Tag Archives: 2012 Women’s Olympic Boxing

Another round of odd bins: Women’s Boxing around the globe!

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Another round of odd bins:  Women’s Boxing around the globe!

The Burqa Boxers of Afghanistan!

Afghanistan teenage girls train at the infamous Ghazi Stadium. Photo: Kate Geraghty

My beloved Afghani Women’s Boxing team, coined the Burqa Boxers have hit the news again — this time in the Sydney Morning Herald.  These brave young women and their coach continue to defy the odds just by showing up for practice twice a week! As quoted by writer Ben Doughty, Coach Mohammad Sabir Sharifi said, “”We will all work hard, and we will select the best, the strongest and the most talented and we will hope to have one of our girls represent our country at the Olympics.”  Here’s hoping that they do. This highly recommended article and pictural essay can be found here.

A win in Mexico!

Irma Sanchez (L) v. Carlota Santos

Irma “Guerita” Sanchez (20-5-1, 5KO’s) was sucessful in her quest for the WBF female flyweight belt against Panamanian Carlota Santos (5-2-4, 4KO’s) with a TKO victory in the seventh round of the bout.  With her win, Sanchez becomes the first female Mexican boxer to hold two world championships across two weight divisions. The fight was on the “Puños de ierro” card promoted by Hector Garcia’s HG BOXING at the Coliseo Olimpico de Guadalajara, Jalisco on Saturday night (7/23/2011).

Thank you Detroit Free Press!

Queen Underwood and Tiara Brown @ the Nationals, Photo: Jack Dempsey/AP

Queen Underwood and Tiara Brown @ the Nationals, Photo: Jack Dempsey/AP

Andrecia Wasson

Jo-Ann Barnass writing for the Detroit Free Press has a terrific piece entitled, 2012 Summer Olympics: Three classes are not enough for women’s boxing that is really a must read. Barnass publicizes the fact the three Olympic weight classes (Flyweight-112, Lightweight-132, Middleweight-165) have effectively curtailed the Olympic dreams of many women who are unable to step up or down in weight enough to make one of the sanctioned weight classes.  Her case in point is boxer Andrecia Wasson who  won the world welterweight title in Barbados last year, but at 152 pounds does not easily fall into either the lightweight or middleweight category.  Girlboxing has to agree that the limitation on weight classes is unnecessarily hampering the opportunities for women at the 2012 Olympics and applauds the Detroit Free Press for running this important piece!  The link to the piece is here.

Here’s some third round action of Andrecia Wasson at the 2010 Ringside World Championships

Odd Bins: Short takes on Women’s Boxing from around the globe.

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Odd Bins: Short takes on Women’s Boxing from around the globe.

Sparta Gym, Photo: Fernando Lara

The talk of El Centro, California are the two girls in the “Selected 7” — representing the Sparta Boxing Gym who will go on to the Ringside World Championships this coming August in Kansas City, MO!

Julie “Bazooka” Muñoz, 13, and Danika “Babyface” Lara, 13, are two of the seven fighters who began started training in earnest this week for the championships.  Click here for the full story.

Jessica Diaz, Mission Boxing Club, Photo: Gabe Hernandez

The Christian Science Monitor recently ran a feature about women’s boxing at the Mission Boxing Club in Mission, Texas. The following quote from Jessica Diaz is typical of women training to box the world over, “You just have to push yourself, you have to be dedicated” Diaz said. “I started training hard. I would come in twice a day and when I wouldn’t come in, I would run. I’d eat right and only drink water.”  Diaz will fight her first bout  nn Saturday, July 30,  at “Beto’s Boxing Club Show: Rumble In The Jungle” in Mercedes, TX.  Click here for the full story.

Irish Boxing — and in particular Irish Women’s Boxing received a huge boost with a 2.3 million dollar infusion of cash issued by the Irish Amateur Boxing Association to improve facilities at boxing clubs across Ireland. The funds are being allocated to provide women with such things as changing rooms of their own!  The intent is to encourage more women to take up the sport — and honors Ireland’s great amateur champion, Katie Taylor acknowledged as a serious Gold Medal contender in the lightweight division in next year’s Women’s Boxing debut at the 2012 Olympics.

The 2011 National Championship’s have begun — in Lao Cai provence, Viet Nam that is.  There will be not less than 86 women boxers representing 20 teams from across the country participating in the tournament across five weight categories. The winners of this year’s tournament will be invited to join the National Team and participate in upcoming regional events to include the 26th annual SEA Games scheduled for this coming November in Indonesia.  The top seed for the championships is Luu Thi Duyen who was a silver medalist in April’s World Youth Boxing Championships in Turkey and a gold medal winner at this month’s President’s Cup tournament in Indonesia.

 

 

 

 

Women’s boxing, women’s sports.

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Women’s boxing, women’s sports.

I know it was a Sunday evening in mid-summer, but something interesting happened last night: both ABC and CBS led their evening news reports with women’s soccer.  Japan had just won as exciting a World Cup final as can be remembered against the US team — only it wasn’t the men’s soccer final, it was the women’s. Eschewing the normal jingoist flag waving, credit was given where it was due to the tremendous, tenacious play of both teams and to Japan for having edged out the US team 3-1 in penalty kicks after having been tied at 2-2 in regulation play.

As a strong supporter of the sport of women’s boxing, so often marginalized, side-swiped and forgotten, cheering from the side-lines for the extraordinary athletes plying their considerable skills for 90 plus minutes of non-stop play on the soccer pitch was inspirational.  After all, these young women came to play. Much as women who glove up for battle in the ring whether it’s in small club amateur fights, National championships or professional bouts in local venues or in places as storied as Madison Square Garden.

My hope is that women’s sports do indeed have a place that can translate into support and appreciation for the women in boxing who work and train against all odds to ply their passion. And perhaps one day, a year or so from now, when the first female boxer ascends the Olympic podium to collect her well-earned gold medal, television stations around the world will lead with her victory!

Would … that it will be true.

For some further inspiration, here’s Katie Taylor’s 2010 World Championship win. (Action starts about 2:00 in.)

Women’s boxing from South Korea to Sierra Leone.

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Women’s boxing from South Korea to Sierra Leone.

Boxing in South Korea!

I came across this video about the growing popularity of women’s boxing in South Korea. The sport has seen a huge surge since South Korean actress, Lee Si-young won the 7th National Women’s Amateur Boxing Championships in the 48Kg weight class recently. The video is a nicely balanced piece and highly recommended.

Fighting for the Gold in Sierra Leone!

This short video is a beautiful visual montage of the challenges facing the Sierra Leone women’s amateur boxing team as they prepare for the 2012 Olympics in London.  The moving piece shows the true spirit of the game.  The images are by photographer Lee Karen Stow. (Further info on the photographer is here and here)


2011 USA Women’s National Boxing Champions crowned!

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2011 USA Women’s National Boxing Champions crowned!

Saturday proved to be a banner day for women’s boxing!

Marlen Esperza wins her 6th straight National Title. Photo: Ed Andrieski/AP

Flyweight and Houston’s own Marlen Esparza made history last night when she became the third female fighter to win her sixth consecutive national boxing championship boxing title, 27-16, in a rematch of last year’s championship title match with Tyrieshea Douglas (Baltimore, MD.)

Marlen Esperza (L) and Tyrieshea Douglas, Photo: Ed Andrieski/AP

As quoted by AP, Esparza said, “It’s the big show for every athlete. It’s huge.” Esparza went on to talk about her opportunity to compete in the Olympic trials. “I’ve always wanted to be able to go to the Olympics since I won my first national championship. I’m putting everything into it, the best years of my life. It’s my life goal.”


Queen Underwood landing a left to Tiara Brown's head, Photo: Jack Dempsey/AP

Seattle’s own Queen Underwood fought a close four round contest in the Olympic Lightweight division to take her fifth national National crown by a 23-21 decision over Tiara Brown.  In a closely fought battle of wills Underwood and Brown went toe-to-toe for much of the bout trading shots and fighting in the clinches. Underwood was able to come on strong in the forth round, however, with a flurry of clean, well executed shots to bring home the crown.  Coming into the quarter-finals Queen was quoted as saying, “I’m the defending champion, so that’s a lot more pressure than being anybody’s favorite,” Underwood said. “A lot of people are expecting me to win every time. … This Queen is the Queen transforming to that gold medalist at the 2012 Games. This Queen you’re seeing is going to be a beast.” (Article link here.)

Franchon Crews

In the final women’s championship bout in the Olympic Middleweight division, former national champion and Baltimore’s own Franchon Crews fought a very close contest against former national champion Alyssa DeFazio (Peoria, AZ).  Crews however, pulled out the win with a 15-13 decision.

 

Women’s Olympic Championship Bout Results:

112 lbs/female: Marlen Esparza, Houston, Texas, dec. Tyrieshia Douglas, Baltimore, Md., 27-16

132 lbs/female: Queen Underwood, Seattle, Wash., dec. Tiara Brown, Lehigh, Fla., 23-21

165 lbs/female: Franchon Crews, Baltimore, Md., dec. Alyssa DeFazio, Peoria, Ariz., 15-13

Women’s Non-Olympic Championship Bout Results:

106 lbs/female: Amy Sowers, Bozeman, Mont., dec. Marina Ramirez, Las Vegas, Nev., 21-14

119 lbs/female: Haley Pasion, Waipahu, Hawaii, dec. Amanda Pavone, Burlington, Mass., 11-11 (87-86)

125 lbs/female: Heather Hardy, Brooklyn, N.Y., dec. Elizabeth Leddy, Portland, Maine, 21-12

141 lbs/female: Cashmere Jackson, Cleveland, Ohio, dec. Luvisa Matali, Denver, Colo., 27-14

152 lbs/female: Stephanie Taylor, West Hills, Calif., dec. Amournix Stamp, Milwaukee, Wis., 9-1

178+ lbs/female: Charnita Johnson, Columbus, Ohio (unopposed champion)

women’s nationals – bronze medal winners!

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Women’s nationals – bronze medal winners!

Last night, the consolation bouts were held to determine the bronze medal winners for this year’s national championship titles.

In the women’s Olympic weights — while all six fighters will have the opportunity to duke it out at the Olympic trials next year, coming in as bronze medal winners will sure be sweet.

Christina Cruz, training at Gleason's Gym, Photo: Beatrice de Gea, NYT

New York’s own Christina Cruz, (New York, NY) is this year’s women’s flyweight bronze medal winner having defeated a game Poula Estrada, (Palmdale, CA), 13-7. Christina will also be representing the Unites States in the upcoming debut of women’s boxing at the Pan-Am Games this fall.

N’yteeyah Sherman, (Barberton, OH) who lost a 23-23 decision to Queen Underwood based on the punch count, handily defeated Lisa Porter, (Northridge, CA), 19-11 for the lightweight medal.  This is exciting indeed for Sherman who is walking away with the bronze in her first-ever nationals.

Tika Hemingway

In the 165 weight division, Tika Hemingway, (Pittsburgh, PA), won a close battle over Tiffanie Ward, (Hacienda Heights, CA), 16-14, for the bronze.

The finals will be fought today with the the non-Olympic women’s weight classes fighting at 2:00 PM.  The Olympic weight classes will begin this evening at 6:00 PM.

There will be a LIVE WEBCAST on USA Boxing’s website (click here) starting at 6:00 PM MT — and the chance to preview your future Olympic heroines in actions!

