Tag Archives: Queen Underwood

Women’s Nationals Quarter-Finals! – Day 3

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

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)

Women’s Nationals Results – Day 1!

Women’s Nationals Results – Day 1!

2010 USA Boxing National Championships

Nationals!  

Nationals got off to a rousing start in the Olympic divisions with Queen Underwood easily overtaking her opponent, Maria Madrigal with a first round stoppage.  She will take on Darina Mims (Greensboro, N.C.) in second round action on Tuesday afternoon.  Also look for Christina Cruz to fight Noemi Bosques (Pinellas Park, Fla.) who decisively won her first preliminary bout on Monday night over Cassandra Mendoxa (Greeley, Co.).

Early favorite for a medal Marlen Esparza (Houston, Texas) won on walkover over, Tiffany Perez, (Hammond, Ind)

Monday Afternoon Preliminary Bouts!

132 lbs/female: Sherry Whetten, Tucson, Ariz., won on walkover over, Kymmberli Stowe, Pittsburgh, Pa., W/O

132 lbs/female: Bertha Aracil, Yonkers, NY., dec. Brenda Gutierrez, Sacramento, Calif., 35-6

132 lbs/female: Queen Underwood, Seattle, Wash., stopped Maria Madrigal, Wenatcher, Wash., RSC-1 (1:32)

132 lbs/female: Tiara Brown, Fort Meyers, Fla., dec. Storm Chandler, New York, N.Y., 18-14

132 lbs/female: Amorena Baca, Denver, Colo., dec. Marianne Kraus, Nauvoo, Ill., 25-7

132 lbs/female: Lauren Fisher, Dania Beach, Fla., dec. Amber Smith, Fort Worth, Texas, 24-7

132 lbs/female: Ishika Lay, Jacksonville Beach, Fla., dec. Jenelle Leal, Corpus Christi, Texas, 30-7

132 lbs/female: Mikaela Mayer, Los Angeles, Calif., dec. Robin Conroy, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 13-3

132 lbs/female: Rita Martinez, Las Cruces, NM., won on walkover over, Takesha Edward, W/O

Monday Evening Preliminary Bouts
112 lbs/female: Poula Estrada, Palmdale, Calif., dec. Ginny Fuchs, Houston, Texas, 15-9

112 lbs/female: Noemi Bosques, Pinellas Park, Fla., dec. Cassandra Mendoza, Greeley, Colo., 21-14

112 lbs/female: LaTonya King, Harrison, Mich., stopped Rhonda McGee, Vacaville, Calif., RSC-2 (1:42)

112 lbs/female: Marlen Esparza, Houston, Texas, won on walkover over, Tiffany Perez, Hammond, Ind., W/O 

132 lbs/female: Sherman N’yteeya, Barberton, Ohio. dec. Alecia Gutierrez, Chicago Ill., 33-19

165 lbs/female: Danyelle Wolf, San Diego, Calif., dec. Jennifer Egan, Mohopac, N.Y., 18-13

 

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

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.

Women’s Amateur Boxing Updates!

Women’s Amateur Boxing Updates!

>>>AIBA’s Women’s and Youth Junior World Championships are set to begin in Ankara, Turkey on April 24, 2011 – May 1, 2011!

As noted by AIBA, “A total of 264 young women boxers from 45 different countries are set to compete.”  Junior boxers as young as 14 years old will participate in a total of thirteen different weight classes under official AIBA rules. Interestingly, the United States will not be fielding a team in either division.  Participating countries will include Russian, host country Turkey, Ukraine, India, Poland, Sweden and Ireland (with women’s boxing champion Katie Taylor leading the team), among other participating nations.

For further information click here.

>>>Team USA Dual Showdown

Congratulations to Team USA Women’s Boxing for their hard-fought victories and near misses in the two dual showdown events with a superb Mexican team on April 13th & April 15th in Harvey, Illinois.

4/13/11 – Friday’s USA vs. Mexico Dual Results
112 lbs/female: Marlen Esparza, Houston, Texas/USA, dec. Mariana Caballero, MEX, 29-9
132 lbs/female: Queen Underwood, Seattle, Wash./USA, dec. Reyna Cotija, MEX, 15-13

4/15/11 – Sunday’s USA vs. Mexico Dual Results
112 lbs/female: Marlen Esparza, Houston, Texas/USA dec. Silvia Torres, MEX, 16-12

132 lbs/female: Erika Cruz, MEX, dec. Queen Underwood, Seattle, Wash./USA, 21-13

165 lbs/female: Tiffanie Hearn, Louisville, Ky./USA dec. Alma Ibarra, MEX, 16-7

For further information click here.

USA Boxing Pan American Games Women’s Qualifier Team!

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.

Friday morning odd-bins

Friday morning odd-bins

Good morning fight fans! (Always wanted to says that!)

Todas Contra México Update!

Here’s a first look at Todas Contra México‘s star fighters as they get ready to begin shooting in Chiapas, Mexico!  Nice promo up on YouTube:

Pan American Games Box-off begins today!

