ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

M.L. SALAZAR

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M.L. Salazar was born in Cuba during the tumultuous era of the Castro revolution. He was just a toddler when his family fled their homeland, seeking the freedom denied to them under a totalitarian regime. Their journey took them across several countries before they eventually settled in Puerto Rico, where young Mario faced the harsh realities of being an immigrant and a refugee.

Discrimination was a daily battle—classmates taunted him, calling him “gusano” (worm), the derogatory term Fidel Castro used for those who fled Cuba. But Mario refused to be a victim. Fighting back became a necessity, and boxing became his way of earning respect. Through the sport, he found discipline, strength, and purpose.

As he grew older, his thirst for challenge and personal growth led him to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. While deployed to the Mediterranean, he continued honing his boxing skills in smokers—unsanctioned fights held among Marines. The Corps instilled in him a warrior’s mindset, discipline, and an unshakable sense of pride in his country and in himself.

After serving, Mario returned to Puerto Rico, where he built a life for himself, marrying and raising five children, all of whom have grown into successful young adults. Despite his achievements in both corporate sales and business ownership, his passion for boxing never wavered.

For the last 12 years, Mario has been the owner and head trainer of Warrior’s Pride Boxing Academy in Miami, Florida, where he has trained and mentored countless young fighters, passing down the lessons that shaped him. He believes boxing is more than just a sport—it’s a way of life, a proving ground for character, and a means of self-discovery.

His inquisitive mind has always challenged the status quo. Never a follower, always a seeker of truth, Mario weaves much of his own life experiences, struggles, and triumphs into the characters of his first novel, Masters of Control.

Now happily remarried to Julia Buitrago, owner of Body Concept by Julia in Miami, the two share a passion for helping others achieve strength, discipline, and personal transformation.

With Masters of Control, M.L. Salazar brings his warrior’s heart, his fighter’s instinct, and his lifelong search for truth into a gripping thriller that will leave readers questioning everything they thought they knew. 

 

“NEVER FORGET WHO YOU ARE OR WHERE YOU CAME FROM”

Coach Mario