Olympic-style Boxer “Calls out” ALL
Women Professional Boxers! Ali, Wolfe, Mia, Martin. . .let’s get it
on!
by Angel Bovee
March 15, 2006
I know this is a place where one boxer
often “calls out"” another boxer. . .but this Olympic-style Boxer
has decided to “call out” all respected professional women boxers AT
ONCE!
CRAZY?. . .maybe, but hear me out. . .
For the first time ever, the National Police Athletic League
organization, in an amazing show of support for women boxers, funded
it’s women Champions to compete at the US Nationals at the Olympic
Training Center in Colorado Springs this past week. Not only did
they send the women, but they also secured the talents of Lucia
Rijker and Dr. Christy Halbert to coach the women’s team.
The first-ever women’s PAL team did phenomenal at the
US Nationals US Nationals.
Carrie Barry of Nashville, TN and Emily Klienfleter of Iowa City,
Iowa won gold medals in their weight classes. Angel Bovee of
Nashville, TN, Allana Huggins of Fort Worth, TX, Teresa “Tree”
O’Toole from Nashville, TN, Tanzee Daniels of Jamica Queens, NY
Coleen Loo of Mililani, HI, and Victoria Perez, Ventura CA—all took
home silver medals.
Professional boxer Lucia Rijker shared much of herself and her
experience with the team while getting a lot of attention from the
spectators as well. It meant a lot to all of us to have a
professional of her caliber show up to coach and support women’s
Olympic-style boxing. Former professional boxer and author of “The
Ultimate Boxer,” Dr. Christy Halbert was a top-notch coach for the
team, and continues to work tirelessly to advance the women’s
Olympic-style program.
I believe getting respected professional boxers involved in the
women’s Olympic-style (amateur) program will help the amateur
program increase it’s numbers and in turn help out the professional
side of boxing by turning out women that are ring savvy and raise
the skill level of women’s boxing worldwide.
SO I AM PERSONALLY “CALLING OUT” ALL THE RESPECTED WOMEN
PROFESSIONAL BOXERS to get involved at the amateur level, help us
get women’s boxing Olympic-inclusion, and let’s work together to
raise the skill level, marketing opportunities and respect that is
so often lacking in women’s boxing.
Many, many people continue to work around the numerous obstacles to
promote the women’s program, but having some big time professional
boxers on board will help us raise our membership numbers from over
2,000 to . . .????? Who knows how great out numbers can be! Let work
together to raise the sport up and show the world how women boxers
can be the best role models, leaders, athletes and individuals we
can be.
So respected professional athletes,
let’s follow Rijker’s example and take the time to learn about the
amateur program and be positive role models for all young girls
looking to pick up the gloves! Let’s be the change we want to see
happen in women’s boxing.
Having a tremendous amount of success and having the experience of
Lucia Rijker and Christy Halbert in our corner made this a week that
us PAL Champions will not soon forget. A personal and heartfelt
thank you to the National PAL office for supporting women, and to
Lucia for sharing her journey, knowledge and energy with all of us!
To learn some ways that you can help out and make a difference,
e-mail me at boxingangel@excite.com, or Dr. Christy Halbert, chair
of the women’s sub-committee at USA Boxing at halbert@boxingresouce.com
or call 615-331-9779
Hugs and punches,
Angel Bovee
