Tag Archives: female boxing

Kaliesha West – prepping “360-style” for her upcoming title fight.

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Kaliesha West – prepping “360-style” for her upcoming title fight.

Boxer Kaliesha West (13-1-2, 4 KOs) has her own reality TV show on YouTube in advance of her upcoming fight on June 18th.

Kaliesha will defending her WBO Female Bantamweight title at the Pico Rivera Stadium in Los Angeles as the main boxing event for promoter Red Scorpion Promotion’s International Fight Showdown.  Entitled IFS8: Mass Destruction, the fight card will also feature MMA and Muay Thai bouts — not unlike Ana Julaton’s fight card in Riverside, California earlier in the year.

For those who are unfamiliar with Kaliesha “Wild Wild” West — she started boxing at the age of ten and never stopped. She had a huge amateur career, winning a total of 98 amateur bouts that included the National Golden Gloves in 2003.

Kaliesha turned pro in 2006 and continues to train with her father, Juan West. In a recent interview, Kaliesha said, “Since the beginning of my career, my dad has always handled the when, where, and with whom I fight. I just train for whatever is lined up next. I am thankful to have my father as my coach and manager, because I know he is looking out for my best interest.” (Link here.)

BTW, Kaliesha’s also made David Avala’s top dozen pound-for-pound female fighters list. (Link here.)

Check out the first installment of Kaliesha’s reality-TV show here:

Women’s Boxing from around the web

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Women’s Boxing from around the web


Over at The Sweet Science, David A. Avila has one of his periodic pieces on the pound-for-pound best women’s in professional boxing, entitled, appropriately enough, “Avila’s New Female Fighter Pound For Pound List.” 

As a the chief everything of a blog devoted to women’s boxing, I probably shouldn’t admit to the fact that I don’t feel sufficiently up on every women on the list to opine … suffice to say it was good to see the likes of Holly Holm and Mariana Juarez who just had a great on May 21st, not to mention Melinda Cooper and Ana Julaton.  If you’d like to add your opinions head on over to the site to voice them in the comments or post them here.

To punctuate why Mariana Jaurez should be considered, here’s the first part of her recent bout with Gabriela Bouvier.

Next, check out Inspiring Women’s Sports for Niamh Griffin’s piece, “Why do we box?”    The link is here and is worth heading over to listen to some inspiring audio clips from “Christina McMahon, Australia Muay Thai fighter Kelly Simon and a few boys including Irish pro-boxer Willie “Big Bang’ Casey.”

The clips are from radio interviews Niamh did some time ago and finally put together for a piece.  Really … check it out!

Finally, boxer, writer and filmmaker Jill Morley also has a blog these days called appropriately enough, Fighting It. 

Jill’s written a truly gut-wrenching piece that is not only worth the read, but worth the time to think about what it all means in your own life.

The piece is entitled, “When Life Gives you PTSD, Turn it into Lemonblog,” and I urge you to give it a read.  The link is here.

Women’s Boxing: Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton!

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Women’s Boxing:  Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton!

Ana Julaton signing Topps Trading Cards

Hey, remember Topps Trading Cards?

Well, guess who is getting one?

Give up?

The first female boxer in the history of Topps Trading Cards is being honored with a trading card of her own — and she is none other than the current Women’s WBO Super Bantamweight Champion, Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton.  I guess you could say that women’s boxing is finally coming into it’s own!

The popular Philippine-American women’s boxer has been added to the collection along with fellow Wild Card Boxing denizen and countryman Manny Pacquiao!  

They will be featured in the 2011 Arthur & Ginter Framed Autographed Collector’s Item set to be randomly inserted into Topps hobby and retail trading card packs.

And in case you are unfamiliar with Ana Julaton (8-2-1, 1 KO), here’s a video of her last title defense against  #1 contender Franchesca “The Chosen One” Alcanter (18-10-1, 9 KO’s).

Things to do about boxing on a rainy day, read “The Sweetest Thing”!

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Things to do about boxing on a rainy day, read The Sweetest Thing!

It seems as if the East Coast of the US is in for several more days of rain.  That might put a damper on roadwork, not to mention flare up old knee aches.  If you decide that inside is better than out and can’t bring yourself to watching yet another network TV show … First and foremost, get on over to your nearest bookstore, or try the internet version of “ring, ring” to buy Girlboxing friend Mischa Merz’s fabulous new book …

The Sweetest Thing: A Boxer’s Memoir.

