(JUNE 23) WBAN caught up
with Former National Golden Gloves champion, Samantha Guzman,
and we have a latest update on this Guzman. She has just
recently earned a Bachelors of Science degree in marketing from
Elmhurst College in Illinois.
During her amateur career, which
saw her win multiple championships at the city, state and
regional level, Samantha compiled an overall record of 25-6 and
was consistently ranked among the top elite women in the
country. Her most notable wins include a 2007 national golden
gloves championship (106 lbs.) and being the 2008 US
Championships silver medalist (101 lbs.).
Samantha told WBAN, “there isn't a day that goes by in which I
don't think about competitive boxing. I miss the sport and above
all the camaraderie with my fellow athletes.”
Samantha also indicated that she finds it difficult to watch
professional boxing as some of her closest friends have turned
professional and are now competing at higher levels.
Shortly after leaving the sport, Samantha continued to pursue
her goal to graduate from an accredited college, as she was
raised understanding the importance of having an excellent
education. By working full-time, volunteering for a humane
society and attending classes at night, she was able to bring
her dreams to fruition.
Having graduated with a degree in marketing and public relations
Samantha hopes to one day form her own animal rescue
organization, a cause she is very passionate about. For the last
five years Samantha has volunteered for Pact Humane Society
located in Bloomingdale, Illinois and is the organization’s
Foster Coordinator and Adoption Counselor.
Having rescued her own three
dogs, Samantha is especially passionate about ending unnecessary
and inhumane overbreeding, advocating for harsher laws for those
that abuse and neglect animals, and also works hard to demolish
the stigma that plagues her favorite breed, pit bulls.
“I spent years in the ring fighting for myself, training myself
to overcome odds both in the ring and outside of it. Boxing
taught me so much about who I am and now I can use everything I
learned to fight for those without a voice. I will spend the
rest of my life rescuing as many animals as possible and
teaching everyone I can about the importance of compassion.
Adopt, don’t shop and help put an end to
animal cruelty, " added Samantha.