 

Friday’s Consolation Bout Results area as follows:

106 lbs/female: Lisa Ha, Honolulu, Hawaii, dec. Elizabeth Rodriguez, Gilroy, Calif., 17-11
112 lbs/female: Christina Cruz, New York, N.Y., dec. Poula Estrada, Palmdale, Calif., 13-7
119 lbs/female: Nephateria Miller, New Haven, Conn., dec. Lindsay Bartels, Omaha, Neb., 30-22
125 lbs/female: Lori Argumedo, Commerce, Calif., dec. Emily Dgnan, Jasper, Tenn.
132 lbs/female: N’yteeyah Sherman, Barberton, Ohio dec. Lisa Porter, Northridge, Calif., 19-11
141 lbs/female: Ariel Beck, Deer Lodge, Mont., dec. Kathleen Walsh, Rankankama, N.Y., 19-10
152 lbs/female: Faith Franco, Duarte, Calif., won on medical disqualification over Diona Wigand, Lexington, Ky., Medical-DQ
165 lbs/female: Tika Hemingway, Pittsburgh, Pa., dec. Tiffanie Ward, Hacienda Heights, Calif., 16-14
201+ lbs/female: Dominic Breazeale, Anaheim, Calif., won on medical disqualification over O’Jayland Brown, Sacramento, Calif., Medical- DQ

 

Women’s nationals semi-finals – Day 4!

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Women’s Nationals Semi-Finals – Day 4!

We are talking really smoking hot in the Olympic divisions!!!

Flyweight!

Marlen Esperza, in training

Marlen Esperza (Houston, TZ) did not disappoint when she handily defeated New York’s own Christina Cruz 9-3.  With this victory, Esperza will be competing for her sixth straight national title in the Finals.

Tyriesha Douglas (L)

Tyrieshia Douglas (Baltimore, MD)  defeated contender Poula Estrada (Palmdale, CA) by a score of 17-11.  This will set up an exciting rematch of the Esperza v. Douglas 2010 National Championship battle!

Lightweight!

Queen Underwood

In a real barn-burner live tweeted by writer Raquel Ruiz, the momentum of the fight shifted back and forth between four-time champion Queen Underwood (Seattle, WA) and contender N’yteeyah Sherman (Barberton, OH) competing in her first national tournament.  They traded punches back and forth with Queen using her ring skill to try to outbox Sherman.  In the end, with the score tied 23-23, the judges awarded the win to Queen Underwood with a tiebreaker decision based on the punch count which was scored in Queen’s favor, 116-96.

Tiara Brown

Compared to the Underwood v. Sherman bout, the Tiara Brown (Lehigh Acres, FL) battle with Lisa Porter (Northridge, CA) was a relative “walk-over” with Brown handily defeating Porter, 13-7.  Underwood and Brown will face each other in Saturday night’s final.

Middleweight!

Franchon Crews

To round out the Olympic divisions, Franchon Crews (Baltimore, MD) defeated Tiffanie Ward (Hacienda Heights, CA) in another close contest by the score 14-13.  The former champion will meet Alyssa DeFazio (Peoria, AZ) who handily defeated the former light heavyweight champion Tika Hemingway (Pittsburgh, PA), 20-14.

A Girlboxing shoutout to all of the amazing women boxers who have participated so far!  Now it’s time to get to work so *ALL* of the female boxing weight divisions will included in the 2016 Olympics!

Here’s the full roster of semi-final women’s bouts.

106 lbs/female: Amy Sowers, Bozeman, Mont., dec. Elizabeth Rodriguez, Gilroy, Calif., 16-10
106 lbs/female: Marina Ramirez, Las Vegas, Nev., dec. Lisa Ha, Honolulu, Hawaii, 15-13

112 lbs/female: Tyrieshia Douglas, Baltimore, Md., dec. Poula Estrada, Palmdale, Calif., 17-11
112 lbs/female: Marlen Esparza, Houston, Texas, dec. Christina Cruz, New York, N.Y., 9-3

119 lbs/female: Amanda Pavone, Burlington, Mass., dec. Lindsay Bartels, Omaha, Neb., 29-15

119 lbs/female: Haley Pasion, Waipahu, Hawaii, stopped Nephateria Miller, New Haven, Conn., RSC-3 (1:44)

125 lbs/female: Heather Hardy, Brooklyn, N.Y., dec. Emily Dagnan, Jasper, Tenn., 25-9
125 lbs/female: Elizabeth Leddy, Portland, Maine, dec. Lori Argumedo, Commerce, Calif., 24-10

132 lbs/female: Tiara Brown, Lehigh Acres, Fla., dec. Lisa Porter, Northridge, Calif., 13-7
132 lbs/female: Queen Underwood, Seattle, Wash., dec. N’yteeyah Sherman, Barberton, Ohio, 23-23 (116-96)

141 lbs/female: Cashmere Jackson, Cleveland, Ohio, dec. Kathleen Walsh, Rankankama, N.Y., 17-16
141 lbs/female: Luvisa Matali, Denver, Colo., dec. Ariel Beck, Deer Lodge, Mont., 17-11

152 lbs/female: Amournix Stamp, Milwaukee, Wis., dec. Faith Franco, Duarte, Calif., 7-6
152 lbs/female: Stephanie Taylor, West Hills, Calif., won on walkover over, Diana Wigand, Lexington, Ky., W/O

165 lbs/female: Franchon Crews, Baltimore, Md., dec. Tiffanie Ward, Hacienda Heights, Calif., 14-13
165 lbs/female: Alyssa DeFazio, Peoria, Ariz., dec. Tika Hemingway, Pittsburgh, Pa., 20-14

Women’s Nationals Quarter-Finals! – Day 3

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Women’s Nationals Quarter-Finals! – Day 3

Talk about a competition!  The 2011 USA Boxing Women’s Boxing division heated up yesterday with some truly fierce quarter-final action — and for the winners in the three Olympic weight classes (Flyweight, Lightweight and Middleweight), it was not only the chance to move on to the semi-finals, but the guarantee of a berth for next year’s Olympic Trials!

