By Judith Dorato O’Gara

José Roman III knows how to do battle. The young boxer from Franklin rose triumphant from a two-year fight for his life after being diagnosed at age 10 with leukemia. What did he do upon recovery? He got back into the ring. Since then, under the direction of his coach and father, José Roman, Jr., he’s won number of New England titles, including the 2024 New England Silver Gloves. He’s also fought in many national matches, with his most prestigious win taking place this past July in Chattanoogah, TN, when José took home the 2025 National Junior & Youth Golden Gloves of America title. The 18-year-old is now rated 5th in the nation for his age and weight class of 110 lbs.

“I won the entire national, and it felt really good,” says José , who also recently began training under Peter Manfredo of Manfredo Boxing Sports Fitness. “I was coming off a loss, and that just motivated me to train harder than ever.” 

He explains that he had to fight two opponents to win. “The first fight was actually harder. I fought this kid I didn’t even know he had double the fights I had, and I ended up winning the fight and advancing to the finals,” says the boxer, “The second fight was the easier fight, but I beat this kid easily, and I think it was probably one of my best performances. The national title was on the line, so I knew my best version of myself came out.”

The young pugilist started training in boxing early, learning from his father. “It’s fun. I like doing it. I like fighting, I love boxing. It’s always been something in my blood, I guess, to fight,” says José. When his father hit the heavy bag at home, “he wanted to hit the bag, too,” says Roman, Jr.,

After he got his diagnosis in 2018, young José spent the first two months in the hospital undergoing chemotherapy, something he would have to receive over the course of two years.

“I wasn’t really aware of the magnitude of the situation,” says José “When you’re young, you kind of feel invincible. I wasn’t able to train, visited the gym a few times just to see training partners, but I didn’t really start training again until I was done with treatment.”

After that was finished, COVID-19 set his training back even further, but he worked to into shape. Rather than knock him out, José  says overcoming his diagnosis “very much motivated me to realize that if I can beat cancer, I can do anything.”

At 13, then, after coming back from treatment, José  made it to the semifinals in the National Silver Gloves Tournament in 2021, losing only in the finals. In October of that same year, he won the New England championship.

The young boxer is intensely focused on his sport. He trains five days a week, several hours a day, running every day and watching what he eats. José , believes he’s been successful because, “I show up on the days that I don’t’ want to train, the days I want to train, the days I feel sick, I still show up. I’m consistent.” In fact, if his father didn’t insist on him taking a break on weekends, José  would train seven days a week, he says, adding that he takes any loss, such as his loss to the top-ranked fighter in the Junior Olympics this year, as a learning experience.

“My goal is to go to the 2028 Olympics and then turn pro,” says José , who hopes to inspire other young people facing obstacles such as cancer.

“A lot of people, some kids, they’ll have cancer, and they don’t know if they’re going to live to see the next day, but you know, if you keep persevering through, you have that mindset—

I’m going to survive. I’m going to live. I’m not going to die here in this hospital, and that’s why I’m alive. If I can do it, anybody can do it, because I’m just a normal guy.”

José  adds he believes “100%” that his prayers, and the prayers of others for him, have made a difference in his recovery and continued success. 

Early this month, José will compete in the USA Boxing New England Championships in New Bedford. 

Follow his progress on Instagram, joseelrelampagoroman,

and TikTok @josearoman