Jose Alejandro Larios, Elite Boxing and Colibrí Mexican Kitchen

So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

My name is Jose Alejandro Larios, but most people know me as Alex. I was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and immigrated to the United States at a young age. I now call Kent, Washington, home, where I've built my life, my family, and my businesses.

I'm a 33-year-old entrepreneur, boxing coach, and business owner. I'm the founder of Elite Boxing in Kent, Washington, and co-owner of Colibrí Mexican Kitchen in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. My journey hasn't been a traditional one. I grew up facing adversity, and those early experiences shaped my work ethic, resilience, and determination to create a better future.

Boxing has become one of my greatest passions, not just because of the sport itself, but because of the opportunity it gives me to change lives. Through Elite Boxing, I've had the privilege of developing amateur fighters into state and regional champions, helping athletes compete at the national level, and creating an environment where young people can develop discipline, confidence, and a sense of purpose.

As an entrepreneur, I'm passionate about building businesses from the ground up, creating opportunities for others, and proving that your circumstances don't have to determine your future. I believe in hard work, faith, perseverance, and leading by example.

More than anything, I want my story to show that regardless of where you come from or what you've been through, you have the ability to build something meaningful with your life. For me, success isn't just about financial freedom or personal accomplishments. It's about the people I can impact, the opportunities I can create, and the legacy I leave behind.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now.

One thing I love most about living in Kent, Washington, is the diversity and sense of community. Being an immigrant myself, I appreciate being surrounded by people from different cultures, backgrounds, and walks of life, many of whom are working hard to build a better future for themselves and their families.

Kent has also given me the opportunity to build something meaningful through Elite Boxing. I've met incredible people, built lasting relationships, and had the privilege of mentoring young athletes from all kinds of backgrounds. What I love most is knowing that I'm not just building a business here, but becoming part of a community and hopefully making a positive impact on the next generation.

Tell us a little more about what your company does and how it started. How does it help your customers?

I'm the founder of Elite Boxing in Kent, Washington, and co-owner of Colibrí Mexican Kitchen in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. Both businesses were built from a passion for creating something meaningful, bringing people together, and making a positive impact in our communities.

Elite Boxing started with a vision of creating more than just a boxing gym. I wanted to build an environment where people of all ages could develop discipline, confidence, mental toughness, and a sense of belonging. Growing up, I faced my own share of adversity, so I understand the importance of having positive influences and people who believe in your potential. In just a couple of years, we've developed a competitive amateur boxing team of around 20 fighters, produced state and regional champions, and helped athletes reach the national stage. But what I'm most proud of isn't just the accomplishments inside the ring. It's seeing the personal growth of our members and knowing we're making a difference in their lives.

Colibrí Mexican Kitchen represents another side of my passion: my Mexican heritage, family, and love for bringing people together through food. We wanted to create a restaurant that celebrates authentic Mexican flavors while providing a welcoming atmosphere where people can experience a piece of our culture. It's been an incredible journey building a restaurant alongside family and sharing our traditions with the Seattle community.

Although boxing and the restaurant industry are completely different, the purpose behind both businesses is the same. I want to create opportunities, build strong communities, and leave a positive impact on the people we serve. To me, entrepreneurship has never been just about making money. It's about building something that matters, creating a legacy, and showing others that with hard work, faith, and perseverance, you can turn a vision into reality.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice would you give them?

My biggest advice to anyone wanting to start a business is to stop waiting for the perfect moment, because the perfect moment will never come. You're never going to have all the answers, enough money, or everything figured out. At some point, you have to believe in yourself enough to take that first step and figure things out along the way.

One of the biggest lessons I've learned from building multiple businesses is that passion alone isn't enough. You have to be disciplined, willing to sacrifice, and prepared to do things that make you uncomfortable. There will be days when you question yourself, months when business is slow, and moments when quitting seems easier than continuing. That's when your character and commitment are really tested.

I also believe it's important to understand that being busy doesn't necessarily mean you're being productive. You have to learn to work strategically, understand your numbers, surround yourself with the right people, and constantly look for ways to improve. Hard work is important, but knowing where to direct that hard work is what makes the difference.

Coming from an immigrant background and growing up with adversity taught me that nobody is coming to save you. If you want a different life, you have to take responsibility for creating it. That mentality has carried me through some of my hardest moments as an entrepreneur.

Most importantly, don't measure your success against someone else's timeline. Building something meaningful takes time, and failure is often part of the process. I've made mistakes, taken risks, and learned lessons the hard way, and I'm still learning every day.

My advice is simple: Bet on yourself, stay humble enough to keep learning, and be disciplined enough to keep going when the excitement wears off.

What is one piece of feedback from a happy customer or client that you won't forget?

One of the most meaningful things I've experienced as a business owner is hearing from parents about the positive changes they've seen in their children since joining Elite Boxing. Hearing that their child has become more confident, disciplined, respectful, or motivated outside of the gym means more to me than any championship or business accomplishment.

When I started Elite Boxing, I wanted to create something bigger than just a place to learn how to fight. I wanted to build an environment where young people could find mentorship, develop character, and believe in themselves. Growing up, I know how much of a difference having the right guidance can make in someone's life.

As a business owner, it's easy to get caught up in the numbers, expenses, and everyday challenges. But hearing that you're making a genuine difference in someone's life reminds you why you started in the first place.

To me, that's the greatest compliment a customer can give. It means we're not just teaching boxing, we're helping shape someone's future, and that's something you can't put a price on.

Where do you see your company in the future?

My vision for the future is to continue growing both Elite Boxing and Colibrí Mexican Kitchen into businesses that make a lasting impact on their communities.

