Tag Archives: Mikaela Mayer

boxing, Olympics, USA Boxing

USA Boxing featherweight Andrea Medina closing in on 2020 Olympic spot in Tokyo

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (February 10, 2020) – Coming off consecutive runner-up finishes in major tournaments, USA Boxing featherweight Andrea Medina is within one tournament of representing her country in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

In December, the 20-year-old Medina lost a split decision to Lupe Gutierrez at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Boxing, and 4-1 to Iulia Tsyplakova (Ukraine) last month at the Strandja Tournament in Bulgaria.  The Chula Vista, California boxer was recently named to USA Boxing’s Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Boxing Qualification Team.

“Placing second at the trials only made me more eager to get that Olympic Qualification spot,” Medina said.  “I just wanted to show USA Boxing that I was the one to represent at 57 kilograms.  I am only going to get better and I cannot wait to show the world everything that I got.

“For it (Strandja) being my first ever international tournament, I was very proud of how far I got in the tournament and getting that silver medal.  I was very happy with all my performances and I am excited to get back to work on things I need to improve on.  Aside from all that, going to a different country was awesome and I can’t wait to travel more doing what I love the most.”

Medina and her Team USA stablemates are currently training in Colorado Springs at the state-of-the-art United States Olympic and Paralympic Training Center.  To qualify for participation in this year’s Olympic Games, Medina needs to finish among the top three in the 57-kilogram (125 lbs.) division at the America’s Qualification Tournament, March 26-April 3, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  One final opportunity at the World Qualifier in Paris, France, in which she could qualify for the Olympics by placing among the top five.

“It means the world to me to be on the USA Boxing Olympic Qualification Team,” Medina added.  “It is everything I have been working for since I started competing at eight years old and I cannot believe the Olympic Games are only in a few months.  Making history in San Diego by being the first person to make the Olympic Team for boxing is a big deal for my family, my city and myself.  I cannot express how excited I am to have come this far, but there is still so much to do, and I am ready.

“I feel that I work better under pressure and I truly believe that I will qualify for Tokyo, whether it be in Argentina or France, but my main goal, right now, is to train hard to get that gold in Argentina.”

Medina believes her major strength inside the ring is her ability to adjust during a fight.  She prefers fighting on the outside, but she can brawl if needed, because she enjoys throwing a lot of power punches.

Medina also realizes that she’s in a prime place regarding the rising popularity of female boxing, following in the USA Boxing footsteps of two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields and Olympic bronze medalist Marlen Esparza, along with past USA Olympians such as Queen Underwood and Mikaela Mayer.

“Female boxing is only going to get bigger,” Medina predicted.  “Being a female fighter today means a lot to me, because I have been doing this for 15 years now, and seeing it grow year after year only shows how strong females are and what we can accomplish.  I predict that, in the future, boxing will not be seen as a man’s sport, but will be neutral for both men and women.”

Competing at the Olympics has been a life-long dream for Medina, but she also has plans for her immediate future.

“Reaching the Olympics has been my main goal throughout my boxing career,” Andrea remarked, “so now that it is so close makes me want to work even harder.  Other goals of mine are to graduate from college and get my own condominium, which I will do after all this is over.

“I plan on turning pro after the Olympics, most likely at the beginning or middle of 2021, so I can finish school and give my body some rest and recovery.”

Andrea Medina is so close to being an Olympian and everything associated with that accomplishment that she can practically reach out and feel it.  Just one more step, whether in Buenos Aires or Paris, and it’ll be mission accomplished for her.

INFORMATION:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

ABOUT USA BOXING:  To promote and grow Olympic-style amateur boxing in the United States and to inspire the tireless pursuit of Olympic gold and enable athletes and coaches to achieve sustained competitive excellence. Additionally, USA Boxing endeavors to teach all participants the character, confidence and focus they need to become resilient and diverse champions, both in and out of the ring. USA Boxing is one team, one nation, going for gold!

amateur boxing, USA Boxing, women's boxing

CLARESSA SHIELDS INDUCTED INTO USA BOXING ALUMNI ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME

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Paving the way for female boxers…..
Claressa Shields
 
“USA Boxing is family!”
 
