BRIDGEVILLE – (MAR 5) –  On February 25th, I had the pleasure to cover the camp training of local lady amateur boxer Tika Hemingway, as she prepares for the National Amateur Open Championship Tournament in Colorado Springs, Colorado, starting March 5, 2006.

At 19 years of age, having started training in boxing about 19 months ago, she has shown to be a quick study as well as a natural at her craft. She has hit the speed bag with amazing accuracy, while being blindfolded. WPAL president and Iron City Pro Boxing director, Jimmy Cevetic, certainly attested to Hemingway’s proficiency, when he recently said, “I know that little girl. She’s pretty tough.”

Tika trains at Steel City Boxing Club in Northside Pittsburgh, under the expert tutelage of the Reverend Sheldon Stoudemire, who, himself, was a boxer, with an amazing

amateur record of 126-6, as well as undefeated as a pro. Needless to say, Tika is in great hands.

© Related Stories Link all Women Boxers photo, records, mpegs, and more! Go

This will be Hemingway’s first time in national competition, but she seems very confident and excited with the opportunity. Locally, Hemingway hasn’t had many opportunities to compete, being that there is not enough women boxers competing in her weight division of 178 pounds, which lead her to consider dropping down to the middleweight division after the upcoming tournaments, including the WPAL Golden Gloves, and, hopefully, the National Golden Gloves tournaments.

There is one thing for certain – Hemingway is focused and ready for action.