Who is Anthony Robles' father? Ron Robles and his relationship with Anthony
Anthony Robles' father was not part of his life, but he got a father figure when his mother, Judy, married his stepdad, Ron Robles. The one-legged wrestler did not have the best relationship with Ron and was raised primarily by Judy, whom he credits as his hero.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Anthony Robles' real father left when he learnt that his mother, Judy, was pregnant.
- The NCAA wrestling champion has shared that he saw Ron as his dad, but Ron never gave him the fatherly love he yearned for.
- Anthony Robles' life is the subject of Unstoppable, a 2025 biographical sports drama on Amazon Prime Video.
Anthony Robles' profile summary
| Full name | Anthony Marc Robles |
| Date of birth | July 20, 1988 |
| Age | 37 years old (as of September 2025) |
| Place of birth | La Mirada, California, United States |
| Current residence | Chandler, Arizona, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Afro-Latino |
| Height | 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m/173 cm) |
| Wife | Laura Robles (2021 to date) |
| Children | Son Abel Robles |
| Parents | Judy Robles, Ron Robles (stepfather) |
| Siblings | Nicolas, Joshua, Andrew, Ronnie |
| Alma mater | Arizona State University (Business & Corporate Communications)Mesa High School |
| Profession | Wrestling coach, wrestler, commentator, motivational speaker |
| Social media | InstagramLinkedInX (Twitter)Facebook |
Who is Anthony Robles' real father?
Judy Robles met Anthony Robles' biological father when she was in junior high school. When she found out she was pregnant, he made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with Judy or their unborn child. Anthony, who is now 37 years old, has yet to meet his real dad.
Source: Original
Inside Anthony Robles' complex relationship with his stepfather
Anthony Robles' mom, Judy, married his stepfather, Ron Robles, when he was around two years old. She was seeking to have a complete family and changed Anthony's last name to Robles when he was 11.
The NCAA wrestling champion wanted to be accepted by Ron. He revealed in his 2013 interview with Deadspin that he saw him as his real father.
I don't call him my stepdad—I don't think of him as my stepdad. He's my dad. And I really looked up to him.
Anthony told the publication that Ron would criticise him "mercilessly" and sometimes assaulted Judy in his presence. He did not like Anthony's darker skin colour, which he got from his father's African-American roots and found him and his mother to be "intolerable."
Their family eventually broke up when Anthony was in college at Arizona State University. Ron left his mother and moved to California with another woman.
Source: Getty Images
Judy Robles raised Anthony and his siblings
Judy was only 16 years old when Anthony Robles was born on July 20, 1988. She told USA Today in 2013 that it was "scary" when she found out her son had only one leg, but she told herself, "Let's just move forward with it." The cause of his condition remains unknown.
Her parents offered to raise Anthony as her little brother, but Judy chose to be a mom while finishing her studies. During her marriage to Ron, she welcomed four more children, including sons Nicolas, Joshua, and Andrew and daughter Ronnie.
When Judy Robles' husband Ron left, she fell into depression. She was left to care for her five kids without income, and the bank sought to foreclose on their house after she failed to pay her mortgage. She would sell blood plasma to get money for food.
Judy finally found a way to care for her kids as a single mother while Anthony thrived in his NCAA wrestling career. She found a job at ASU and later returned to school to update her academic qualifications with a master's and a doctorate degree.
Source: Getty Images
Anthony credits his mother for his success
Judy shared in her 2013 interview with USA Today that she wanted Anthony to be independent. She did not treat him as disabled when he was growing up.
The wrestler shared in his 2012 memoir 'Unstoppable — From Underdog to Undefeated: How I Became a Champion' that Judy raised him for the most part and "in a way she was my mom and dad."
She had the nurturing role, but also at the same time that role to push us, to make us go through those uncomfortable moments ... [which] in the long run would help us improve as human beings.
Anthony and Judy Robles' life story is the subject of the 2025 Prime Video movie Unstoppable. The film stars Jennifer Lopez as Judy and Jharrel Jerome as Anthony.
Source: Getty Images
Anthony Robles' wife is his biggest supporter
The one-legged wrestler tied the knot with realtor Laura Robles in late 2021. The Arizona native often shares the Robles' family moments on social media. On Anthony's 37th birthday in July 2025, she celebrated him with the Instagram caption:
Watching your story impact and inspire people all over the world has been so incredible to see... You are the man I always prayed for and so much more. Thank you for being a wonderful example of a husband and father for our boy.
Laura and Anthony welcomed son Abel Wil Robles on December 28, 2022. The wrestler told People in January 2025 that he wants to be the best father and hopes his son will follow in his footsteps as a wrestler.
I want to be that dad that I wanted growing up for him, and just be his number one fan like my mom was for me.
Source: Getty Images
What does Anthony Robles do for a living now?
Anthony Robles was a great wrestler, but he did not pursue the sport professionally after winning the NCAA Division 1 championships in 2011. In 2022, he became a wrestling coach for his former high school, Mesa High School.
Robles is an ESPN commentator on the NCAA Division 1 Wrestling Championships, a position he has held since 2012. He also travels across the country as a motivational speaker.
Anthony established the Robles Unstoppable Foundation, where he serves as president, and her mother, Judy, serves as Vice President and CEO. The foundation offers scholarships and mentorships.
Source: Getty Images
Final word
Although Anthony Robles’ father was noticeably absent from his life, he stated his mother, Judy, provided the love and support he needed. The wrestler continues to defy odds and inspire others.
READ MORE: Meet Bryce Young's parents: Craig and Julie Young's inspiring story
Briefly.co.za published the story of how Bryce Young's parents influenced his football career. His father, Craig Young, is a licensed mental health therapist, while his mother, Julie, is a former special education teacher.
Craig initially coached Bryce but later took a step back to focus on positive reinforcement and making sure football was Bryce's own choice, not a parental pressure. The NFL quarterback credits his parents' influence in his success as an athlete.
Source: Briefly News
