(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Nearly 300 boxers took over the Pueblo Convention Center for the USA Boxing International Open. It was an intense week full of right hooks and knock-out blows as hundreds of boxers took their best swing at being the best in their bracket, competing with some of the best boxers around the world.
“I got a lot of sparring out of the way throughout the week, and on Saturday, I did amazing,” said Marley McNealy, one of the boxers and winners of the tournament.
The punches were flying in Pueblo this week. The event had a lot of blood, sweat, and tears as athletes competed to take home a gold medal.
“We’re gearing up for L.A. 2028, which is going to be hosting the largest sporting event in the history of the world. So, our boxers just came off of Paris and we’re gearing up, reloading,” said Mike McAtee, the CEO of USA Boxing.
Courtesy: FOX21 Photojournalist Christopher Hernandez
288 boxers from 18 different countries competed in two rings the past week, but only one winner from each weight class took it all.
“Under the rules of boxing, you’ll never have a judge from your country judge you. So, you got judges from all over the world,” said McAtee.
The boxers were categorized by their age and weight, including youth, juniors, and elite.
“The pathway to qualification for the Olympic Games started the day after Paris ended, as all these boxers and all the athletes that participate in the Olympic Games will start training, competing, and then qualification will start at the beginning of 2027,” said McAtee.
After three rounds, the winner of the women’s youth division was McNealy, she said it’s all thanks to her hard work.
“A lot of hard work, a lot of dedication, a lot of early mornings, having to wake up before school, train before school, then go to school, and then right after school, go straight to the gym,” said McNealy.
Saturday’s, April 19th win wasn’t her first time; she has won the tournament twenty times. She says her love for the craft began before she could even walk, and this week she even got to meet her biggest role model.
“The main one that I was pretty excited to see was McKayla Maroney. I know she’s not an amateur fighter, but it’s really good to see a pro fighter here watching the younger generation fight because she used to be here as well,” said McNealy.
She says her dream is to make it to the Olympics one day.
“I hope I can accomplish it one day, which is all my hard work because I know I work really hard. So, hopefully one day that will be accomplished,” said McNealy.