Yep, the USA Boxing qualifier for the debut of women’s boxing at the Pan American Games is set to begin today at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado with a “Box-Off” of USA’s top competitors in the three Olympic weight categories:  Flyweight (112 lbs), Lightweight (132 lbs), and Middleweight (165 lbs).

This is historic stuff!

The top women amateur boxers participating in the Box-Off are:

Flyweight/112 lbs
Marlen Esparza, Houston, Texas
Tyrieshia Douglas Baltimore, Md.
Cynthia Moreno, Phoenix, Ariz.
Alex Love, Monroe, Wash.
Christina Cruz, New York, N.Y.
Marina Ramirez, Las Vegas, Nev.

Lightweight/132 lbs
Queen Underwood, Seattle, Wash.
Patricia Manuel, Long Beach, Calif.
Caroline Barry, Boulder, Colo.
Mikaela Mayer, Marquette, Mich.
Melissa Parker, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Jody-Ann Weller, Pomona, N.Y.
Liz Leddy, Portland, Maine

Middleweight/165 lbs
Tiffanie Hearn, Louisville, Ky.
Franchon Crews, Baltimore, Md.

The winners of this event will go on to the Pan American Games qualifying event in Cumana, Venezuala set to run from March 25th to March 30th 2011.  The Pan American Games are set to run in Guadalajara, Mexico from October 14th – October 30th 2011.

WBA Women’s Super Bantamweight Title Fight Tonight

Yesica Patricia Marcos, WBA Women's Super Bantamweight

Bleacher Reports has a story up on tonight’s WBA Women’s Super Bantamweight title fight tonight between Yesica Patricia Marcos (16-0, 5-KO) and Maria Andrea Miranda (13-5) in San Martin, Mendoz, Argentina.  The folks at Bleacher Report opine that the shorted training period for Marcos, and Miranda recent 2-4 record will present challenges to both fighters.  The full story is here including news on other upcoming bouts.  Well worth the read!

Enjoy the day — and if you happen to be in the NY area it’s set to hit the high 60’s, yea!

Queen Underwood’s Quest For Olympic Gold!

Queen Underwood’s Quest For Olympic Gold!

Queen Underwood, AP Photo: Jack Dempsey

If you happen to have been in and around Seattle over the past couple of days, you may have come across a life-size poster of U.S. Women’s National Boxing Champion and Seattle native Queen Underwood in your travels.

Queen Underwood, 26, has been hard at work in her quest to win Gold in the 2012 Olympic Games in the 132-lb. weight class, one of three sanctioned for the debut of Women’s Olympic Boxing, and is looking for support as she trains full-time in pursuit of her dream.

Just now, Queen is in her final preparations for the upcoming Pan American Games Box-offs set to run from March 18-20, in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the Olympic Training Center.

The winners of this important event will be offered the opportunity to wear the red, white and blue at the upcoming Pan American Games qualifier in Cumana, Venezuela, March 25-30 — a first ever event for the games as Women’s Boxing makes its debut.

Queen hopes “to make history” in the Pan American Games,  “by bringing back the first Gold Medal ever for Women’s Boxing.”

Queen’s pursuit of Olympic excellence is her true motivator, as well as the driver behind what Queen calls her training “lifestyle,” which includes nearly daily workouts at Cappy’s Gym in Seattle, upwards of six hours per day.

This sort of focused dedication to the quest for gold is in the manner of any elite Olympian, whether that athlete be a women’s gymnast, weight lifter or  — thanks to the recent decision made by the International Olympic Boxing Committee, a female amateur boxing champion.

Along with the potential for triumph in the ring at the Olympics are the harsh realities of finding support and sponsorship in an era of continuing financial crisis.

Where “Queen Team” has come up with an edge is in reaching out to the public to help support Queen’s quest for gold through tax-deductible sponsorships, volunteer and in-kind support, small donations, and by building awareness of Queen’s dedication to the sport.

As Queen put it, “The Queen Team takes on the task to get money so I can train full-time.”

“It is my duty and my job,” Queen went on to explain, “All I do is box!”

Queen’s personal goals aside, she also sees herself as a role model to younger women and hopes to establish a high-profile not only to eventually pursue a professional boxing career, but importantly, to act as “a mentor to future boxers.”

Still and all, the Olympics mean everything to Queen: an opportunity to win the first Olympic Gold medal for Women’s Boxing in her weight class, a chance to put “Women’s Boxing on the map” and through her own examples of dedication, hard work and focus, the chance to show the world just what it really means to be a woman boxer.

