From the Ring to the Classroom: An Unexpected Journey
Rubén Maheda, a Business Administration and International Business student at the University of Montemorelos, begins a new chapter after transitioning from a professional boxing career to university life. [Photo courtesy of FACEJ.]
February 4, 2026 | Montemorelos, Nuevo León, Mexico | Laura Marrero and IAD News Staff
A few years ago, Rubén Maheda, 26, was preparing to step into the ring on one of the most prominent international boxing cards. Today, he is beginning a new semester at Montemorelos University—a Seventh-day Adventist University institution. He is convinced that even when plans are broken, purpose can find new paths. His story is one of many that intersect as the spring 2026 semester begins at the Montemorelos University.
Maheda arrived at the university after an abrupt turn in his life. At 19, he made his debut as a professional boxer and was on track to fulfill the dream of every fighter—establishing himself on the international circuit. A bout in the United States, on a card headlined by Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, represented the opportunity he had worked toward for years. However, a motorcycle accident just three weeks before the fight sidelined him and marked the end of that chapter. The injury was severe; his quadriceps was destroyed and required surgery. The physical impact was accompanied by uncertainty, closed doors, and deep disorientation.
Rubén Maheda (left) trains with his coach Adrián Núñez Ponce. Photo courtesy of Rubén Maheda]
With no clear direction and fearful of starting over, Maheda accepted a temporary job that would become the beginning of a new journey. During that period, he experienced a spiritual turning point and was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church at age 22. Encouraged persistently by his family, he began exploring academic options. Several plans to enroll at other universities fell through, eventually leading him to consider Montemorelos University—an option he had never imagined for himself.
A year after his baptism, new doors opened. In 2023, Maheda arrived at Montemorelos University with doubts, limited financial resources, and the added challenge of adapting to an academic environment that was completely unfamiliar. “I didn’t even know how to use a computer,” he recalls. The transition was abrupt, but he was not alone. In the process, Maheda found more than classrooms and assignments—he found people. Professors who patiently taught him the basics, coordinators who walked alongside him during moments of anxiety, campus job opportunities, and an environment that gradually became a support network. Now in third year of Business Administration and International Business, Maheda recognizes that his journey at the university is, for him, a testimony of faith and perseverance.
Rubén Maheda presents his Professional Portfolio alongside professors Fernando Martínez (right) and Nelson Díaz (left). [Photo courtesy of Rubén Maheda].
Maheda’s story embodies that call. What began as a shattered dream found new meaning within a community where academic and spiritual support walk hand in hand. “If I came here, it was for a purpose,” he says, convinced that each semester represents an opportunity to continue growing and serving.
Like that the Spring 2026 semester at Montemorelos beings—with classrooms full, challenges ahead, and a network of interconnected stories, said Castillo. “Stories that remind us that even when plans change, the path can be rebuilt when we walk together,” he said.
To learn more about Montemorelos University, its programs, initiatives, and activities, visit um.edu.mx
Lisandra Vicente and Brenda Cerón contributed to this article.