Part memoir, part wonderful reportage, this must read book about women’s boxing inside and outside of the ring is as engaging as it is insightful about what it takes to be an elite athlete in the sport.

As Lucia Rijker wrote, The Sweetest Thing is, “A beautiful journal-like book [that] documents the ins and outs of female boxing from behind the scene.”

I think you’ll agree that Mischa has captured the heart and soul of the sport as she not only describes such things as the relationship between fighter and trainer, but what it takes to win and lose in a sport that has only recently started to garner a modicum of the respect it deserves.

Mischa is also one of the sport’s champions in her own right and has become an important voice in promulgating what is best about the sport.

So Girlboxing friends, if you haven’t done so already, it’s time to hit your local bookseller (or online equivalent) to get a copy of Mischa’s book and start reading!

Road to dreams

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Road to dreams.

AIBA the amateur international boxing association has just completed their AIBA Women’s Youth & Junior World Championships.  As part of the 10-day event, the organization sponsored young female boxers and their coaches by providing the funds necessary not only to attend the event, but to train for the bouts at a specially held training camp.

As noted on the AIBA website, 23 boxers from seven countries were afforded the opportunity to train in Antalya, Turkey ahead of the recently concluded games resulting in a gold and silver and a bronze for training camp participants:  Thi Vy Voung (Vietnam) won a the world Junior title in the 52kg weight class for the Gold, her teammate Thi Phuong Pham won the silver in the 48kg weight class, and Moldavia’s Irinia Gilca took the bronze in the 64kg weight class in the Youth championship competition.

Otherwise, boxers from India, China and  Russia dominated in the Junior and Youth competition — heating up competitive opportunities ahead of next year’s Olympics (Team USA did not take part).

The idea of a road to dreams resonated with me — can you imagine, really, think about this a road to dreams; sponsorship of athletic prowess in the sport of women’s boxing!  And apparently, this is not the first time.  AIBA sponsored 33 boxers ahead of the 2010 Women’s World Championships in Barbados last year in a program called “Road to Barbados.”

Still, I like the idea of a road to dreams.  A place where young women, some as young as 14, are given the opportunity to practice the sweet science under the auspices of an organization that truly supports their efforts.  What could be better than that!

For more information on AIBA click here.

Team USA Women’s Boxing – Second Pan American Games Qualifying Tournament!

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Team USA Women’s Boxing – Second Pan American Games Qualifying Tournament!

Team USA Women’s Boxing is in Quito, Ecuador for the second Pan American Games qualifying tournament! On Monday night (5/2), middleweight fighter, Franchon Crews from Baltimore came up with the first Team USA win (male or female) when she triumphed over Kimberely Gittens of Barbados with a decisive 22-0 win.

Tuesday night’s women’s bouts proved a bit tougher. Crews was able to hold on to her winning streaking edging out Ecuadorian fighter Blanca Burgos (Venezuela) 9-8. New York’s own Golden Gloves champion Christina Cruz, however, had a tougher night, losing her bout to Jemyma Betrian (Venezuela) 6-17.

Today fights will include non-stop action in the lightweight division when Seattle’s own Queen Underwood battles Maria Ulpino of Venezuela and Jennifer Caceres (Columbia) takes on Sandra Bizier (Canada).

USA Boxing has a link to the story here.

Blessings where we can get ’em!

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Blessings where we can get ’em!

Gleason's Gym 4/30/2011

I know I sometimes get a little bit cranky and complain-y on these pages, but after a morning like this one where the work of the gym was hard, but fell into place, let me tell you all I AM BLESSED.

The workout out itself had ragged moments because despite coming at this hard once a week since January, my conditioning is still not where it should be.  Working with Len on the pads, and then having him coach me through some double-ended bag work focusing on the right hook put it all into place.

So, yes, I did get to a near-on physical s-t-o-p on the 4th round of pads, but still managed my sweet 16 feeling strong, confident, and as if I’d come away with something I hadn’t had at the start of it.

Plus … I was surrounded by an amazing group of women going through their third day of Gleason’s Gym’s first Female Boxing Clinic …

And if that wasn’t enough, Lennox feels I’ve come along enough for us to start sparring again beginning next week!  Yay!  We’re talking cloud 9 here people — and as the song says, “I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day”!

Oh and a big P.S. – If you can make it … come on down to Gleason’s First All-Female Amateur Fight Card 2night!  The bouts begin at 6:00 PM, @ 77 Front Street in Dumbo (Brooklyn).  You can also catch the bouts on http://www.golivetv.com with Gleason’s own Sonya Lamonakis providing the commentary! $20 bucks @ the door, $15 for gym members or for folks with a boxing card.