 
USA Boxing Alumni Association, Class of 2018 Inductee
 
 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (December 3, 2018) – Two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields not only is spearheading a new wave in women’s boxing, she has developed into a true role model for countless youths.

 

 

 

Shields will be inducted into the USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame this Friday night in Salt Lake City, along with Class of 2018 members Roy Jones Jr. and, Andre Ward, as well as the late Emanuel Stewartand Tom Cleary.

 

 

 

The second annual USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame reception, held in conjunction with the 2018 USA Boxing Elite and Youth National Championships and Junior and Prep Open, December 2-8, will be held December 7, at the Radisson Hotel (215 S. Temple St.) in Salt Lake City, Utah.

 

 

 

“I feel honored,” Shields spoke about being inducted into the USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame,” I am only 23 years old and to be inducted into the USA Boxing Hall of Fame is a great honor, but also a shock to me. I believe I am worthy of any honor, but I know things take time, and I always thought I would put in the Hall of Fame at the age 40 or 50. This is a big deal to me and I feel so honored. Just to have my name mentioned alongside names of greats like Andre Ward and Roy Jones just really motivates me. I feel privileged!”

 

 

 

The pride of Flint, Michigan, Shields has already successfully parlayed her amateur success to the professional ranks, in which she is 7-0 (2), and the reigning unified (IBF, WBA & WBC) world middleweight champion.

 

 

 

Shields finished her amateur career with an incredible 77-1 (18 KOs) record, highlighted by her Olympic gold-medal-performances in 2012 and 2016. She hasn’t lost in the ring since 2012, when Savannah Marshall (England) won on points, 14-8, at the World Championships in China.

 

 

 

“USA Boxing came into my life as a two-time Junior Olympic champion,” Claressa explained her USA Boxing relationship. “The help from USA Boxing was so important: just noticing me as a young athlete and knowing I would be a strong young woman to represent the USA in the future; meeting Julie Goldsticker, who was a blessing for me as she helped me with a lot as a teenager, and just having Coach Abdullah, coach Al Mitchell, and coach Gloria Peek teach me different styles and how to use all my attributes. USA Boxing blessed me with a lot of knowledge and life-long friendships with all my Olympic teammates and Olympic coaches. My favorite coach, Kay Koroma, literally was with me the whole way through 2015-2016, helping me outside the ring with advice and inside the ring.”

 

 

 

Shields is one of the driving forces in women’s boxing today, carrying the torch handed off by American female boxing pioneers such as Christy Martin, Laila Ali and a few others.

 

 

 

“There is great change going on right now — me, Mikaela Mayer, Franchon Crews, Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano and a few other women are carrying the torch for women’s boxing right now,” Shields explained. “Progress has been fast, every network has had a women’s fight on television this year, especially Showtime, on which I have boxed the main event four times. Women’s boxing can go far. I believe the day will come when we can be paid millions just like men.”

 

 

 

By opening doors and breaking down obstacles, Claressa has become a true role model for youngsters all over, in and out of boxing.

 

 

 

“It feels good to be a role model for them (females), and also for so many male boxers,” Shields noted. “Boxing is in a different era and I just want to make it easier for girls coming up, so when they turn pro, boxing will be closer to equality.”

 

 

 

“Claressa has one of the greatest stories in the history of amateur boxing,” said Chris Cugliari, USA Boxing Alumni Association Executive Director. “Her drive, commitment, talent, and character made her a USA Boxing and Olympic champion, leaving a legacy that will last for a very long time.  She is a trailblazer for women’s boxing and has established her place as one of the most influential USA Boxing Alumni members of all time.  The USA Boxing Alumni Association wants to thank her for inspiring the amateur boxing community and serving as a great role model for the next generation of champions.”

 

 

 

 

USA Boxing Alumni Association

 

 

 

Created to champion a lifelong, mutually beneficial relations between USA Boxing and its alumni, –boxers, officials, coaches and boxing fans — The Alumni Association connects generations of champions, inspiring and giving back to USA Boxing’s future boxing champions, in and out of the ring.

 

 

 

The USA Boxing Alumni Association is open to anyone who has a love for boxing and would like to stay connected with amateur boxing. Members are granted access to a wide variety of special events host by the Alumni Association, including the USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame reception.