Wednesday Afternoon Action

The afternoon quarter finals included a barn-burner between two four-time national champions:  Queen Underwood (Seattle, WA) and Caroline Barry (Boulder, Co).  The meeting between Underwood and Barry was tough, competitive and highly skilled.  USA Boxing note the round-by-round as a battle of strength and wills with each round a tough fight between the two competititors.  In the end, however, Queen Underwood, coming off of two rousing preliminary bouts was able to pull off the win with a cleanly fought 4th round giving her the 14-10 decision over Barry.  The win guarantees Underwood a coveted spot in next year’s Olympic trials.

Tyriesha Douglas (L)

The good news is that Caroline Barry is that she can still qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials if she emerges victorious at the Women’s Golden Gloves or National PAL Championships.

Queen Underwood will fight in the semifinals against N’yteeyah Sherman (Barberton, Oh).

Full roster of Quarter-final bouts:

106 lbs/female: Elizabeth Rodriguez, Gilroy, Calif., won on walkover over, Natalie Gonzalez, New Rochelle, N.Y., W/O

119 lbs/female: Amanda Pavone, Burlington, Mass., dec. Shanice Herron, St. Louis, Mo., 32-7

119 lbs/female: Nephateria Miller, New Haven, Conn., won on retirement over, Tiffany Griffin, Chicago, Ill., RET-4 (0:00)

119 lbs/female: Lindsay Bartels, Omaha, Neb., stopped Bryonna Sumandig, Tacoma, Wash., RSC-4 (1:47)

119 lbs/female: Haley Pasion, Waipahu, Hawaii, dec. Shanne Ruelas, Fresno, Calif., 26-19

132 lbs/female: Queen Underwood, Tacoma, Wash., dec. Caroline Barry, Boulder, Colo., 14-10

132 lbs/female: Tiara Brown, Lehigh Acres, Fla., dec. Bertha Aracil, Yonkers, N.Y., 23-8

132 lbs/female: N’yteeyah Sherman, Barberton, Ohio, won on retirement over, Jayli Fimbres, Newton, N.D., RET-4 (0:00)

132 lbs/female: Lisa Porter, Northridge, Calif., dec. Jesse Owens, Virginia Beach, Va. 27-9

Wednesday Evening Action

Christina Cruz, New York Golden Gloves Winner

New York’s own and 2010 National PAL Champion Christina Cruz won a decision over Nicole Pasillas, (Aurora, CO) with a rousing 18-6 decision.  In the other highly anticipated  female flyweight division bouts 2010 USA Boxing National Championships finalist, Marlen Esparza (Houston, Texas) handily defeated former National Champion Cynthia Moreno (Guadalupe, Ariz.) 25-15.

Rounding out the lightweight division Tyrieshia Douglas (Baltimore, Md.) defeated Berenice Hernandez (Las Vegas, Nev.) 25-14 and Poula Estrada, (Palmdale, Ca.) defeated hometown Alicia Avila, (Colorado Springs, Co) in a closelfy fought contest by a mere, 11-10.

Tika Hemingway

The women’s middleweight division  was no less exciting in a bout between two-time national champions. The reigning middleweight titlist Tiffanie Hearn (Louisville, Ky.) battled the former light heavyweight champion Tika Hemingway (Pittsburgh, Pa.). According to USA Boxing, “Hemingway took the early lead in the bout, holding a 10-5 edge after two rounds.”  Hemingway was able to win an upset victory with a final score of 17-14 margin. She will face 2009 National Champion Alyssa DeFazio (Peoria, Ariz.) in Thursday’s semifinals.

Franchon Crews

In other exciting action, the rousing fighter of the Pan-Am qualifier, Franchon Crews, (Baltimore, Md.) had a forth round stoppage over Audrey Drew, (Dallas, Tx), RSC-4 (1:10).  To round out the quarter finals, Tiffanie Ward, (Hacienda, Heights, CA) defeated Christina Jensen, (Centereach, N.Y.), 31-11 and Alyssa Defazio, (Peoria, AZ) won her bout over Dara Shen, (Fairfax, VA), 29-10.

Full Roster of Quarter-final bouts:

112 lbs/female: Poula Estrada, Palmdale, Calif., dec. Alicia Avila, Colorado Springs, Colo., 11-10
112 lbs/female: Tyreishia Douglas, Baltimore, Md., dec. Berenice Hernandez, Las Vegas, Nev. 23-14
112 lbs/female: Christina Cruz, New York, N.Y., dec. Nicole Pasillas, Aurora, Colo., 18-6
112 lbs/female: Marlen Esparza, Houston, Texas, dec. Cynthia Moreno, Phoenix, Ariz., 25-15
125 lbs/female: Emily Dagnan, Jasper, Tenn., dec. Asia Stevenson, Washington, D.C., 20-18
125 lbs/female: Heather Hardy, Brooklyn, N.Y., dec. Andrea Peters, Fort Carson, Colo., 22-9
125 lbs/female: Elizabeth Leddy, Portland, Maine, dec. Casey Morton Carissa, San Francisco, Calif., 45-26

141 lbs/female: Cashmere Jackson, Cleveland, Ohio, dec. Kristin Gearhart, Oak Park, Ill., 13-5
141 lbs/female: Kathleen Walsh, Rankankama, N.Y., dec. Kendra Macon, Charlotte, N.C., 29-11
141 lbs/female: Luvisa Matali, Denver, Colo., dec. Jessica McCaskill, St. Louis, Mo., 14-9
141 lbs/female: Ariel Beck, Deer Lodge, Mont., dec. Rachell Wehrl, Stafford, Va., 21

165 lbs/female: Tiffanie Ward, Hacienda, Heights, Calif., dec. Christina Jensen, Centereach, N.Y., 31-11

165 lbs/female: Tika Hemingway, Pittsburgh, Pa, dec. Tiffanie Hearn, Louisville, Ky., 31-11

165 lbs/female: Franchon Crews, Baltimore, Md., stopped Audrey Drew, Dallas, Texas, RSC-4 (1:10)
165 lbs/female: Alyssa Defazio, Peoria, Ariz., dec. Dara Shen, Fairfax, Va., 29-10

Women’s Nationals results – Day 2

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Women’s Nationals results – Day 2!

