THE BOXERS
YESSICA “KIKA” CHAVEZ / Ecatepec, Mexico City. Flyweight division.
Her father, Juan Manuel El Kiko Chavez, a former boxer, has trained her starting at a young age. She started boxing to please her father and ended up falling in love with the sport. “If boxing is the way for him to like me, let’s box,” she said. Her dad did not want to train her and would tell her to go play with dolls, until her mother demanded that he train her. Her mother is the pillar of the family. Her mother said, “If you want to be a boxer, you’ll be the best, but that will not be your only career. If you’re a champion, you also have to go to college.” Kika has since bought a home for her mother from her winnings from boxing. On her birthday, her Grandmother died. Before dying, her grandma said Kika was going to make it big. Her first victory was, “the most beautiful moment I had because I dreamt it since I was a little girl.”
YOSELINE PEREZ / Houston, TX. USA Boxing.
Yoseline’s parents were initially not supportive of her interest in boxing. Growing up in a machismo household, her father’s traditional view that men work to support the family while women stay home was challenged when she found her love for the sport. Now, after seeing her natural grit and talent in the ring, her parents are both fans, and support her dream to represent the United States in the Olympics.
GUADALUPE “LUPITA” BAUTISTA / Iztapalapa, Mexico City. Light Flyweight division.
“It was never my idea to dedicate my life to boxing. I wanted to study psychology to work in a jail. I started boxing 14 years ago. I tried it, I liked it and I stayed. People would tell me to do something else. I didn’t quit out of pride. I couldn’t stand anyone telling me I couldn’t do it. In the beginning, it was physically challenging but little by little I got used to the exertion. I got better with time. The first time, I won in ten seconds, that’s what motivated me. My biggest challenge is doing my best and not getting the recognition. It’s a men’s sport. It’s difficult for our work to be seen or valued.”
FANY “LA NIÑA DE ORO” MARTINEZ / Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico City. Amateur.
She started boxing at 7 years old because of her grandfather, José Luis Martinez, who used to be a professional boxer. She had her first fight in 2013. Her father is Mexican, her mother is Polish and Fany was born in the United States. She lived in the US till she was 3 years and then moved to Mexico City. Because of this, Mexico, Poland and the US all wants her for their Olympic Teams. The first fight she ever saw live was the great Ana Maria Torres against a Japanese boxer. She recalls meeting Ana Maria: “I was wearing a small crown and she was carrying her belt. She told me, ‘if you give me your crown, I’ll give you my belt.’ I didn’t know what to say at the time because I wasn’t aware of the value of the belt.”