With Elite Boxing, I see us expanding into a much larger facility, offering more opportunities for athletes, families, and people looking to improve their lives through fitness and boxing. I want to build one of the most respected boxing programs in the Pacific Northwest, developing national champions, future professional fighters, and eventually world champions. But beyond the competitive side, one of my biggest goals is to create opportunities for underprivileged kids who may not have the financial resources to pursue their dreams. I want to make sure that talent, dedication, and potential aren't overlooked simply because someone can't afford the opportunity.

With Colibrí Mexican Kitchen, my goal is to continue sharing our Mexican culture and traditions through food while growing the restaurant into a recognizable and respected name in the Seattle area. I want it to become a place people associate with great food, family, and authentic experiences.

Ultimately, I don't want to just build successful businesses. I want to build something that outlives me. I want to create jobs, develop future leaders, inspire other entrepreneurs, and show young people from backgrounds similar to mine that their circumstances don't have to define their future.

I'm still early in my journey, and I know there's a long road ahead. But I've always believed that if your dreams don't challenge you, you're probably not dreaming big enough. My goal is to keep building, keep learning, and create a legacy that extends far beyond financial success.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

I think one of the biggest misconceptions about the boxing industry is that it's just about fighting, aggression, and physical toughness. People often see boxing as a violent sport, but what they don't see is the discipline, respect, patience, and mental strength it takes to become a good boxer. Some of the most respectful and disciplined young people I've met have come through boxing. The sport teaches you how to control your emotions, handle adversity, and stay composed under pressure. Those lessons go far beyond the ring and can completely change someone's life.

Another misconception, especially when it comes to entrepreneurship, is that owning a business means having freedom, making money, and being your own boss. What people don't see are the sacrifices, financial risks, long hours, and responsibilities that come with keeping a business alive. Whether it's running a boxing gym or a restaurant, there's an incredible amount of work happening behind the scenes that customers never see.

I've learned that both industries require much more than passion. They require consistency, leadership, adaptability, and the ability to keep showing up even when things aren't going your way.

At the end of the day, I believe the biggest misconception is that success is about what people see on the outside. They see the champions, the businesses, and the accomplishments, but rarely the years of sacrifice, setbacks, and hard work it took to get there. To me, the real value is in the person you become throughout that process.

What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business, and how did you deal with it?

One of my biggest struggles in building my businesses has been learning how to balance the financial pressure, personal sacrifices, and responsibility that comes with being an entrepreneur. When you own a business, especially more than one, there are times when everything seems to be going against you. You still have rent to pay, employees depending on you, customers to take care of, and a family to provide for, regardless of how well business is doing.

I've experienced slow months, financial setbacks, moments of uncertainty, and times when I've questioned whether I made the right decisions. One of the hardest lessons I've learned is that working harder doesn't always solve every problem. Sometimes you have to step back, evaluate your decisions, understand your numbers, and find a smarter way forward.

What helped me get through those moments was developing the ability to separate my emotions from my decisions. I learned to focus on what I could control, adapt when something wasn't working, and remind myself why I started in the first place. I've also had to learn that I can't do everything myself. Building the right team, trusting others, and becoming a better leader have been just as important as working hard.

Growing up with adversity taught me how to be resilient, but entrepreneurship has taught me how to turn that resilience into strategy. I'm still facing challenges and learning every day, and I don't pretend to have everything figured out.

One thing I've come to understand is that success isn't about avoiding failure or difficult moments. It's about how you respond to them. Some of my greatest lessons have come from my hardest experiences, and I believe those challenges are shaping me into the person and business owner I need to become to accomplish my bigger goals.

Who was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

Growing up, my favorite music artist was Nipsey Hussle, and my favorite athlete was Erik "El Terrible" Morales. Both inspired me in different ways, but looking back, I realize they shared a lot of the same qualities that I try to apply to my own life today.

Nipsey Hussle was more than just a rapper to me. I admired his mentality, his entrepreneurial spirit, and his commitment to building something bigger than himself. He represented ownership, independence, and the importance of investing back into your community. His message about the marathon, understanding that success is a long journey built through consistency, sacrifice, and perseverance, has always resonated with me. As someone building multiple businesses, I relate to that mentality more than ever.

Erik Morales represented a different kind of inspiration. Being born in Mexico myself, I always admired his heart, toughness, and willingness to face anyone, regardless of the odds. He wasn't afraid of adversity, and he never backed down from a challenge. His determination and fighting spirit are qualities I try to instill in the young fighters I coach today.

What I admire most about both of them is that they came from humble beginnings and built something extraordinary through hard work and belief in themselves. One inspired my entrepreneurial mindset, while the other inspired my love for boxing.

If there's one thing I've taken from both of them, it's that greatness isn't given to you. It's earned through sacrifice, discipline, and the willingness to keep going when others would quit. That's a mentality I try to carry with me in everything I do.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

I want to give a huge shoutout to my entire Elite Boxing family, especially our coaches, fighters, members, and parents who have trusted us and believed in what we're building. None of our accomplishments would be possible without the dedication of our team and the support of our community. Watching our young athletes grow, not just as fighters but as individuals, is one of the greatest rewards of what I do.

I want to recognize my family and everyone involved in Colibrí Mexican Kitchen for the hard work and sacrifices that go into building a restaurant and sharing our Mexican culture with the Seattle community.

Lastly, I want to give a shoutout to everyone who has ever supported either of our businesses, whether you've walked through our doors, recommended us to someone, or simply believed in what we're trying to accomplish. Your support means more than you know.

I come from humble beginnings, and I haven't forgotten where I started or the people who have helped me along the way. I'm grateful for how far we've come, but I know we're just getting started. The marathon continues.