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Álvaro Borges Neto

“Alvinho”

Source: ba.gov.br

Álvaro Borges Neto combines jiu-jitsu with disability-rights advocacy and was documented as a black belt in September 2025.

Biography

Álvaro Borges Neto, who prefers Alvinho, is a jiu-jitsu black belt whose public work also includes disability-rights advocacy. His participation in sport and public discussion was documented while he was still a purple belt, before the black-belt recognition that followed in 2025. Born in Salvador, he tried swimming, capoeira and football before taking up boxing in 2014. He began jiu-jitsu with Pablo Passos in 2016. Sport and public participation By March 2022, Borges was a purple belt and a physical-education student. He was also public-relations director at SerDown and a self-advocate with FBASD. On March 12, he took part in the Pegue Leve event in Salvador's Costa Azul park, which combined sport with public discussion challenging prejudice about Down syndrome. His presence there brought his sporting and public-facing roles into the same community event. He competed at the inaugural Brazilian Para Jiu-Jitsu Championship in 2023 and the first Pan-American event in Manaus in 2024. Another appearance took a different form. On January 27, 2024, Borges joined UFC heavyweight Jailton Almeida in a charity exhibition at Demo Fight 18 in Salvador. MMA Mania's report described Borges reversing position, moving to Almeida's back and attempting submissions during the demonstration. Almeida publicly congratulated him afterward. The event was an exhibition with Almeida, rather than a bout in the UFC. Black belt and continued advocacy A public black-belt ceremony was announced for September 13, 2025, at Salvador's Parque São Braz. By September 22, Bahia's official para-sport celebration included Borges as a black belt. A report published the following day confirmed that status. His 2025 support included R$800 a month from Bolsa Esporte and Sudesb travel assistance. That September, Bnews described him as studying physical education at UNIP while continuing as Ser Down's public-relations director and a national self-advocate. In September 2026, Team Pablo Passos identified Borges as Bahia's first jiu-jitsu black belt with Down syndrome. The report also described his coach's wider work: Passos had developed training for para-athletes and a community project offering free sessions to children and adolescents.

Sources for this profile

  • Sudesb/SECOM, 2025-09-11.(opens in a new tab)

    • Álvaro Borges Neto prefers the name Alvinho.

      Where in the source: Biography.

      Accessed:

    • Born in Salvador, Borges tried swimming, capoeira and football as a child, began boxing in 2014 and jiu-jitsu in 2016 under Pablo Passos.

      Where in the source: Sports background.

      Accessed:

    • His public black-belt ceremony was scheduled for September 13, 2025, at Parque São Braz in Salvador, during the disability-rights awareness month Setembro Verde.

      Where in the source: Ceremony announcement.

      Accessed:

    • In 2025 he received a monthly R$800 Bolsa Esporte grant and Sudesb travel support.

      Where in the source: Support paragraph.

      Accessed:

    • He competed at the inaugural Brazilian Para Jiu-Jitsu Championship in 2023 and the inaugural Pan-American event in Manaus in 2024.

      Where in the source: Participation paragraph.

      Accessed:

  • Setre/SECOM, para-sport day report, September 23, 2025.(opens in a new tab)

    • By September 22, 2025, Borges was a jiu-jitsu black belt and took part in Bahia's para-sport celebration.

      Where in the source: Event report opening and named athletes.

      Accessed:

  • Agencia de Noticias das Favelas, Rose Cunha, community sport report, September 16, 2026.(opens in a new tab)

    • In September 2026, Team Pablo Passos identified Borges as the first jiu-jitsu black belt with Down syndrome in Bahia.

      Where in the source: Inclusion section, paragraph naming the graduate.

      Accessed:

    • Borges' coach Pablo Passos also developed training for para-athletes and a community project offering free sessions to children and adolescents.

      Where in the source: Community project and inclusion sections.

      Accessed:

  • Bnews, athlete and promotion profile, September 10, 2025.(opens in a new tab)

    • In September 2025, Borges was studying physical education at UNIP and serving as Ser Down's public-relations director and a national self-advocate.

      Where in the source: Final biographical paragraph.

      Accessed:

  • Jornal Grande Bahia, Pegue Leve community event, March 14, 2022.(opens in a new tab)

    • In March 2022, Borges was already a purple belt, physical-education student, SerDown public-relations director and FBASD self-advocate.

      Where in the source: Main event report, named participants and roles.

      Accessed:

    • Borges took part in a March 12, 2022, Pegue Leve event in Salvador's Costa Azul park, combining sport and public discussion to challenge prejudice about Down syndrome.

      Where in the source: Opening event paragraph and participant list.

      Accessed:

  • MMA Mania, Alexander Behunin, charity exhibition report, January 28, 2024.(opens in a new tab)

    • On January 27, 2024, Borges joined UFC heavyweight Jailton Almeida in a charity exhibition at Demo Fight 18 in Salvador.

      Where in the source: Opening report, date, event and setting.

      Accessed:

    • The exhibition included Borges reversing position, moving to Almeida's back and attempting submissions; afterwards Almeida publicly congratulated him.

      Where in the source: Match description and Almeida's congratulatory message.

      Accessed:

Competition results

Recorded tournament results, newest first
YearEventResultDivision
2024Pan-American Para Jiu-Jitsu Championship (inaugural)Source: bjj-world.comVerifiedCompetitorVerified
2024South American Para Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Salvador (vice-champion / runner-up)Source: bahianoticias.com.brVerified2nd place (runner-up)Verified
2023Brazilian Para Jiu-Jitsu Championship (inaugural, national)Source: bjj-world.comVerifiedCompetitorVerified

Lineage

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