USA Boxing's Yoseline Perez: “I want to become the first Mexican-American female gold medallist!”
The 2022 Women's Youth World Boxing Championships gold medallist from Texas reveals why she started training three times a day, and how she came to interview actor Michael B. Jordan on the red carpet in Hollywood!
Boxing
When USA Boxing star Yoseline Perez takes to the ring, she represents so much more than just herself.
Born to Mexican parents who immigrated to give their kids a better life, the Texan-born fighter, who won the women’s 57kg title at the 2022 IBA Youth World Boxing Championships wearing 'USA' on her tank top, represents all of her family's heritage.
“Thanks to them, I am a strong Mexican-American female athlete, who hopefully inspires other Latinas to feel empowered by their culture,” Perez, 22, told the teamusa.com.
“If it weren't for mom reminding me that there are other girls just like me who seek a role model, I would have continued to struggle to accept myself.
“I want to become the first Mexican-American female gold medallist at the Olympic Games Paris 2024!”
Yoseline Perez of USA in action against Yeni Arias of Colombia during the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games at Nunoa´s Olympic Training Center on October 22 in Santiago, Chile.
Boxing against her parents' wish
Perez grew up on a ranch in a tight-knit family, and wanted to play the same sports as her older four brothers.
Aged 10, she followed her siblings to the boxing gym but was prevented from taking part.
But that didn't stop the determined young athlete, who was immediately drawn to both the combative and mental aspects of the sport.
“Since I was there every day not doing anything but watching, one of the coaches asked me if I wanted to box. I said, yes. My parents were not okay with it initially, because they felt like boxing was too harsh for a girl, which made me want to do it more,” she told Boxing Scene.
“Boxing requires a lot of thinking in order to not get hit and to hit someone. It came so naturally to me.
“The stereotype of boxing is just to be aggressive. People don’t see the skills that boxers have in there. You have to lose the emotions for another human being and say it’s either you or me.”
Why Yoseline Perez started training three times a day
Perez’ amateur record speaks volumes as to how quickly she took to boxing, once she had the green light to compete.
At 13, she won the National Junior Olympics and took silver at the 2018 USA Boxing Junior National Championships - that final being her first loss in four years.
The Houston native could box or brawl, depending on what was needed for a particular opponent, and didn’t take her rare defeats well.
After losing the 2020 USA Women's Youth National Championships final, the versatile featherweight began training three times a day with her father at their home gym.
Armed with an even more relentless work ethic, Perez went on to win her weight category at the 2021 Youth National Championships, and in 2022, was invited to train at the US Olympic Training Centre in Colorado.
“I already had the talent, I already had the ability to fight and compete, I just needed the work ethic,” she said. “As soon as I gained that, I felt like nothing was going to stop me.”
Interviewing Michael B. Jordan in Hollywood
In November 2022, Perez competed at the 2022 Youth Women's World Boxing Championships in Spain — her first international competition.
After blitzing through the early rounds, she stopped Youth European Champion, Asya Ari of Germany, in the first round of the 57kg final after delivering two standing eight counts.
But her prize wasn’t just a gold medal.
During the tournament, Perez watched Creed and Creed II - spin-offs from the Rocky movie series - and joked to a friend that it would be funny if she was asked to be in Creed III which was being released later that year.
Little did she know that she would be doing the next best thing.
After winning the gold medal, actor Michael B. Jordan, who plays Adonis Creed in the movies, commented on USA Boxing’s Instagram post about Perez’ win: “This!!!” alongside a strong arm emoji.
Weeks later, Perez was invited to the Creed III premiere in Hollywood, where she interviewed Jordan.
Aiming for a new category at Paris 2024
After her brief foray into Hollywood, it was back to the bright lights of the boxing ring for Perez, who’s sole focus shifted to qualification for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
For the first time ever, boxing will achieve total gender equality at the Games, with a new women’s weight division being added - the 54kg.
And it's this new category that Perez is hoping to represent her country in.
Her first chance at securing an Olympic quota came at the 2023 Pan American Games in Chile, but she was unfortunate to be drawn against Colombia’s reigning world silver medallist Yeni Arias in the first round, who won by split decision before going on to win the tournament.
After brushing off that disappointment, Perez’s new focus became the 2024 US Olympic Team Trials in December, where she is the top seed in her weight division.
The 13 boxers who win their weight class at the US Olympic Trials will advance to January’s High Performance Selection Camp, along with the second-place finisher in the newly-introduced 54kg.
Perez’ career goals are clear: medal at the Olympics, turn pro, and continue to inspire the communities that she represents.
“It’s challenging doing it on your own but I must push through it. It will be so worth it, because not only will I change my life but I’m making an impact in my community,” she said.
“It is a privilege being able to represent the U.S. and I hope to represent the U.S. as best as I can. Watch me put the whole world all over the floor.”