For more information on sponsoring Queen, or just to check out her fabulous website click here.  You can “like” Queen’s Facebook page here.  And you can follow Queen on Twitter by clicking @Queenteam2012

Women’s boxing news roundup – 2/9/2011

Women’s boxing news roundup – 2/9/2011

Boxer Emily Klinefelter out of danger after suffering burst blood vessel on Saturday night

Christina Ruiz v. Emily Klinefelter, Fight News

Super Bantamweight and previously undefeated boxer, Emily Klinefelter (9-1, 3KO) is reportedly out of danger after suffering a burst blood vessel this past Saturday night in Iowa City, Iowa in the third round of her bout with boxer Christina Ruiz (6-3-1, 4KO).   Klinefelter was knocked-out cold following repeated blows to the head over the course of the scheduled six-round bout.  The Daily Iowan, Klinefelter’s hometown paper, has the story here.  Fight News has the story here.

Girlboxing sends our best wishes for a speedy recovery to Emily and her family during this difficult time.

The Fighter an all-Male story?

"The Fighter"

Director Catherine Hardwicke, best known for directing 2008’s blockbuster movie, Twilight has  revealed that she was prevented “from pitching to direct The Figher because she’s a woman.”

“I couldn’t get an interview even though my last movie made $400 million. I was told it had to be directed by a man — am I crazy? It’s about action, it’s about boxing, so a man has to direct it … But they’ll let a man direct ‘Sex in the City’ or any girly movie you’ve ever heard of.”  Read the full story here and here.

2011 USA National Boxing Championships – June 20-June 25 in Colorado Springs

Queen Underwood and Patricia Manuel, 2010 USA Boxing Championships

The 2011 USA Boxing National Boxing Championships will be held in Colorado Springs, Colo., for the second year in a row.  The tournament will run from June 20 – 25, 2011.  As noted on USA Boxing’s website, “ the six days of tournament action will feature over 300 of the nation’s top male and female Olympic-style boxers, culminating in final round action on June 25.”   This year’s competition will be particularly important with one year to go before the qualifying bouts for the debut of women’s boxing in the 2012 Olympics.  With such nationally ranked fighters as Queen Underwood, Cashmere Jackson and Andrecia Wasson in contention for championship titles in their respective weight classes, this year’s bouts should be particularly exciting.  

For more information click here.


Recent press about women’s boxing

Recent press about women’s boxing

Here’s five recent press pieces related to women’s boxing that might be worth taking a look:

1.  Winning Starts Before the Fight:

Seattle based 2012 Olympic hopeful Queen Underwood who recently won two title fights at the first Women’s International Dual Series held in Oxnard, California is profiled in this piece.  The article was written by Alan Abrahamson and is published on Team USA’s boxing site here.

2. At 63, It’s Time for a Career Move:

A terrific article about personal trainer Lada St. Edmund, who started boxing in her 50’s and is now getting ready to take her exams to become a boxing referee. The piece was written by Brian Heyman for the New York Times and can be viewed here.

3.  My life in Sport: Daniella Smith:

The New Zealand Herald has an article by Dana Johannsen about New Zealand’s boxing champion Daniella Smith who recently won a ten-round fight in Berlin, Germany over Jennifer Retzke to gain the vacant IBF women’s welterweight title.  The mother of two began boxing 12 years ago and turned pro in 2005.  The article can be found here.

4.  Charity uses boxing to help girls build self confidence:

This piece in the LA Times written by Nate Jackson is about the organization KnockOuts for Girls (KO4G), a not for profit “boxing charity that specializes in training, fundraising and providing scholarships for underprivileged girls.”   The group recruits amateur and professional boxers as well as active models with an interest in the sweet science to help support the organization’s many programs.  The group’s website is here. The article can be found here.

5.  Big Cards Missing a Women’s Touch:

Over at Maxboxing.com, Ryan Maquinana has a written an article on the dearth of women fighters on big-name fight cards.  Referring to WBO super bantamweight champion, Ana Julatan, Maquinana makes note of the fact that her half-time visit on the court of a recent Golden State Warriors-New York Knicks game caused pandemonium in the stands.  His point is if she is such a crowd pleaser, how come Julatan and other terrific women fighters are nowhere to be found?  This piece is well worth reading and talking about. The link to the article is here.

2010 women’s international dual series

2010 Women’s International Duel Series

For those who are interested, the 2010 Women’s International Duel Series will be broadcasting live video from 6:00 PM Pacific Time – 9:00 PM Pacific Time.  The live broadcasts will feature boxing in the three Olympic weight classes and should show a terrific evening of boxing each night from November 18 – November 20.

The link is here.

Fighters include:  Queen Underwood, Pikacs Mercedesz, Alex Love, Vivien Nizsei, Kalita Marsh, Lidia Fidura, Mikaela Mayer, Karolina Graczyk, Stephanie Han, Debbie Richards and Tiffanie Hearn.

If you happen to be in the area of Oxnard, California, tickets can be purchased in advance through the Oxnard PAL website at www.oxnardpalboxing.com, via phone at (805) 385-8230, or in person at PAL office on 350 S. K Street, Oxnard, CA, 93030.

USA Boxing has a nice piece on this as well here.

PS.  Victories on Wednesday Night, 11/17 included three wins by US Women:  NYC’s Christina Cruz, and from the state of Washington, Alex Love & Queen Underwood.


Boxing News 24 has it here.