Peter Latorre has achieved victory over every opponent he’s faced, both locally and globally.
The 28-year-old Marine veteran from Elmont has quickly established himself in the boxing world, boasting an impressive 6-0 record with wins at prominent venues, including New Jersey’s Prudential Center and Madison Square Garden.
“Every win has been a knockout,” Latorre, standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 147 pounds as a welterweight, shared.
“Martial arts, in a way, mirrors a military experience—there’s that rush of emotions like joy, fear, and the need for clear thinking amid it all.”
The contender from Long Island is currently ranked among the top 30 in the United States and within the top 100 worldwide, but she’s aiming for more than just a strong winning streak. She’s garnered respect from women’s featherweight champion Amanda Serrano.
achieve your goals
Latorre hails from a military family and holds a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling and is a certified mental health counselor, having studied at Hofstra University.
While striving for boxing titles, he aspires to assist fellow veterans who face challenges in their lives.
“I’ve witnessed the struggles of PTSD and addiction. My father is a recovering addict, so I understand how war can impact a family,” he mentioned. “If I can sit down with another veteran who relates, I believe I can make a difference.”
Latorre faced his own share of difficulties during his service, including time on ships with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which had deployments in the Gulf of Aden and nearby regions like Somalia and Yemen.
“There were casualties and a helicopter crash,” he remembered.
Known by the nickname “Voodoo,” which pays homage to Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child,” the name comes from his grandfather, Lewis, who received it from fellow soldiers during the Vietnam War.
After a harrowing escape from a Viet Cong ambush that devastated his platoon, Lewis earned honors such as the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, along with his distinctive nickname.
He passed away in 2009 due to the effects of defoliants from the war.
“People often ask how I manage to punch so hard. I tell them it’s a gift from God, likely inherited from my grandfather,” Latorre said. “I think it’s in my blood.”
hand out a weapon
A boxing coach recognized Latorre’s potential nearly nine years ago when he came back from his first deployment and was sparring with his cousin.
This encounter inspired Latorre to pursue boxing seriously once he left the hospital.
“For the last two years of my service, my mind was purely on boxing,” he stated.
He competed in 26 amateur bouts from 2020 to 2024 before turning professional, enduring multiple surgeries along the way.
“I had shoulder surgery, hand surgery, chest surgery, but overall, I gained valuable experiences,” Latorre reflected.
Fighters are looking at four to six shorter bouts through the end of 2026.
“This really prepares me for 2027; I plan to take significant action then,” he noted regarding his path toward a title fight.
Latorre aims to continue his intense training and assist veterans in securing disability benefits for their recovery.
“I attend therapy myself because I feel it would be hypocritical to act as a therapist without going through it myself. But helping veterans acts as a form of therapy for me,” he explained.
“That’s where the real victory lies,” Latorre added. He wishes to leverage his growing platform to support similar initiatives.
In the ring, Latorre may have a rematch on the horizon as early as next month.
His ultimate aspiration? To make his hometown proud by becoming the first champion fighter from Elmont.
He believes the ideal venue for such a match would be the UBS Arena, allowing local supporters to rally behind him.
“It was genuinely awakening,” Latorre said. “I can’t fully describe how much it signifies to me.”
