In two decades boxing in Panamacradle of legends like Roberto ‘Manos de Piedra Durán’, It stopped being an exclusive sport for men.
Today women fill the gyms and this boom is attributed to the influence of Atheyna Bylon, international champion and silver medalist in the Paris 2024 Olympic Gameswho won the only medal for his country in the event and the first in 16 years.
In the 1990s, when Panamanian boxing coach Francisco Asprilla began his career, “two or three women stood out,” but starting in 2000 the number of interested parties grew, he explained in an interview for the EFE agency.
AND “the results are being seen” from the ‘Atheyna Bylon effect’, Asprilla pointed out when referring to the figure of the 75 kilogram category.
“The true boxing window for women in Panama” opened about two decades ago, when the National Police included a women’s section in its tournaments, added middleweight Yuliana Torres, who practiced the sport as an amateur and is currently a coach.
“I am part of the ranks of the National Police and the truth is that I was an athlete mostly because of the inter-zone boxing tournaments,” he stressed.
Atheyna Bylon also emerged from the National Police. It was her teammates who, in 2012, when she was 23 years old, encouraged her to get into a ring at an event organized by the security force.
His breakthrough was the 2014 Jeju Boxing World Cup, in South Korea, where he won.
But it was the silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Gamesnow 35 years old, which made her a legend in Panama.
Bylon became the first Panamanian to win an Olympic medal and is the fourth medal for the Central American country, after Lloyd LaBeach’s bronze medals in the 100 and 200 meter dash in London ’48 and Irving Saladino’s gold in the long jump in Beijing 2008.
Boxing is not just for men
Women’s boxing “has never been viewed very well,” lamented Torres, who is also aware of the enormous difficulties faced by its practitioners.
“It’s not easy being a female coach, At first it was difficult for me. The men’s coaches didn’t accept me, but little by little they adapted and so far I am doing well,” he stressed.
Today it is clear that boxing “is not just for men” and that “It is a very nice sport” that women can practice without problems.
That is why she does not hesitate to recommend women to join to “raise Panamanian boxing.”
Boxing for all tastes
Coach Asprilla said many women train “to be Olympic or professional boxers, but others want to look and feel better,” while others see it as a valuable “self-defense” resource.
Yina Martínez, who has been training for 14 years, told EFE that she does it for her health and safety. “If someone attacks me on the street, I already know how to defend myself,” he added.
Already For women who want to “lose those extra pounds and stay healthy,” Martínez assures them that they can achieve it in the gym “with a slap of the hand.”he concluded.
*With information from EFE.
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