The London Olympics will be the first to feature women’s boxing as an official sport. The women’s Olympic boxing tournament will be contested across three weight divisions, with 12 fighters in each class. The three divisions are Flyweight (112 lbs), Lightweight (132 lbs) and Middleweight (165 lbs), and the United States boxing team is represented in each class.
Get to know the ladies representing Team USA boxing at London 2012.
Flyweight – Marlen Esparza
Marlen Esparza is ranked as the number 6 fighter in the world in her division. She turns 23 this summer, and has a deep reserve of experience in the amateur ranks, winning six national championships, and competing at the 2010 and 2012 women’s world championships.
At the latter, she lost to the ’10 and ’12 women’s world champion, Cancan Ren of China. Avoiding her through the early stages would provide Esparza a better than average shot at bringing home a medal. Esparza is from Houston, Texas.
Lightweight – Queen Underwood
Underwood is ranked as the number 10 women’s lightweight fighter in the world by the AIBA. She has a bronze medal on her resume from the 2010 worlds, but lost a very close fight in the 2012 worlds, which knocked her out early.
However, she received an invitational berth to London 2012, completing Team USA and giving them a competitor in all three weight classes. Underwood is from Seattle, Washington.
Middleweight – Claressa Shields
Claressa Shields is just 17 years old. The Flint, Michigan native has a sparkling amateur record thus far, brief as it is. She has lost only once, at the 2012 women’s world championships, and that was to Savannah Marshall, who won gold in their division.
Despite an early exit there, Shields qualified for the event following the winning effort of Marshall. Shields is ranked as the number 12 fighter in her division by the AIBA.
So you can expect to be seeing and hearing plenty more about these ladies once it’s time for the competition to begin. Be sure to cheer on the USA women’s boxing at London 2012!