Tuesday Afternoon Action

Queen Underwood, training in Seattle

Caroline Barry

Four-time national champion Queen Underwood won her second fight with a stoppage over Darina Mimms yesterday. Four-time national champion Caroline Barry also won her bout against the 2010 Bantamweight National Champion Lauren Fisher (Dania, FL).  This sets up a terrific quarter-final match between Underwood and Barry for the right to enter the semi-finals and an all important berth in the Olympic trials next year.  Look for this fight to be about as exciting as it can get.

The full roster of bouts included:

119 lbs/female:  Amanda Pavone, Burlington Mass., dec. Erica Rosenburg, Fountain, Colo., 18-11

132 lbs/female: Tiara Brown, Lehigh Acres, Fla., dec. Jody-Ann Weller, Pomona, N.Y., 18-9

132 lbs/female: Bertha Aracil, Yonkers, N.Y., dec. Mikaela Mayer, Marquette, Mich. 14-12

132 lbs/female: Caroline Barry, Boulder, Colo., dec. Lauren Fisher, Dania, Fla., 11-9

132 lbs/female: Lisa Porter, Northridge, Calif., dec. Sherry Whetten, Tucson, Ariz., 17-9

132 lbs/female: N’yteeyah Sherman, Barberton, Ohio, dec. Rita Martinez, Las Cruces, N.M., 19-7

132 lbs/female: Queen Underwood, Tacoma, Wash., stopped Darina Mims, Greensboro, N.C., RSC-3 (0:57)

132 lbs/female: Jayli Fimbres, Newton, N.D., dec. Ishika Lay, Jacksonville Beach, Fla., 12-11

132 lbs/male: Jesse Owens, Virginia Beach, Va., dec. Amorena Baca, Denver, Colo., 14-13

Tuesday Evening Session

Marlen Esperza, in training

In an exciting evening of boxing, the top female flyweights fought simultaneous close bouts. Five-time national champion Marlen Esparza (Houston, Texas) fought against the 2010 USA Boxing National Championships bronze medalist Alex Love (Monroe, Wash.).

Alex Love

USA Boxing noted that “Love kept the bout close through the first two rounds, but Esparza extended her lead to a comfortable margin late and won a 13-7 final decision.” Esparza will go to fight the former bantamweight national champion Cynthia Moreno (Guadalupe, Ariz.) in the Wednesday night quarter-finals for a berth in the first-ever U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Women’s Boxing.

These bouts are particularly heartbreaking for fighters such as Alex Love who have set their sites on fighting in the upcoming 2012 Olympics.

All of the quarterfinal bouts will be contested on Wednesday in two sessions at noon and 6 p.m., with the victors moving on to the semifinals and those in Olympic weight classes earning berths in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

The full roster of Tuesday evening’s bouts are as follows:

112 lbs/female: Berenice Hernandez, Las Vegas, Nev., dec. Taversha Norwood, Marietta, Ga., 32-13

112 lbs/female: Poula Estrada, Palmdale, Calif., dec. Maryquenn Vellinga, Salt Lake City, Utah, 22-8

112 lbs/female: Alicia Avila, Colorado Springs, Colo., dec. Jamie Mitchell, Pacific Grove, Calif., 13-12

112 lbs/female: Cynthia Moreno, Guadalupe, Ariz., dec. Megan Rembold, Oswego, Ill. 27-13

112 lbs/female: Tyreishia Douglas, Baltimore, Md., dec. LaTonya King, Harrison, Mich., 17-11

112 lbs/female: Nicole Pasillas, Aurora, Colo., dec. Autumn Anderson, Bellevue, Neb., 17-16

112 lbs/female: Marlen Esparza, Houston, Texas, dec. Alex Love, Monroe, Wash., 13-7

112 lbs/female: Christina Cruz, New York, N.Y., dec. Noemi Bosques, Pinellas Park, Fla., 25-6

141 lbs/female: Cashmere Jackson, Cleveland, Ohio, dec. Griselda Madrigal, Wenataliee, Wash., 18-12

141 lbs/female: Ariel Beck, Deer Lodge, Mont., dec. Urbana Hernandez, El Paso, Texas, 14-11

141 lbs/female: Jessica McCaskill, St. Louis, Mo., dec. Samantha Griffith, Pittsburg, Pa., 27-18

165 lbs/female: Tiffanie Ward, Hacienda Heights, Calif., dec. Danyelle Wolf, San Diego, Calif. 13-12

165 lbs/female: Audrey Drew, Dallas, Texas, won on walkover over, Marie Ybarra, Greeley, Colo., W/O

165 lbs/female: Christina Jensen, Centereach, N.Y., dec. Heather Bassett, Jackson, Tenn., 25-9

165 lbs/female: Alyssa Defazio, Peoria, Ariz., stopped Tara Weisshaar, Burlington, Colo., RSC-1 (0:55)

165 lbs/female: Franchon Crews, Baltimore, Md., dec. Raven Barnes, Marquette, Mich., 29-7

165 lbs/female: Tika Hemingway, Pittsburgh, Pa., stopped Amy Castillo, Bakersfield, Calif., RSC-1 (0:40)

165 lbs/female: Dara Shen, Fairfax, Va., dec. Kalita Marsh, Smithfield, N.C., 18-8

165 lbs/female: Tiffanie Hearn, Louisville, Ky., stopped Melinda Levasseur, Magnolia, Del., RSC-1 (0:55)

West v. Knight: Boxing the way it’s supposed to be!

