Air Force's first female boxer debuts

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jerron Barnett
  • 33rd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
An airman here is not worried about the odds of her winning her first national bout in Augusta, Ga., June 18 to 21 -- she has already beat the odds to become the first female on the Air Force boxing team.

Staff Sgt. Charmaine Carrington, a 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons-load crew chief, is eyeing the top spot in the competition with determination.

Growing up, she was one of three girls amongst seven siblings and one of the wing's only female airmen in munitions, so in a sport that is predominantly male, she feels right at home.

"I hadn't really thought about being the first female at the time it happened, but it hit me later that I was," she said. "It doesn't bother me at all being the only female around. I'm used to it."

Carrington only recently became interested in competing in the sport, but the California native watched matches of her favorite fighters, like Muhammad Ali, and saw herself boxing someday.

"I've only been interested in boxing for the last couple years," she said. "I've done all the other sports, and I really just wanted to try this one."

She found out how to join the Air Force team through her coach and friends at a local boxing club and filed her application with the help of Eglin's fitness center workers.

Carrington contacted Tech. Sgt. Ronald Simms, one of the team's coaches at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and kept in touch until she got the response she wanted.

"I kept bugging them," she said. "I kept calling and basically harassing them."

Carrington finally got her chance in January. After two weeks of intense training and Simms' tough coaching at Lackland, she won a box-off used to determine who would be chosen out of the three females trying-out.

"I get a lot of support from my family and supervisors in this, and everyone was happy I made it," Carrington said. "It would be hard for me to do this without their support. My husband is all for it."

Since then, the junior-welterweight has been training for her first national-level bout in the upcoming three-day tournament in Augusta. She trains six days a week, running nearly 40 miles a week, sparring and bag work.

"I've been working with Charmaine now for a little over two years and the enthusiasm she brings to the gym is unspeakable," said Dennis Walker, her local boxing coach and trainer, who is assigned to the 96th Communications Group. "When she comes to the gym to train, she not only trains hard but compels others to train hard also."

"The training is hard, but I have fun," Carrington said.

Carrington has fought in seven bouts since she has been on the team, mostly against local amateurs. She has a spotless 7-0 record.

The level of competition in Augusta will be the best amateur female boxers the nation has to offer, and she envisions herself doing well.

"I'll be all right. I'm fighting to be number one," she said. "I'll do this as long as I'm one of the best, and then I'll find something else to do."

Simms says this goal is well within reach.

"A very realistic expectation for Charmaine is to be ranked in the top three in the country," he said. (Courtesy of Air Combat Command News Service)