Why We Fight: Sonya Lamonakis

Photo by Sonya Lamanakis

Weight Division: Heavyweight (175 lbs. or higher)

Amateur Record: 25 Wins, 6 Losses

Amateur Tournaments won:

4 x NYC Golden Gloves Champion

2 x National Golden Gloves Champion

2 x Metro Champion

2 x New England Golden Gloves Champion

Ringside World Champion

2 x Silver Medalist USA Boxing Nationals

Professional Record: 10 Wins, 1 Loss, 2 Draws

Professional Titles:

New York State Heavyweight Champion

IBO World Champion

#1 Ranked Heavyweight in the USA

Official Website of Sonya Lamonakis

Photo by Sonya Lamonakis

Sonya started boxing in 2003; she turned pro in 2010. She has a Masters degree in Elementary Education. Along with being a professional boxer, she is also a school teacher. She lives in New York and fights out of the legendary Gleason's Gym.

What do you love about boxing?

I love the independence, the thrill of victory, the discipline and confidence it has given me.

What is the most challenging thing about boxing?

The most challenging part for me is the division I'm in. Heavyweight, there is not a lot of competition available so sometimes I have to fight the same people.      

Do you ever experience negativity from other people because of your choice to be a boxer? How do you deal with it?

Of course, the world is full of opinions. I deal with it by listening but not letting it take up space in my head. My family, friends and students encourage me. That's all the support I need.

Is there anything that ever gets you discouraged? What keeps you motivated to continue to work hard every day?

Life is about living. I try to persevere in everything I do. Last year I had 4 out of 5 fights fall out. But nothing in life comes easy. So you have to keep working in order for good things to come. You get back from the universe what you put out.

What is the most important life lesson you've learned from boxing?

That boxing is a lot like life. Sometimes in life you will fail, but boxers are not afraid to do it in front of the world.       

Why We Fight: Maryguenn Vellinga

Maryguenn Vellinga

Weight Division:  Bantam Weight (112 lbs)

Fighting Record: 13 wins, 9 losses

Tournaments Won: 
2012 USA Bronze Medalist

2012 Ringside Silver Medalist

2013 USA Golden Gloves Silver Medalist 

2014 Ringside Silver Medalist

Future plans: USA 2015 Nationals - January 2015. My goal is to make it to the finals in hopes of qualifying for the Olympic trials, which takes the top 8 athletes in each division.

maryguennvellinga.com 

Facebook: Maryguenn Vellinga 

Photo by Maryguenn Vellinga

When and why did you start boxing?

I started boxing 5 years ago at the ripe old age of 27. I had been a dirt bag climber throughout my 20's but had shattered my ankle and was no longer climbing at the same level. I had also just had a daughter who was about a year old. I had always been really fit through climbing and outdoor sports and wanted to regain some of the strength I had lost through my injury and having a kid. I started googling body weight workouts and found several things referencing boxing so I decided to check out a gym. I loved the intensity but was really drawn to the technical aspect of the sport. In climbing I had developed a lot of body awareness and knew the importance of minor alterations in position. I could see boxing had a lot of those same intricacies and that it was HARD... I knew I had found my passion. I haven't looked back since.

What do you love about boxing?

I love that it pushes me to new limits, that it requires me to dig deeper than I knew I could, both mentally and physically. It's technical, yet primal. It's a test of my will, my strength, my stamina, my skill, and my heart.

What is the most challenging thing about boxing?

Not getting fights. To train and train and train and have fights fall through or just not have the opportunity is the hardest thing for me. I train because I want to compete, and not being able to compete frequently can make it very challenging. I make sure I'm always ready to fight in case an opportunity comes, but it's hard when you know it may be months and months away.

Do you ever experience negativity from other people because of your choice to be a boxer? How do you deal with it?

Definitely. I don't let others' criticism get to me much. When I hear peoples' negativity in regards to my choices, it gives me a chance to be grateful that I'm not a judgmental and negative person. I try to not engage or argue and stoop to their level. I try and respect others' opinions but if it really upsets me, I take that back to the gym and work harder.

How has the journey of becoming a boxer affected you as a woman and mother?

It has made me have to be confident in who I am and how I decide to live. Boxing has taught me that you get back what you put into something. That's true for most things, including being a mother. I give it my all. I don't like being identified as The Mom Who Boxes or The Boxer Who's A Mom. I see them as independent parts of who I am and I just want to be good at each of them respectively. 

What is the most important life lesson you've learned from boxing?

To be flexible and to adapt. You have to be able to adjust in the ring. You've got to know what you're up against and figure out how to pick it apart and break it down. In life you have to do the same, figure our what you're up against and how to overcome it. If you go into anything with one game plan and it doesn't work, you've got to be able to think quickly on your feet and make the necessary changes. 

Why We Fight: Christina Cruz

Photo by Christina Cruz

Christina Cruz

Weight Division: Bantamweight (119 lbs.)

Fighting Record: Over 120 fights

Titles/Tournaments won: 

2007 USA National Champion

2012 USA National Champion
2013 USA National Champion
2014 USA National Champion
2008 National PAL Champion
2010 National PAL Champion
2012 National PAL Champion
2008 National Golden Glove Champion
2009 National Golden Glove Champion
2014 National Golden Glove Champion

2012 Continental Championships Silver Medalist
2013 Continental Champion

2012 Continental Championships Bronze Medalist
2012 World Championships Bronze Medalist
8 X New York Daily News Golden Glove Champion (2007-2014)
7 X Metropolitan Champion

Scheduled Fights: 2015 USA National Championships

Connect with Christina:

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram 

Photo by Christina Cruz

When and why did you start boxing? 

