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Photo Credit:
Tonia Cravens 5’3”, 110-115
lb. Tonia “TNT” Cravens, was born in Phoenix, Arizona on January 28, 1983 and
now lives and trains in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She received an AA in
Liberal Arts from Central New Mexico Community College and is now working
towards a PhD in Counseling. When not training, Tonia loves her church,
volunteers in the community and still finds time for entrepreneurship. She
really does believe that the sky is the limit, and her discipline, honor,
and faith are rooted in her heart and notable both in and out of the ring.
Tonia participated in gymnastics for many years before she began boxing in
2002. She is the first in her generation to participate in the sport, though
she has a lifeline of family who performed various Martial Arts in Mexico
many years ago. When asked about what prompted her to begin boxing and why
she continues to do it she laughs,
“I’m not sure, it just popped in my head one day. I personally knew
nothing about the sport, so I pulled out the phonebook and started driving
around town looking for gyms. I call it the ‘temperamental boxing gene’, and
at first it was just a passion, but now it’s a lifestyle. I have made many
sacrifices and made boxing a daily part of my routine, like eating. You can
only go some time without it before you get too hungry and that’s all you
think about. It’s a challenge I put upon myself. I’m not trying to be the
best in the world because there’ll always be someone better around the
corner. I admit that. I am however, trying to be the best that I can be at
everything and see how far it takes me. This is the only life we live and I
want to live mine to my fullest potential. Not only do I want to make a
difference in touching others lives, one person at a time – I want to push
my mind and body as far as possible and boxing allows me to do that.”
Tonia took many years off to recover from a non-boxing related injury and
she pursued a new trainer. She is coming in older, wiser, stronger and
drastically improved. This girl is ready for round 2 and is guaranteed to
turn heads!
Unlike many, Tonia’s amateur career was very short; with less than ten
fights she made her pro debut on September 30, 2005 at the Taco Bell Arena,
in Boise, Idaho. Tonia (117 ½) won a four-round unanimous decision in a
Bantamweight fight against Kelly Vannan (118). Tonia improved to 1-0 with
the win.
On December 9, 2005 at the Celebrity Theatre in Glendale, Arizona Tonia
(119) lost by a four-round unanimous decision against Hondi Hernandez (122)
in the only pro boxing bout of the show. Hernandez improved to 3-0 with the
win.
On January 6, 2006 at the Santa Ana Star Casino in Bernalillo, New Mexico in
what was voted by New Mexico Boxing as one of the best fights of 2006, Tonia
(116 ¼) went toe-to-toe against Yvonne Chavez (121¾) in what was later
called a “bloody slugfest”.
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