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West V. Knight: Boxing the way it’s supposed to be!

Ava Knight and Kaliesha West, Photo: Mary Ann Owen

Kaliesha West  (13-1-3, 4 KO’s) and Ava Knight (6-1-3, 3 KO’s) fought ten hard Main Event rounds to a draw this past Saturday night at California’s Pico Rivera Sports Arena on what was otherwise a mixed martial arts and Muy Thai fight card.  The judges scored the bout 95-95, 96-94 Knight and 96-94 West.  The draw meant that West was able to retain her WBO female bantamweight title.

Both women fought their hearts out in their second outing together.  In their first meeting, Knight had handed West her only loss.  One can only hope that their likely third match will be as exciting.

In listening to West’s interview after the fight, the resounding message is one of respect for her opponent and a sincere desire to better her sport.  All I can say is what sports-womanship!  And beyond that, a giant Girlboxing shout to advocate for putting  women’s boxing of this caliber on something other than streaming video!

Ava Knight and Kaliesha West, Photo: Katherine Rodriguez

If ever a fight should have been broadcast it was this one! It was a rematch of a terrific fight. It was Kaliesha West’s first outing after a horrific car wreck — and more to the point these two women CAN FIGHT and represent the best in their generation of up-and-coming strong women’s boxers who not only fight with skill but with heart!

Perhaps with National’s going on now, World’s in the Fall and the Olympic trials next Spring some more momentum will swing towards women’s boxing — but I’ve got to say that the continuing black-out of women’s boxing on main-stream American television not only denies a loyal fan base the opportunity to follow their sport, but importantly denies these tremendous fighters an opportunity to grow and progress as athletes.

It’s time to bring the sport to the next level!

For a nice recap of the fight, check out The Sweet Science here.

N A T I O N A L S ! Yep, Women’s Amateur Boxing Rules!

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N A T I O N A L S !  Yep, Women’s Amateur Boxing Rules!

Cool fact!  This year’s women’s national champions will give us all a look at the possible Olympians for next year’s Olympic games in London!

The 2011 USA Boxing National Championships are set to begin on June 19th and will run through June 26th in Colorado Springs, Col

As stated on USA Boxing website, “For the first-time ever, one event will serve as a qualifying tournament for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for both male and female athletes with the top four finishers in the three female Olympic weight classes and 10 men’s divisions clinching the critical qualifying spots.”

As a reminder the three Olympic divisions are:  Flyweight (112 lbs). Lightweight (132 lbs) and Middleweight (165 lbs).

So look for the defending champions in the three Olympic weight divisions to rock the house: flyweight Marlen Esparza (Houston, Texas) competing for her sixth straight national championship, lightweight Queen Underwood (Seattle, Wash.) boxing for her fifth title and middleweight Tiffanie Hearn (Louisville, Ky.) vying for her second consecutive middleweight crown and third overall.

The going won’t be easy though as there are a record 36 women vying for the Lightweight title alone this year including 2010 National PAL Champion Stephanie Han (El Paso, Texas), four-time winner Caroline Barry (Boulder, Colo.), former featherweight national champions Melissa Parker (Camp Lejeune, N.C.) and Jody Ann Weller (Pomona, N.Y.), as well as 2010 bantamweight gold medalist Lauren Fisher (Dania, Fla.).

The middle weight division is no lock either with 21 entrants including Franchon Crews (Baltimore, Md.) who was AWESOME in the Pan Am trials, plus former light heavyweight champion Tika Hemingway (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and defending heavyweight titlist Denise Rico (Los Angeles, Calif.) both of whom moved down to the middleweight division in the hopes of making the team.

Action will begin for the Olympic weight classes on Monday with the start of their preliminary bouts.  According to USA Boxing’s rules, the athletes in the three Olympic divisions will need to win their preliminary bouts and the quarter finals to earn a place in Thursday’s semifinal action.  Only Semi-finalist and above will be able to clinch a spot in next year’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Women’s Boxing.

The roster of fighters set to compete is impressive to say the least!

2011 USA Boxing National Championships Female Athletes by Weight Class

Light flyweight/106 lbs (Six Boxers)

Natalie Gonzalez, New Rochelle, N.Y., Elizabeth Rodriguez, Gilroy, Calif., Lisa Ha, Honolulu, Hawaii, Vanessa Guzman, Chula Vista, Calif., Marina Ramirez, Las Vegas, Nev., Amy Sowers, Bozeman, Mont.

Flyweight/112 lbs (22 Boxers) – Olympic

Tyreishia Douglas, Baltimore, Md. (2010 USA Boxing National Championships silver medalist), Noemi Bosques, Pinellas Park, Fla., Megan Rembold, Oswego, Ill., Marlen Esparza, Houston, Texas (Five-time National Champion), Alicia Avila, Colorado Springs, Colo., Jamie Mitchell, Pacific Grove, Calif., Bernice Hernandez, Las Vegas, Nev., Christina Cruz, New York, N.Y. (2010 National PAL Champion), LaTonya King, Harrison, Mich., Heather Han, El Paso, Texas, Rhonda McGee, Vacaville, Calif., Nicole Pasillas, Aurora, Colo., Autumn Anderson, Bellevue, Neb., Paola Estrada, Palmdale, Calif., Cassandra Mendoza, Greeley, Colo., Alex Love, Monroe, Wash. (2010 USA Boxing National Championships bronze medalist), Cynthia Moreno, Guadalupe, Ariz. (2008 National Champion), Taversha Norwood, Marietta, Ga., Virgina ‘Ginny’ Fuchs, Baton Rouge, La., Tiffany Perez, Hammond, Ind., Ashlee Reyes, San Antonio, Texas, Maryguenn Vellinga, Salt Lake City, Utah

