(NOV 11) “Regardless of how many times I got my butt kicked I kept returning to the gym,” said Whisper Dominguez. Dominguez is a slight, pretty, young woman of 26. She showed up at the Benavidez gym in Burien, Washington about a year ago. She appeared a lost. There was something hungry inside of her, something she wanted. What, she was not sure and with her tiny delicate voice the trainers were also not sure.

They soon discovered that she wanted to become a professional boxer. There are many tender looking women who become professionals. She looked more fragile than most, long and thin. They gave her a try. She looked terrible and, after a few days of being battered about, they bet she would not last the week. They were mistaken.

Dominguez returned day after day. With nose often bloodied, eyes puffed like ravioli, body smashed constantly by the young men who sparred with her, she left each day with a smile on her face and anxious to return.

Dominguez had been kickboxing, calisthenics, and body building. They were not satisfying. “I have a fighter’s spirit. I want to get close. I want to punch someone. I want to feel their breath on my shoulder, then knock the breath out of them.”

Even as a kid she wanted to box. The family was constantly on the move and money was scarce. Her mother and sister were in abusive relationships and sought relief in drugs and alcohol where relief is only temporary and the pain forever. They are still battling those demons.

“I saw the abuse women often took and vowed that would never happen to me. I wanted to learn to fight. I was born to fight.”

She proved that fighting spirit while in the first grade. Because of the incessant moving she was constantly the new kid in school. A large boy started pushing her around. She balled up her fists and beat him to the ground. The experience proved valuable. Her safety lay in fighting back. If she showed she would not back down, if she showed she was willing to fight, if she showed she had guts and was fearless, kids left her alone. What came from that was also mistrust. She is quiet and difficult to know until she understands people mean her no harm.

Her progress over the year has been tremendous and she has made believers out of everyone. Her first big step was becoming the spring partner for Angelica Rascon (10-1) who recently lost a WBC Bantam title match against Yamileth Mercado in a close decision. She then became the sparring partner for former Minimum Weight champion Nancy Franco de Alba.

“Even though I was a ring girl in California, Las Vegas, and Utah, I am no Barbie Doll. I graduated from ring girl to boxing woman.”

Dominguez has mastered the basics but still has one persistent flaw: she raises her chin rather than lowers it when she punches.

“I believe I can become a champion.”

She also has a larger ambition. “I want to show women they have a voice. They can do whatever they put their minds to. If they want to be housewives, raise children, work in the corporate world, or become athletic champions, all is possible. Hey must follow their own path and not be swayed.”

She is excited about her pro debut in December. “My hard work and consistency is coming to fruition. Of course I am nervous but failure is not an option. Regardless of what happens I will continue to return until I meet my goals.”

What started as a whisper may end as a roar.

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