I started boxing in 2006. A friend of mine introduced me to a boxing gym and I immediately fell in love with the sport.

What do you love about boxing? 

Everything! Training, competition, traveling.

What is the most challenging thing about boxing?

Definitely training, but also being able to separate your emotions and life outside of the ring and not bring it into the ring with you. Boxing is a very mental sport and leaves no room for distraction. If you want to become a successful fighter you have to be willing to sacrifice whatever it takes.

Do you ever experience negativity from other people because of your choice to be a boxer? How do you deal with it? 

Yes, plenty of times. I've been misjudged because I am a fighter. Some people automatically assume that I'm a violent person, when that's not the case. I'm pretty good at ignoring negativity and I know the good from the bad; I try to surround myself with good people who love me want to see me succeed, and I must say, I do receive a lot of positive love from fans and people who don't know me and I'm grateful for that.

How has the strength you've gained from boxing helped you to overcome challenges outside the ring? 

Before I started boxing I was very confused about what I wanted to do with my life, but I always knew I wasn't going to be a "screw up". It helped me challenge things that I didn't think were possible for me to handle. It also has turned me into a more focused and responsible person.

Is there anything that ever gets you discouraged? What keeps you motivated to continue to work hard every day? 

Bad decisions and knowing I give so much to a sport that doesn't give much back can be a little discouraging but, I try not to let those things bother me and try to flip it and use it as motivation to make myself and this sport better.

What is the most important life lesson you've learned from boxing? 

I've learned that if you want something that bad you have to be self-motivated and get it yourself. That only you can make things happen and it's never too late to pursue greatness.

Why We Fight: Patricia Alcivar

Photo by Upset Specialist Photography

Patricia Alcivar

Weight Division: Flyweight/Super Flyweight (110-116 lbs.)

Amateur Record: 30 wins, 5 losses, 4 knockouts

Professional Record: 7 wins, 3 losses, 3 knockouts

Amateur Titles and Awards:

2-Time NYC Golden Gloves Champion 

USA Boxing Womens National Champion

1st Female ever to be named "Athlete of the Year" voted by the USA Boxing Olympic Committee

Western States Champion

NY MetroGames & Empire Games Champion 

Professional Title:

Current NYS Flyweight Champion

Patricia Alcivar Official Website

Photo by Patrica Alcivar

When and why did you start boxing? 

I Started boxing in the Summer of 1996. I was living by myself in NYC and found my first real office job at Sanctuary for Families (a not for profit city funded battered women's comprehensive agency that provided shelter, counseling and legal services). The New School offered the staff free courses, so after flipping through the pages "The Art of Boxing" jumped out at me. I signed up and was crazy disappointed when it turned out to be a boxaerobics class. You see, I was diagnosed with a mild case of ADD when I was about 8 yearrs old. The counselor suggested to my mom that I participate in some activity to drain the excess energy. My mom put me in a free ballet course sponsored by her work and it helped. Ballet turned into gymnastics and then into Martial arts. The more intense, the more I excelled. I won a World Championship in the Ladies open Division in full contact Kyokushin Karate. I was looking for my next challenge at the time that I signed up for boxing classes. I waited for the last class of the course and waited to speak to the instructor. I told him I was disappointed and had hoped it was a real boxing class. So he asked me to throw a few punches. And while I did that, I punched him with all that I had in the mid section. The 6'5", 225 lb former amateur boxer instructor bent over as I literally took his breath away. He said, "You know, female boxing just became legal in NYC, so I can train you to fight." I entered my first tournament that year. Boxing has been the sport that keeps challenging me in every way!

What do you love about boxing? 

I love that boxing is much more than a physical challenge. In order to excel you must be mentally and physically prepared.

What is the most challenging thing about boxing? 

As a female professional boxer, the most challenging thing has been trying to keep my integrity while trying to get a fair opportunity to box.

Do you ever experience negativity from other people because of your choice to be a boxer? How do you deal with it? 

The negativity, stereotyping and comments have been there ever since I started boxing. Comments like "You are too pretty to box," or "Why would you want to get punched in the face and ruin yourself?" are the typical mentality/comments. I take it as an opportunity to educate and use my story as motivation. It's not easy at times, but I have always known what makes me happy and that is my comfort.

What is the biggest affect boxing has had on your life? 

Boxing has taught me to believe in myself when no one did and to not give up, even when everything seems to be going wrong. Boxing continues to teach me life lessons about people and myself.

What is the most important life lesson you've learned from boxing? 

To "Face My Fears and Live My Dreams". And when I think I can't, I must!

Why I Box

The first time I imagined myself boxing was when I saw the movie Cinderella Man. The movie brilliantly depicts the mental strength of a boxer. The fighter Jim Braddock is getting the hell beat out of him, he has broken ribs and so much pain he can't even see straight and he makes the decision that he will not lose the fight. He stays on his feet, he keeps hitting and he wins. Every time I see it I realize that fighters have been doing that exact thing for centuries and I want to do it too. I want that kind of strength.

I feel like I have to get that kind of strength.

For the past few years, I've had a very strong feeling that something terrible is coming my way and that I'm not going to be strong enough to face it. I have no idea what the terrible thing might be; I just know I need to develop as much strength as possible and boxing seemed like a good way to do it. It took me me five years to build up the courage to even set foot in a gym but the decision has put my life on the right path. I feel myself getting stronger and my endurance increasing every day. I've become friends with some of the most inspiring people on earth: fighters. Best of all, the unsettling feeling of impending doom has left me. I feel like boxing will prepare me for any challenge I have to face. Boxing makes me feel fearless because I know I am on the right path. It's is the hardest thing I've ever done and I really believe that if I can learn to fight then I can do anything.