Phoenix police search for leads in murder of youth boxing champion beaten to death

D.S. Woodfill | USA TODAY Sports

PHOENIX -- It's been three days since a promising young boxer with Olympic aspirations was murdered, and Phoenix police are still searching for leads in the case.

Alexis Urbina, 17, died at a Valley hospital on Wednesday, the day after he was found beaten inside his family's south Phoenix home. A friend said Urbina had severe head trauma.

No assailants were identified as of Friday. And although the case is being investigated as a robbery/homicide, officials say there's no clear motive.

"There are absolutely no leads at all," said friend Ralph Velez Jr., a local boxing promoter. "They have nothing, and that's the sad part."

It didn't appear that anyone forced their way into the home, but items were missing, including some of Urbina's personal effects that had little monetary value, Velez said.

Urbina's South Mountain High School classmates will host a car wash with proceeds to go to Urbina's family 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Taco Bell on Southern and Seventh avenues in Phoenix, said Craig Pletenik, a Phoenix Union High School District spokesman.

Urbina had high aspirations and great promise, Velez said, adding that both Urbina and his sister both hoped to win spots on the men's and women's U.S. boxing team for the 2016 Olympics.

Urbina was a 2013 USA Boxing National Champion at junior welterweight, or 141-pounds, in the Youth Men's Division.

In June, he was part of Team USA at the Klitschko Brothers Tournament in Berdychiv, Ukraine. The Klitschko brothers are two of boxing's heavyweight champions.

"This kid was the next Oscar De La Hoya," Velez said. "He was that talented. It's really, really sad."

D.S. Woodfill writes for The Arizona Republic, a Gannett property.