LAFAYETTE, La – Edward Hamilton Jr. is not only one of the best boxers in the state, but one of the best in the country.

He has seven belts — so far– and is working to make it to the Olympics one day.

Edward has been boxing for four years, and at 10 years old, he’s already one of the most dominant boxers.

“He’s been so superior to his age bracket, he’s been forced to fight 11 and 12-year-olds in tournaments,” Edward’s father Edward Hamilton Sr. says.

Edward is ranked No. 3 in the nation in the weight class above him.

His motivation is simple.

“Be the best,” Edward says. “Make a name for Lafayette and really just Louisiana as a whole.”

Boxing isn’t your typical hobby, but for Edward it was a necessity.

“I got bullied at school,” Edward says. “My dad came picked me up and put me into boxing. He said this will never happen again. You will be ready to defend yourself.”

Before and after school, Edward devotes time to training.

“I wake up at 5:30 in the morning,” Edward says. “I do my strength and conditioning or sometimes we just work on technique. We get to the gym. I stretch, then run. I do my calisthenics. Hit the mixed bag.”

And his training doesn’t stop when he leaves the gym.

“His television maybe does not turn off from boxing,” Hamilton Sr. says. “We have like four fighters that we study. We try to take something from everybody.”

Guys like Floyd Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya, boxers Edward has even had the chance to meet.

“They’re greatness,” Edward says. “Their personality, how they are, how great they was.”

Walter Monceaux coaches Edward at Rayne Eastside Boxing Gym, and he says it’s hard to find another 10-year-old with the talent and potential Edward has.

“In his age and weight category, there’s nobody in the state that can deal with him,” Monceaux says. “I truthfully believe he can do anything he sets his mind to, especially with the support system and the team behind him.”

“We have a great supporting cast from the gym here in Rayne, Coach Walter, all the celebrity boxers,” Hamilton Sr. says. “We just have a great supporting cast so it’s really easy for us to continue doing what we’re doing. All we gotta do is work.”

“The hard work is paying off,” Edward says. “I put in all this work, and I got what I wanted.”

Just this weekend, Edward went to Houston and won another fight by unanimous decision.