Boxer extraordinaire Lisa Kuronya will be conducting a workshop at Defensive Solutions in Newcastle on Sat. Aug. 29 from 3-5:30 p.m.
Kuronya, known for her relentless jab, finished out her career last winter with a 40-7 record. Her record is impressive in itself, but Kuronya accomplished it while winning two USA National Golden Gloves titles, two World Championships, and she is a two time Bronze Champion at the Pan American Games.
She was a member of the USA Women’s Boxing Team and captained the team for two years. “It was interesting, and a lot of fun,” she said. “I traveled to Ecuador, India and Argentina and represented the United States.”
Her only disappointment is not being able to represent the United States at the Olympics. Olympic officials have hashed over for years about including women’s boxing as an Olympic sport. Kuronya missed her opportunity, as she turns 35 this year and will be aged out of the competition. The fate of women’s boxing in the 2012 Olympics will be decided in October. “I was pretty disappointed,” she said. “If they had accepted it as an Olympic sport in 2008, I definitely would have been on the Olympic team.”
Kuronya said there will be five weight classes and women’s boxing would be an exhibition sport the first year at the Olympics.
Kuronya got a late and accidental start into boxing. After graduating from West Chester University in Pennsylvania with a degree in environmental science, she was looking for a challenging sport to get into shape, something different from running and riding her bike. She thought she signed up for cardio kickboxing, but instead signed up for kickboxing, a contact sport. A tomboy at heart, Kuronya enjoyed the contact.
She moved to Maine with her husband in 2001 and was unable to locate a kickboxing venue, so decided to try boxing at the Portland Boxing Club. “I really enjoyed it and found out my reach was a great advantage,” Kuronya said. At 5’11”, she had a distinct advantage over shorter women.
She worked for a while in Wiscasset at the decommissioned Maine Yankee Nuclear Power site monitoring radiation levels.
At the age of 26, she started working out under coach Robert “Bobby” Russo at the Portland Boxing Club and won her first title six months after she started boxing, the New England Golden Gloves championship. She won three National Golden Glove titles and five New England titles.
After eight years of boxing, Kuronya retired from the ring. “I decided to do more coaching and training.” Her goal is to coach or manage the USA Olympic team.
For now she is helping coach Russo with athletes trying to get in shape for competition.
Kuronya has fought the old-boy network that has dominated the sport for years.
“From the very first time I competed the favoritism was toward men,” she said. “The men were treated better. As I got older I was less tolerant.”
In 2007, Kuronya filed a lawsuit against US Amateur Boxing for gender discrimination. The suit was settled out of court.
“There are changes coming about,” she said. “Hopefully they are moving forward and women will be treated fairer. The older men think it is a man’s sport, the younger are more progressive and see women on a more equal footing. It is tough, tough to stand up and battle. The next time a decision is made that is not fair, hopefully they will think twice.”
Women boxers are becoming more prevalent Kuronya said. “There are 2000 registered women and the competition numbers are getting bigger and there are more venues. It is becoming more easily accepted. Six to eight years ago people did not realize boxing was a sport for women. In Portland more people are aware. If it becomes an Olympic sport it will be more accepted and respected.”
She is a member of the USA Boxing Rules and Regulation Task Force, and actively defends the rights of women in the ring.
At her clinic at Defensive Solutions, she will talk about the role of boxing and the scoring system, and teach the proper stance, how to throw punches and conditioning. Kuronya said boxing is the “best workout I’ve ever had and the most challenging sport I’ve ever done.
To sign up for the Lisa Kuronya clinic, call Hal Pierce at Defensive Solutions at 563-3037.
