Though he was not recognized with the “Prospect of the Year” award in 2024, junior welterweight Cain Sandoval believes that’s what he was.
Sandoval, 14-0 (12 KOs), returns on February 21 against veteran Mark Bernaldez at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California. The bout is promoted by 360 Promotions and will stream on UFC Fight Pass.
Sandoval, 22, from Sacramento, California, felt snubbed by recent lists that didn’t include him as one of the top prospects in the United States, let alone the world. He spoke with BoxingScene and ran down his list of accomplishments.
“I believe ‘prospect of the year’ doesn’t mean that you had the most fights. I feel like it’s who you fight and how you perform,” Sandoval said. “I fought Javier Molina and I beat the brakes off him. I followed that up with beating the ‘prospect killer’ Angel Rebollar, who is known for taking people’s O’s. I beat the shit out of him.”
Rebollar had recently taken the “0” from Omar Rosario and Justin Cardona, but Sandoval comfortably outpointed him in April 2024. In August, Sandoval returned with a sixth-round knockout win over Romero Duno.
Three days later, Sandoval found out his daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. He was set to fight in December in Santa Ynez. His preparation would have included sparring sessions with Arnold Barboza Jnr in Big Bear Lake, California. Sandoval instead scrapped those plans to stay by his child’s side in the hospital.
“I had to spend time with her,” Sandoval said. “The mental darkness I had to endure during my daughter’s diagnosis with leukemia was unthinkable. I lost myself, I’m not going to lie. I went to the gym, and mentally I wasn’t there. So, I took two months off.”
Sandoval now has a new focus, as he feels this will be his year to ascend to contender status. He believes his fight with Bernaldez, the 30-year-old Filipino fighter who holds a record of 25-6 (18 KOs), is just the start to what he sees as a big 2025.
“2025 is going to be a big year for me. I feel I am destined to do bigger things than most people think I am capable of,” Sandoval said. “Everyone could say, ‘Oh, you’re going to be a champion.’ Everybody tells me that. I believe I could do better and bigger things. I believe I can win titles in multiple divisions and become undisputed.”
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