenger? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!