Female Airman tosses hat in boxing ring

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Steve Goetsch
  • 90th Space Wing Public Affairs
F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. (AFPN) --  Besides the issued M-9 or M-16, an installation entry controller here packs additional weapons like a left hook, upper cut and jab that would make even the boldest intruders stop in their tracks.

Senior Airman Celsa Reyes, with the boxing team here, is an up-and-coming boxer who, when not pulling guard duties for the 90th Security Forces Squadron, can be found in the gym or on the road running, sparring and training.

For this Los Angeles native, boxing started early, and it was a family affair.

“I started boxing when I was 13. My brother wanted to start boxing, and I did not want to get left behind,” Airman Reyes said.

She said her parents were not too keen on the idea of seeing their daughter in the ring.

“My dad is not really a fan of me boxing, and my mom thinks I am crazy,” she said.

Besides personal commitment to the sport, she said she gets inspiration from one of her heroes.

“I admire Julio Cesar Chavez.” Airman Reyes said. “He was a very talented boxer who left everything in the ring, and I admire that.”

Airman Reyes’ dedication and enthusiasm to “leave everything in the ring,” has garnered praise from her coach, 1st Lt. Rodney Ellison, of the 319th Missile Squadron.

“I think her best attribute is her willingness to work hard,” he said. “There were many times when her schedule didn’t allow her to practice with the team, so she would set up practices on the weekends or during the day when she had to work night shift so she could still get her training in.”

Training is a tough mixture of ring time, running and lifting weights. There is also a lot of work on technique. Lieutenant Ellison said Airman Reyes had problems with some of her punches.

“She would throw her hook so wide that her opponent would see it coming,” he said. “We worked on it for a little while, and she kept it closer and made it faster. I would have to say that it is one of her best punches now.”

That is bad news for her opponents. A few have already felt the sting of this training tip. Though there is no knockout in amateur boxing, Airman Reyes said she has forced a couple of “referee stops contest” decisions.

She said she puts in an average of eight training hours a week. That is a lot considering her sporadic schedule as a security forces Airman. Her training regimen is so tough it has even changed the weight class she boxes in. She boxed in the 130-pound class here, but when she went to Texas, she boxed in the 114-pound weight class.

“Dropping that much weight is not easy, it took hard work and determination,” Lieutenant Ellison said.

All of the training is paying huge dividends for Airman Reyes. She is currently ranked No. 2 in the country after a second-place finish at the U.S.A. Boxing national amateur tournament. That ranking just adds to an ever-growing boxing resume. This year, she has already won a San Antonio Golden Gloves title and taken a second place at this year’s Armed Forces Boxing Championships.

Though Airman Reyes said she has enjoyed success early in her career, she is optimistic and has high hopes for the future.

“I want to be No. 1 in the nation and win the Armed Forces Championships,” she said.