Reminder: Women’s Boxing in Uruguay UPDATE!

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>>>>>UPDATE Women’s Championship boxing in Uruguay!

Cecilia “La Reina” Comunales continues her “reign” as UBO Lightweight champion after retaining her title with a unanimous decision in her bout against Alicia Susana Alegre.  The judges scored the bout 96-93, 99-94 & 98-92 giving Comunales a decisive victory. With this fight, she improves her record to (8-1-0, 5 K.O.‘s).

Reminder: Women’s Boxing in Uruguay tomorrow!

Cecilia “La Reina” Comunales

Yep, Uruguay on April 19th!

Alicia Susana Alegre

Cecilia “La Reina” Comunales Hold the date of April 19th for a great night of boxing in Uruguay promoted by Sampson Boxing.

The main event called will pit UBO Women’s Lightweight champion Cecilia “La Reina” Comunales (7-1-0, 5 K.O.‘s) from Uruguay against Alicia Susana Alegre (704, 7 K.O.’s) from just across the river in Argentina for an exciting evening of women’s boxing at its best.

Dubbed “La Defensa Del Reino” or “Defending The Kingdom”, the event is being heavily promoted in South America and will be viewed on Vtv, in Uruguay. The fight will also likely be video streamed – so do some checking online.

Gleason’s Gym – All Female Boxing Clinic

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Gleason’s Gym – All Female Boxing Clinic on April 28, 29 & 30, 2011!

Gleason’s Gym will host its first All Female Boxing Clinic on April 28, 29 and 30, 2011 at its headquarters in Brooklyn, New York.

The three-day event will include two-days of boxing training and will culminate in Gleason’s first USA Boxing Metro amateur-sanctioned All Female Boxing Show to be broadcast live on www.gofightlive.tv.

The two-day clinic will focus on a range of boxing skills for beginners and will feature the Gleason’s World Champion talents of Alicia Ashley, Jill Emory, Melissa Hernandez and Belinda Laracuente as well as boxing trainers Mark Breland, Juan LaPorte and Hector Roca.

The clinic is open to anyone with a desire to learn the fundamentals of the sport — and for those who have more skills, opportunities will be offered to perfect your talents.

Having first walked into the door at Gleason’s in 1997, I can personally attest to the genuinely supportive atmosphere of the gym, which has always been particularly inviting to women. It’s also meant that I’ve had the chance to observe first hand the explosion in Women’s Boxing  — as well as the chance to applaud the prowess of Gleason’s many boxing alumni!

Girlboxing recently had the chance to sit down and talk with Gleason’s Gym’s owner Bruce Silverglade about Women’s Boxing (see video below).  As an early proponent of the sport, Bruce has been a champion in his own right through his strong advocacy for Women’s Boxing and continues to provide opportunities for women in the sport from Saturday boxers on through dedicated pros.

Spaces are still available for the chance to perfect your boxing prowess or take the plunge into your first foray into the ring. If you are interested contact Bruce Silverglade at Gleason’s Gym.  The telephone number is: 718-797-2872 and the email address is: info@gleasonsgym.net.  The cost of the clinic is $299.00.  You can also sign-up to participate in the All Female Boxing Show by contacting Angela Querol @ 718-797-2872.

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.

What’s up with this?

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What’s up with this?

 

Rola El-Halabi (11-0, 6-KO), Lightweight Female Boxer

So what’s up with this:  “Female boxer shot before fight” !?!

The AP wire had it this way, “German female boxer Rola El-Halabi‘s career is in doubt after she was shot by her stepfather and former manager before a title fight on Friday. The undefeated 25-year-old was preparing to fight Irma Balijagic Adler of Bosnia for the vacant IBF lightweight title, when the 44-year-old man entered her dressing room and shot her in the hand, knee and foot.” (link here & link here)  Also shot were two security guards both of whom are expected to make a full recovery.  Rola El-Halabi had reportedly ended her stepfather’s role as her manager back in January.

As WBAN points out, this is the second shooting of a female boxer, following on the horrific assault Christy Martin endured late last year.  (link here)

Am I missing something here?  I know people get shot, but this is really too much.

Girlboxing sends heart-felt wishes to Rola El-Halabi for a swift and full recovery.

Here’s a great video of Rola El-Halabi and Mia St. John from last year.  This is really tragic.