Bantamweight/119 lbs (12 Boxers)

Amanda Pavone, Burlington, Mass., Rayleen Williams, Lincoln, Del., Rosa Rodriguez, Miami, Fla., Tiffany Griffin, Chicago, Ill., Shanice Herron, St. Louis, Mo., Shanne Ruelas, Fresno, Calif., Bryonna Jumandig, Tacoma, Wash., Haley Pasion, Waipahu, Hawaii, Nephateria Miller, New Haven, Conn., Lindsay Bartels, Omaha, Neb., Amanda Pavone, Burlington, Mass., Erica Rosenburg, Fountain, Colo.

Featherweight/125 lbs (10 Boxers)

Heather Hardy, Brooklyn, N.Y., Alecia DeFrank, Rickey, Fla., Ronica Rodriguez, Lansing, Mich., Carissa Casey Morton, San Francisco, Calif., Lori Argumedo, Commerce City, Calif., Andrea Peters, Ft. Carson, Colo., Elizabeth Leddy, Portland, Maine (2010 USA Boxing National Championships silver medalist), Kristen McKnight, Angien, N.C., Asia Stevenson, Washington, D.C., Emily Dagnan, Jasper, TN

Lightweight/132 lbs (36 Boxers) – Olympic

Comel Chandler, Brooklyn, New York, Tiara Brown, Lehigh Acres, Fla., N’yteeyah Sherman, Barberton, Ohio, Marianne Kraus, Indianola, Iowa, Jeanelle Leal, Corpus Christi, Texas, Earnestine Wesley, Garland, Texas, Amorena Baca, Denver, Colo., Jayli Fimbres, Newton, N.D., Brenda Gutierrez, Sacramento, Calif., Maira Madrigal, Wenataliee, Wash., Lisa Porter, Northridge, Calif., Caroline Barry, Boulder, Colo. (Four-time National Champion), Melissa Parker, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (2009 National Champion), Mikaela Mayer, Marquette, Mich., Stephanie Han, El Paso, Texas (2010 National PAL Champion), Queen Underwood, Tacoma, Wash. (Four-time National Champion), Jody-Ann Weller, Pomona, N.Y. (2010 Featherweight National Champion), Darina Mims, Greensboro, N.C., Tiara Brown, Lehigh Acres, Fla., Bertha Aracil, Yonkers, N.Y., Storm Chandler, Brooklyn, N.Y., Robin Conroy, Wilmington, N.C., Stefanie Taylor, West Hills, Calif., Jasmedh Rosales, Los Angeles, Calif., Micaela Arce, Reno, Nev., Rita Martinez, Las Cruces, N.M., Madeline Guzman, Perth Amboy, N.J., Jessie Owens, Virginia Beach, Va., Amber Smith, Ft. Worth, Texas, Selina Barrios, San Antonio, Texas, Alecia Gutierrez, Chicago, Ill., Ishika Lay, Jacksonville Beach, Fla., Takesha Edward, Houston, Texas, Lauren Fisher, Dania, Fla. (2010 Bantamweight National Champion), Sherry Whetten, Tucson, Ariz., Kymmberli Stowe, Millersville, Pa.

Light welterweight/141 lbs (12 Boxers)

Kathleen Walsh, Rankankama, N.Y., Samantha Griffith, Pittsburgh, Pa., Rebecca Laborde, Tampa, Fla., Cashmere Jackson, Cleveland, Ohio (2010 USA Boxing National Champion), Jessica McCaskill, St. Louis, Mo., Urbana Hernandez, El Paso, Texas, Ariel Beck, Deer Lodge, Mont., Luvisa Matali, Denver, Colo., Griselda Madrigal, Wenataliee, Wash., Rachell Wehrle, Stafford, Va., Kendra Macon, Charlotte, N.C., Kristin Gearhart, Oak Park, Ill.

Welterweight/152 lbs (Seven Boxers)

LaTarishia Fountain, Flushing, N.Y., Christine Poulauskis, Oakland Park, Fla., Amournix Stamp, Milwaukee, Wis., Lindsey Soderberg, Holt, Mich., Faith Franco, Duarte, Calif., Jen Johnson, Kalispell, MT., Diona Wigand, Lexington, Ky.

Middleweight/165 lbs (21 boxers)  – Olympic

Christina Jenson, Centereach, N.Y., Franchon Crews, Baltimore, Md. (Four-time National Champion), Heather Bassett, Jackson, Tenn., Audrey Drew, Dallas, Texas, Tara Weisshaar, Burlington, Colo., Amy Castillo, Bakersfield, Calif., Fallon Farrar, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Tiffanie Ward, Hacienda Heights, Calif., Raven Barnes, Marquette, Mich., Kalita Marsh, Smithfield, N.C., Denise Rico, Los Angeles, Calif. (2010 USA Boxing National Champion), Alyssa DeFazio, Peoria, Ariz. (2009 National Champion), Tiffanie Hearn, Louisville, Ky. (2010 Heavyweight National Champion), Dara Shen, Fairfax, Va., Melinda Levasseur, Magnolia, Del., Tika Hemingway, Pittsburgh, Pa. (2009 Light Heavyweight National Champion), LaTeisha Darden, Wilmington, N.C., Danyelle Wolf, San Diego, Calif., Maria Dominguez, Wouchula, Fla., Jennifer Egan, Mohopac,NY, Marie Ybarra, Greeley, Colo.

