USA Boxing’s Elite Women Convene in Colorado Springs for First Training Camp and International Competition of 2014

By Julie Goldsticker/photo by Mary Ann Owen

(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – USA Boxing’s top female athletes in the elite division are traveling to Colorado Springs, Colo., today for their first training camp of the year at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. A squad from Canada will travel south to the Pikes Peak region as well, joining the American team next week for joint training and an international dual on Saturday, March 29.

All 10 American women participating in the training camp are current or former national champions, including 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Marlen Esparza (Houston, Texas) and 2012 Olympian Queen Underwood (Seattle, Wash.). 2012 World Champion Tiara Brown (Fort Myers, Fla.) and 2012 World Championships bronze medalist Christina Cruz (New York, N.Y.) are returning to the familiar surroundings of the Olympic Training Center today to reunite with their United States teammates.

Light flyweight Alex Love (Fort Carson, Colo.) enjoyed a successful comeback in national action earlier this year following an absence in 2013 due to her military responsibilities with the United States Army. The two-time national champion is now stationed at FortCarson in the Colorado Springs area, and she will enjoy a short commute to the Olympic Training Center.

Welterweight Danyelle Wolf (San Diego, Calif.) is kicking off her second year as a member of USA Boxing’s national team with this week’s camp and competition while light heavyweight Dara Shen (Alexandria, Va.) moved up to the top spot on the medal stand for the first time at the 2014 USA Boxing National Championships in January.

Six-time national champion Franchon Crews (Baltimore, Md.) took a silver medal at the 2014 event, and she will join the nine reigning titlists in Colorado Springs for the training camp and dual competition. Two newcomers will round out the United States squad gathering at the Olympic Training Center. Light welterweight Destiny Chearino (Warwick, R.I.) and heavyweight Krystal Dixon (New Rochelle, N.Y.) each won their first USA Boxing National Championships titles in January and the pair will travel to the Olympic Training Center for the first time today.

As members of USA Boxing’s resident program, Esparza and Underwood have been living at the Olympic Training Center for the past few months, and the pair looks forward to welcoming their eight teammates to complex today. With the Youth World Championships quickly approaching, both the male and female athletes on the youth squad have been regular fixtures at the Olympic Training Center since early February.

Canada’s squad is scheduled to arrive in Colorado   Springs on Tuesday for the joint training camp prior to Saturday’s dual at the Olympic Training Center.