 

 

 

To join the Alumni Association, simply register at alumni@usaboxing.org for a $40.00 per year membership fee. New members will receive a T-shirt, keychain and e-wallet.

 

 

 

 

Despite all the honors and accolades, she has so richly received, Shields hasn’t forgotten where it all started, and she’s still actively involved in USA Boxing.

 

 

 

“I keep in contact with a lot of the female athletes and give them advice if they ask me,” Claressa added. “I also went to Colorado for five days to be a motivator and keynote speaker for the Next Olympic Hopeful. After my career is over in about 15 years, I want to be a boxing trainer and lead the women’s team to more Olympic gold medals, if given the opportunity. I also want to be a school teacher and a counselor for youth.”

 

 

 

Shields, unfortunately, is unable to attend this Friday night’s Hall of Fame reception because she’s in deep training for her titles defense this Saturday evening on HBO, live from the StubHub Center in Carson, California, against Fenmke Hermans (9-1).

 

 

 

“Sadly,” Shields concluded, “I can’t be there but, if I was there, I would say: Thank you to USA Boxing for believing in me at the age of 16. It was an honor to represent America, not only once but two times in the Olympics! I thank Coach Billy (Walsh) for making me dig deep, by having to deal with his Irish ways and jokes, also for changing the culture of USA Boxing. A special thank you to coach Kay, also, I can’t count on my hands how many days we trained at 1 a.m., how many times I knocked on his room door and ran, how many times he has had to take my phone from me because I was crying or having a family problem. He is the coach I could tell everything to, and he also blessed me with his boxing knowledge and made me always feel secure in myself when he was in the corner. USA Boxing isn’t just staff – USA Boxing is family! Even though I’ve had a few words with Matthew Johnson and other staff, I thank them for being hard on me and making sure I handled my responsibilities. Love to all USA Boxing staff, I’m truly thankful.”

 

 

 

Claressa Shields is much more than world and Olympian champion, she’s a class act as well, exactly what’s so desperately needed today.

 

 

 

INFORMATION:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

amateur boxing, boxing

Sharahya-Taina Moreu to make USA Boxing Women’s Elite debut at home in Albuquerque

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2018 Western Elite Qualifier and Regional Open Championships
Mar. 6-10 at Albuquerque Convention Center

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 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, March 6-10, at the 2018 USA Boxing Western Elite Qualifier and Regional Open Championships.

The 18-year-old Moreu, who plans to attend community college next year, is a 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.

Boxing, her father/coach, Yoruba Moreu, the late Johnny Tapia 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, though. At first, I was regretful and angry, getting in fights and on a bad path. I got into boxing, took anger management, 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, the five-time, three division world champion, in addition to the 1983 and 1985 National Golden Gloves champion, had a tremendous impact on Sharahya-Taina that will remain in her heart and soul for life.
“We became like family,” Moreu said. “At first, 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, I think, 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, in and out of the ring. I feel safe in the ring. I’m a better person because of Johnny and boxing.”

Style-wise, 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 Shields‘ gold-medal performances in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, 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 U.S. Olympian and three-time USA Boxing National Champion)) Mikaela Mayer (3-0, 2 KOs as a pro) has helped a lot, too. She signed with a good promoter (Top Rank). 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. Last year, 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 in May, 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.”

INFORMATION:
Twitter: @USABoxing
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing
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boxing, women's boxing