Light heavyweight/178 lbs (1 Boxer)

Kimberly Olech, Canton, Ohio

Heavyweight/178+ (3 Boxers)

Natalie Pacheco, Bronx, N.Y., Charnita Johnson, Columbus, Ohio, Natacia Manuma, Mililoni, Hawaii

Freddie Roach volunteers to help coach Team USA Men’s and Women’s Boxing Olympians!

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Freddie Roach volunteers to help coach Team USA Men’s and Women’s Boxing Olympians!


USA Boxing’s Men’s and Women’s Olympic hopefuls will be joined by volunteer coach, Freddie Roach who has opened up his heart and his gym, Wild Card Boxing Club, to the elite athletes who will comprise Team USA’s 2012 Boxing Olympians.

In a press release issued by USA Boxing, Freddie Roach is quoted as saying, “An Olympic medal is one of the greatest accomplishments in all of sport, and I promise to do all I can to ensure that these young men and women are fully prepared to go to London to proudly represent our country,” said Roach.

The 2012 Olympics will mark the first time women’s boxing will be recognized as an Olympic sport — so what better gift than Freddie Roach’s remarkable skills as a trainer for the women who will represent Team USA!

As United States Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun put it, “I’d like to thank Freddie and his team for their willingness to help our boxers achieve their highest potential.”  Blackmun further stated that he is “thrilled that we were able to make this happen and can’t wait to see the results.”

USA Boxing also noted that “the program … is designed to act as a resource for up to ten medal-potential athletes to attend multi-day training sessions at the Wild Card Gym with their personal coaches and USA Boxing’s National Coach Joe Zanders. These sessions will be established under the leadership of Freddie Roach and his staff and will be used to help provide feedback and strategy on the athletes’ preparation for the Olympic Games. The USOC will support this program as an add-on to the 2011-12 approved high performance plan with the intent of providing a unique and valuable resource for the designated athletes as a supplement to the existing coaching structure.”

Freddie Roach and his team will begin their participation with USA Boxing at an upcoming high performance retreat at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Co.

Girlboxing would like to send a shout out to Freddie for offering this great opportunity!

For further information click here and here.

“We work for the future, because the past is lost.”

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“We work for the future, because the past is lost.”

Female boxers in Afghanistan, Credit: Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Los Angeles Times

As Girlboxing readers know, I just can’t get enough of the Afghan Women’s Boxing Team. The Los Angeles Times has obliged with an in-depth feature piece by Molly Hennessy-Fiske.  The haunting money quote by the team’s coach, Mohammad Sabir Sharifi truly resonated with me: “We work for the future, because the past is lost.”

Sharifi and some of the young women he trains have a received threats, and yet they persevere.  As if to punctuate the pluckiness of these brave young women, two members of the team traveled unaccompanied all the way to Turkey by train and competed in the early rounds of the ongoing AIBA Women’s and Youth Junior World Boxing Championships in Antalya, Turkey.

These young women who train in the face of continuing threats of violence due to nothing more than their gender are emblematic of how much further we all have to come.  I applaud their bravery and as the mother of an 11-year-old girl, feel particularly humbled by the love and support these young women receive from their families and their coach as they pursue their Olympic dreams.

Way to go!!!

The full LA Times article link is here.

Women’s boxing from around the amateurs!

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Women’s boxing from around the amateurs!

 

AIBA Women's World Championship 2010 in Barbados

Cuban women’s boxing

It seems that Women’s Olympic boxing in 2012 will be minus one potential powerhouse team:  Cuba.  Why?  Well as noted in a piece on Reuters yesterday, “Cuban head coach Pedro Roque was quoted as saying in 2009, when women’s boxing was added to the Olympic programme, that Cuban women “are made for beauty and not to take blows around the head”.

Hmmm.

Meanwhile, AIBA (International Amateur Boxing Association) officials stated yesterday that they are confident that the lure of gold will eventually sway Cuban officials to support women’s boxing at the elite amateur level, perhaps in time for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.  The link to the full article is here.

 

Team USA to compete in prestigious Feliks Stamm Tournament in Warsaw, Poland, April 6-8

The United States along with 15 other nations will take part in three days of competition at the Feliks Stamm Tournament in Warsaw, Poland beginning tomorrow.  The team sported by USA Boxing will consist of 2010 USA Boxing National Championship Silver medalist Tyrieshia Douglas, the 2010 National PAL and USA Boxing National Championship Bronze medalist Stephanie Han and the 2009 National Champion & 2010 National Golden Gloves Champion Alyssa DeFazio.

The team has been training at the Polish Olympic Training Center with the Polish and Italian Team readying for the competition.  As noted by USA Boxing, “the event is the first international competition for the trio of women since the Women’s International Dual Series in Oxnard, Calif., in November and will provide valuable international experience for all the competitors prior to the Olympic debut of women’s boxing in 2012.”  The link to the full article is here.

2011 USA National Championships!

 

2010 USA Boxing National Championships

 

The 2011 USA National Championships are set to run from June 19 – June 26, 2011 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.The published schedule is:

June 19: Arrival/Event Registration
June 20-24: Preliminary – Bronze medal bouts at the Colorado Springs Christian High School
June 25: Championship bouts at the City Auditorium
June 26: Departure

Participant forms are due by June 1st!  The link to USA Boxing’s information sheet is here.

USA Boxing Pan American Games Women’s Qualifier Team!

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USA Boxing Pan American Games Women’s Qualifier Team!

A giant Girlboxing shout out to the women of the USA Boxing’s first women’s boxing team to head off to the Pan American Games qualifier to be held from March 25-29 in Cumana, Venezuela.

The team members are as follows:

112 lbs/female: Christina Cruz, New York, N.Y.

 

132 lbs/female: Queen Underwood, Seattle, WA.

 

 

165 lbs/female: Tiffanie Hearn, Louisville, KY.

 

USA Boxing has the full story here.