"But that's not who I am," the 17-year-old Wharton High senior of Puerto Rican descent said. "I'm not just some fighter and boxing is not what I'm all about."

Granted, Hurricane Sammy, a 141-pound lightweight boxer, who is 119-17 in a career that started when he was 8, is built like a boxer. Valentin, however wants more: becoming a business owner, an inspiring philanthropist, an engineer and even an Olympian.

"I used to watch professional fights all the time with my dad — the whole family would get to watch it," Valentin said. "Dad used to say, 'It's not just about beating people up.' Boxing will teach you a lot about self defense and self confidence, but mostly, respect for yourself and especially for others.

"I've always taken that to heart and figured it's the reason who I am today."

His father, Sammy Sr., sees that in his son, who he has trained since the age of seven.

"Sammy, first, is a gentleman, then, he's more of a grown up already than anything else," Sammy Sr. said. "He's a motivator. Everyone Sammy meets, he gives them a push, makes them work harder, and I couldn't be more proud of everything he's already done."

It's this part of Sammy Jr. that has also changed Sammy Sr. for the better. Once upon a time, the elder Sammy used to weigh 589 pounds, but Sammy Jr. pushed him to slim down.

"I'm his best friend, then his dad, then his trainer, manager and promoter," said Sammy Sr., a former four-star chef and kick boxer, who is now down 309 pounds. "But I have to take those titles off my back, here and there, and just be his best friend to give him a breather."

Round after round

About the only time Valentin stops to catch his breath is in between rounds. Not just during a match, but in his life, as well.

After spending most of his day at Wharton, Valentin goes to the gym his father opened and named after him to work with kids in an after-school program. After training with them for a few hours, he trains himself for at least three more hours every weekday. Then, it's homework time and preparing for college, which will be either USF or HCC.

Every couple of months, Valentin has a match on the weekends, and even during all that, he has found a way to start The Hurricane Sammy Foundation that collects toys for sick children.

"Growing up, I saw a lot of friends end up in jail or dead or took the wrong path," he said. "I wanted to give back to the community, so we gather toys at my church or when we have a show, we ask people to bring toys for a discount on a ticket or entry."

When he does take a break, it requires his father to order a few days off. It's all part of Valentin's drive that won't quit.

"Some days I just have to let him go to have two, three days without training," the elder Valentin said. "It's not just about a break -- he needs to recuperate the other parts of his life. It's hard -- he trains three and a half hours a day and has to remember to be just himself once in a while."

"Athletes know that 90 percent of what you feel is from the inside, and no scout or anyone can judge that," added Reggie Williams, a former major league baseball player who is a trainer at Sammy's gym. "Sammy, he uses what's inside and that's why he is where he is today."

Valentin will wait four years before pursuing his Olympic dream at the 2016 games in Rio de Janiero.

"It's the simple reason of he's just 17," Valentin Sr. said. "Sammy has to take it one step at a time."

In his corner

Valentin's mom, Wanda Vasquez, is affectionately known as Mama Hurricane.

"This isn't just about Sammy," his dad said. "His two sisters have always helped out, whether it's holding the bag for him or driving him to get somewhere. And my oldest daughter (Darlene) and my wife -- it's been all on their shoulders as they are the only ones working now, financially supporting the family so I can train Sammy.

"I couldn't do it without them or if we didn't do it as a family."

The Valentin family has built its way up from its beginning in Plant City.

"I've always wanted to make enough money to buy my parents a house, maybe a car or two," Sammy Jr. said. "My dad has always said that if you work hard now, you'll get everything you want in life later and that's when you can chill and enjoy it. We never had that much growing up, but my parents have given me so much, so if I work hard now, then I can give them something back as soon as I can.

"I just want to show how appreciative I am just to have what I have now."

What Valentin has now is a promising career, if not a good head start, to become, well, whatever he wants.

"I've never wanted to be known as just 'Sammy The Boxer'," he said. "Boxing isn't everything, it's definitely a big part of my life, but I don't want it revolve around just boxing — I love boxing, but sometimes, I just like to explore other things. I don't have to be all about boxing."