Selina Barrios Spooks Her Opponent, Zarina Tsoloyeva Backs Out of Fight

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RAYNE, LA (November 2, 2017) – Two days after Halloween, unbeaten female sensation, lightweight Selina “Aztec Queen” Barrios (2-0, 1 KO), has spooked her opponent, Zarina Tsoloyeva (Pro Debut) from Zhaksy, Kazakhstan, as she backed out of their scheduled 4-round bout, set to take place today at The Rayne Civic Center in Louisiana.  Tsoloyeva refused to step on the scale at yesterdays weigh-in.
Selina Barrios is one of the most avoided female fighters in the United States and now Kazakhstan.  Ebony Jones from Alabama, Alpha Patricia Lopez from Mexico, and now Zarina Tsoloyeva from Kazakhstan, all signed to fight Selina but backed out to fight her at the last minute.  Jones and Lopez were no shows, while Tsoloyeva who is from the distant land of Kazakhstan, showed up to the weigh-in, but declined to step on the scale.
“I was willing to fight Zarina Tsoloyeva, the decorated amateur from Kazakhstan, but she pulled out at the last minute, like my last two opponents.” said Selina Barrios from San Antonio. “It’s been very difficult getting opponents to fight me.  I’ve always said, I don’t care who they put in front of me, I’ll fight anyone.  I have that much confidence in my skills.  I have no choice but to move on, but I’m respectfully sending a message to everyone in the lightweight and super-lightweight divisions, I’m not going anywhere, eventually you will all have to fight me.”
Nothing will derail Selina as she stays positive and continues to work hard, looking for that opportunity to challenge the best the lightweight and super-lightweight divisions has to offer. Selina’s handlers must now move her to six and eight round bouts right away, to chip away and get to a championship fight as she gains more ring experience as a professional.
“Looking at all the top lightweights and super-lightweights, I predict Selina will fight for a world championship before her tenth fight,” said advisor Kerry Daigle. “Possibly by fight number seven or eight.  We’re going to move her into six and eight rounders moving forward.  I’m already in talks with the sanctioning bodies to get her ranked.”
“If no one wants to fight me, then I’m calling out all the name fighters in the division,” Selina Barrios continued. “Amanda Serrano, Mikaela Mayer, Jessica McCaskill and of course, Katie Taylor, I’m willing to fight you guys anytime, anywhere.  Like I said, at some point, you will all have to fight me.”
boxing, women's boxing

Salina Aztec Queen Barrios Returns to the Ring Nov 2 Against Decorated Amateur Zarina Tsoloyeva

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Photos by Team Barrios
SAN ANTONIO, TX (October 27, 2017) – Undefeated female sensation, super-lightweight Selina “Aztec Queen” Barrios (2-0, 1 KO), returns to the ring Thursday, November 2, 2017 in Louisiana at The Rayne Civic Center.  Barrios will face the highly touted Zarina Tsoloyeva (Pro Debut) from Zhaksy, Kazakhstan, in a 4-round bout in the super-lightweight division.  The card titled “RAYNE RISING” is presented by Bad Chad’s Boxncar Promotions.
Barrios, who hails from San Antonio, TX, is the older sister of undefeated super-lightweight contender, Mario Barrios (20-0, 12 KOs).  As an amateur, Selina had a remarkable record of (80-3), most of which came by stoppage.  She has a notable win against USA Olympian and Top Rank fighter, Mikaela Mayer (2-0, 2 KOs), and vows to make a statement against Tsoloyeva.
“Even though Tsoloyeva is making her pro debut, she’s a big step up in competition,” Selina Barrios said. “She had a great amateur career and I know she’s going to be a tough opponent.  All I know is I’m going to bring the heat, and show her why I’m the most dangerous fighter in women’s boxing.”
Selina Barrios is guided by longtime boxing manager, Kerry Daigle, who believes Barrios is one of the most exciting boxers he’s seen in years.
“Selina has that fighting style that every boxing fan loves,” said Kerry Daigle. “She’s nonstop action every time she steps in the ring.  I haven’t seen a fighter like her in a long time, male or female.  She has that special something that you can’t explain but you know is extraordinary.  She’s in a very competitive fight, against a very skilled fighter in Zarina Tsoloyeva.  When I asked her if she was willing to fight such a decorated amateur fighter, she said yes, with no hesitation.  That’s what I love about Selina, she’s ready to fight anyone, anywhere.”
Zarina Tsoloyeva, best known for her resemblance to actress Angelina Jolie, won a bronze medal in the Kazakh national championships.  She’s a highly accomplished amateur champion with great boxing skills.
Tickets to “RAYNE RISING” priced $25 General Admission (Pre-sale), ($30 general admission tickets at the door), $125 VIP Ringside, and $800 1st Row Executive Tables, are on sale now at http://www.boxncar.com/buy-tickets/ or by calling (337) 298-7658.

The Rayne Civic Center is located at 210 Frog Festival Dr, Rayne, LA 70578.  Doors open at6:00 p.m. first bell at 7:00 p.m.