(DEC 26) On Saturdays' rain or
shine at 9 a.m., at Babyface Boxing Gym in Pacifica, California, female boxers
will come from many miles to get ready to pursue their
boxing goals for 2015.
Our Beautiful Brawlers crew Martha Salazar, Melissa McMorrow and Gina Guidi
and myself, have set
out to get the best sparring for the JO and Youth USA Boxers
from California to who are setting out to participate in the JO
USA Boxing Nationals in Reno and Elite Nationals in Spokane, WA.
WBC Heavyweight Champion Martha Salazar and Champion Melissa
McMorrow spar many rounds to help these boxers reach their goals
and we set up boxers within 10 lbs to box each and other to get
ready. We had Salazar spar National champion Martha Fabela, Ari
Borerro, and Kylie Hall who will be making her JO Nationals
debut in Reno. These girls sparred many rounds with the champ
and then with each and other. This is the kind of sparring they
need to succeed.
We are quality and quantity of rounds. Honestly, we all thought
Kylie Hall would have her hands full sparring 2 National
Champions including Lupe Gutierrez and a world champion but with
only 5 bouts under her belt she is very tough and a great skill
set and foot work.
Kylie won the Beautiful Brawlers novice division in 2014 and is
so serious about boxing that she quit her other sports to focus
just on boxing. 15 year old Kylie Hall is someone I am looking
forward to watching because she is in the 145 lbs. division and
if she stays on track we will see big things for her in 2015.
2014 Youth National Champion Martha Fabela is an inspiration to
all of us because she has really set the standard. We hardly
ever get to see her at sparring because she has been training at
the Olympic Training Center and was living in Colorado and has
made a name for herself not only on a National Level but a
worldwide level as she won the bronze medal at the Youth
Olympics in China this year. Martha is also an honors student.
Melissa McMorrow went 12 rounds before taking a break on
Saturday. McMorrow sparred with Marisol Lopez, Kim Mazariegos
and Mariana Gonzalez first. 2013 USA Team member Marisol Lopez
was really impressive with Melissa McMorrow. National PAL
Champion Marisol Lopez will make the move from the Youth
division to elite this year.
She got some really good work in and has a great attitude and
skill set. Marisol Lopez is everything you look for in a boxer.
She has great work ethic, parents who support her, does well in
school and is quiet but dangerous in the ring. She is in the 112
lbs. Olympic division, which is stacked so we are very glad she
got the work in with McMorrow.
We all believe in Marisol Lopez and want her to succeed.
If you want to get ready for Reno and you weigh less than 130
lbs Mighty McMorrow will take you the distance. She is
instrumental in working with the lower weight divisions at
sparring and is not only a sparring partner but a mentor and
coach. McMorrow is constantly giving back to boxing she is a
huge part of our program. We all want to see our girls do great
on a National level. It doesn’t matter what gym you are from
everyone is welcome to sparring and if you want to work with
Mighty she always says yes.
Beautiful Brawler Mariana Gonzalez will be making her JO
National debut in Reno and this young lady puts in the work and
never turns down any sparring. She is going to do what it takes
to become champion. I have seen a lot of 15 year olds come in
and out of the boxing gym but this young lady is here for the
distance. She like others in her peer group have dedicated
coaches who take her to sparring and believe in her.
Iris Contreras ranked #2 USA Boxing
Four-time Beautiful Brawler Champion Iris Contreras ranked #2
USA Boxing has stepped up her competition in 2014. She has
sparred some tough opponents at club shows and is consistently
getting in work with McMorrow and every other 120 lbs. and below
at Babyface. JO National Champion Lupe Gutierrez who got work in
with Kylie Hall and anybody else who would get in the ring with
her has consistently showed up at sparring and intends to defend
her 132 lbs JO National title on her journey to the 2020
Olympics. She is only 15 years old and this is a boxer who has
fought in most of the national events this year and has won
every one of them. Gutierrez is 8-0 for 2014 and just won the
Beautiful Brawlers Boxer of the Year award.
We also have a group of girls who are looking to have their
first fights in 2015 who spar with our group. These girls get
the best work in and are surrounded by other female boxers with
up to 40 fights plus under their belts, national champions, and
world champions. These young ladies are loving every minute of
this team work. The unconditional love and support from all the
others boxers is really setting a wonderful foundation for them
to build upon. All in all our sparring is a win/ win situation
for all involved.
With Martha Salazar ending the year off with a major victory as
she won the WBC Heavy weight title in November, she is making
sure she is putting in the time to help California's best reach
their goals in 2015. I think it’s a great thing that Salazar and
McMorrow put so much time into these young ladies.
We at the Beautiful Brawlers help to build champions and never
ask for anything in return. We have the formula for success in
female boxing: Love, Fun, Hard work, togetherness and Safety.
With this formula and the dedication of all their coaches who
believe in them, we are on our way to making 2015 even a greater
year for female boxing.
At the end of the day at BabyFace Boxing after many punches have
been thrown and some bloodshed we finish off the day with big
hugs and we all walk away with smiles on our faces.