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By Lyle Fitzsimmons - It’s happened before.
When it comes to gymnastics, it’s impossible to ignore the Olympic influence that’s been passed from Nadia Comaneci through Mary Lou Retton through Gabby Douglas.
And if Chevelle Hallback ultimately gets her wish, the same sort of generational flow will occur with her sport, thanks to inaugural U.S. women’s boxing gold medalist – 17-year-old Claressa Shields.
“We made a bold statement with medals in the Olympics,” she said. “Claressa Shields, Queen Underwood and Marlen Esparza all fought hard and represented. I can see new girls getting inspired by them, yes, and that is where women's boxing is gonna grow, with new talent and finally an entire world seeing what we can do.
“Now promoters just have to take a leap of faith, and work with us.”
But in the meantime, the 40-year-old has some work of her own to do.
A professional since Shields was not quite 2, the perpetually busy Floridian returns to the ring next week with yet another championship belt on her mind… and the lingering dream of a cable television starring role still squarely – albeit realistically – in her sights.
The Tampa native visits the unlikely locale of Whitehall, N.Y. for the next step in the journey on Aug. 24, when she’ll face past foe Victoria Cisneros for the WIBA’s interim light welterweight title in the main event of a card featuring both men’s and women’s bouts at the Whitehall Armory. [Click Here To Read More]
When it comes to gymnastics, it’s impossible to ignore the Olympic influence that’s been passed from Nadia Comaneci through Mary Lou Retton through Gabby Douglas.
And if Chevelle Hallback ultimately gets her wish, the same sort of generational flow will occur with her sport, thanks to inaugural U.S. women’s boxing gold medalist – 17-year-old Claressa Shields.
“We made a bold statement with medals in the Olympics,” she said. “Claressa Shields, Queen Underwood and Marlen Esparza all fought hard and represented. I can see new girls getting inspired by them, yes, and that is where women's boxing is gonna grow, with new talent and finally an entire world seeing what we can do.
“Now promoters just have to take a leap of faith, and work with us.”
But in the meantime, the 40-year-old has some work of her own to do.
A professional since Shields was not quite 2, the perpetually busy Floridian returns to the ring next week with yet another championship belt on her mind… and the lingering dream of a cable television starring role still squarely – albeit realistically – in her sights.
The Tampa native visits the unlikely locale of Whitehall, N.Y. for the next step in the journey on Aug. 24, when she’ll face past foe Victoria Cisneros for the WIBA’s interim light welterweight title in the main event of a card featuring both men’s and women’s bouts at the Whitehall Armory. [Click Here To Read More]