ÇOLORADO SPRINGS, 膝部. (三月 1, 2018) – High school senior Sharahya-Taina Moreu, one of the top youth amateur boxers in the world, will make her USA Boxing in the Women’s Elite Division at home in Albuquerque, 三月 6-10, 在 2018 USA Boxing Western Elite Qualifier and Regional Open Championships.

The 18-year-old Moreu, who plans to attend community college next year, 是 2016 USA Boxing National Champion, in addition to a four-time Native American and 2014 Gene Lewis champion. She was a silver medalist at the 2015 Junior/Youth Open and 2014/2015 Junior Olympic championships.

拳擊, her father/coach, 約魯巴·莫魯, 已故 約翰尼塔皮亞 helped her overcome the life-changing tragedy of her mother’s death in an automobile accident, forging a new path for her as a role model and 2020 Olympic hopeful. “I was only eight when my mother died,” Moreu remembered. “I was laying on her when the car-rolled and she was thrown through the back window. I was the first out of the card and on the freeway asking for help.

“I’m a better person because of that accident, 雖然. 首先, I was regretful and angry, getting in fights and on a bad path. I got into boxing, 採取憤怒管理, and became motivated. I didn’t realize that I’d become a role model until girls started asking me for advice. They do look up to me and some of them I now coach.”

Moreu started boxing at the age of 12 and Tapia, 五年時間, 三個賽區世界冠軍, 除了 1983 和 1985 全國金手套冠軍, had a tremendous impact on Sharahya-Taina that will remain in her heart and soul for life.

“We became like family,” Moreu said. “首先, he didn’t like girls boxing, so he worked me real hard. I was a good basketball player and he kept telling me to go play basketball. But he became a big person in my life, 我想, because I had lost my mother at such a young age. He helped me in and out of the ring in so many ways. Johnny Tapia was the nicest, most humble man I’ve ever met. We became family until the gym fell apart. He only coached me about eight months, but he taught me that boxing defines you as a person, 進出環. I feel safe in the ring. I’m a better person because of Johnny and boxing.”

風格明智, Sharahya-Taina preys on her opponents’ mistakes, adjusting in the ring the same as, she says, “Just like in life.” At 5′ 10″, Moreu has a distinct height and reach advantage over most of her middleweight opponents, using those attributes, her speed and stiff jab to relentlessly pile up points.

She strongly believes that, because of Claressa盾‘ gold-medal performances in the 2012 和 2016 奧運會, the doors are open wider for women in boxing. “I saw an American woman do what Clarissa did and become a dominant force in boxing,” Moreu remarked. “(2016 中美. Olympian and three-time USA Boxing National Champion)) 邁卡拉邁耶 (3-0, 2 KOs as a pro) has helped a lot, 太. She signed with a good promoter (熱門排名). Boxing is slowly getting better for woman, maybe not equal to men, but there are more girls boxing today than ever before and that’s a good sign.”

Fighting at home in the Western Qualifier has a special meaning for Moreu. “I thought fighting in Albuquerque would be a lot of pressure,” she admitted, “but there’s not much pressure on me because of all the support I’m receiving. It’s easy here. Albuquerque isn’t like a big city but it’s becoming a fight town.

“I like to travel and meet different people. 去年, I represented to United States in India at the Youth Championships, and I saw another part of the world, how people trained and had different life styles. I’m turning 19 在五月, so this is my first-time boxing in an Elite tournament, and it’s great doing it in my hometown.

Moreu also credits her father for a large amount of her success in the ring and life. “He’s been a single parent, but he’s always been there doing his best for me as a father and coach,” Sharahya-Taina noted. “Most people don’t know that he’s Puerto Rican, my mother a Native American (Pueblo).”

Like most young, elite athletes, Sharahya-Taina has a dream. “2020 in the Olympics,” she concluded. “I want to establish myself as an amateur and eventually go pro and have a good career.”