(MAR 12) Colorado Springs, CO - Iowa City native and University of Iowa marketing major Emily Klinefelter has just won the U.S. National Boxing Championships at 119 pounds. She was the only competitor that defeated two former
champions on the way to the title. This is Klinefelter's eleventh career national title, and fourth national title in a row at 119 pounds during the past year, completing amateur boxing's grand slam: Ringside, Police Athletic League (PAL), Golden Gloves, and U.S. Championships.

Klinefelter won the 2003 and 2004 U.S. Championships at 110 pounds, as well as a gold medal at a Taiwan World Invitational, but after deciding that it was not worth it to weaken herself to make weight, last year moved up two
weight divisions (bypassing 114) up to 119 and has been undefeated ever since.

En route to the 2006 U.S. Championships, in the quarterfinals Emily defeated the 2005 champion, Texas' southpaw Vanessa Juarez. Klinefelter was up 4-2
after the first round, but after the second was tied 5-5. However, she clearly pulled away in the final two rounds, finishing the 3rd up 16-11 and after the 4th up 21-13 to win.

In her semifinal match, the 5'3" Klinefelter took on California's 5'10" Sonia Deputee, but was not hindered by her height and reach disadvantage, stopping Deputee in the 2nd round when the bout was automatically stopped because Emily was up 20 points, 25-5.

In the final, the former 110 pound champion took on Tennessee's Teresa O'Toole, a former 125 pound champion who moved down in weight to 119 pounds. Despite O'Toole's height and reach advantages, as well as her quick punching and fast moving style, Klinefelter dominated all the way and won 20-6.

Klinefelter's victory makes her the United States' representative for the year for purposes of international competition.

Emily was funded by the National PAL, which for the first time funded a women's team of the champions from its late 2005 tournament. This made it the first national boxing organization other than the military which funded
women's presence at the U.S. Nationals. Klinefelter is a three time PAL champion.

In an added surprise, the PAL also secured the help of undefeated professional world champion Lucia Rijker as an assistant coach. Rijker has for years been considered women's boxing's pound for pound best, and also
starred in Million Dollar Baby as Hillary Swank's evil in the ring nemesis. (WBAN Comments: WBAN does not considered Rijker the best pound for pound, not now, or in the last few years---Sumya Anani would hold that honor.)

Rijker was there in the corner for all three of Klinefelter's wins, as well as Emily's coach of five years, Adam Pollack, who trains boxers out of Gold's Gym in Coralville. Pollack is also a criminal defense attorney whose book, John L. Sullivan: The Career of the First Gloved Heavyweight Champion, is set to be published in June by McFarland & Co.

Emily's 18 year old sister Katy Klinefelter, a UI freshman, won bronze at 125 pounds, defeating California's Ana Julaton before being defeated by the eventual two-time champion Melissa Roberts of Connecticut.

Also in attendance at the tournament was current undefeated and undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor.