Christina Kwan got her gold medal, but not the way she wanted.
The Shorecrest graduate won the 95-pound bracket unopposed at the U.S. Women’s National Boxing Championships earlier this month in Spokane.
Kwan, 23, was hoping to punch her way to the title. But at the last minute, the only other competitor in her weight class bumped up to the 101-pound division.
That decision came shortly after Kwan and her longtime trainer Vinny Perozzi staged a public workout so Kwan could shed a few pounds to make weight.
“We went into the gym and I put her on the pads,” Perozzi said. “The other girl who was entered at 95 pounds was there. They took one look at (Kwan) and moved up to 101.”
Perozzi’s request to boost Kwan up to the next weight class as well came after the registration deadline. The boxer who opted up a class went on to win the 101-pound title.
“Obviously I wanted to compete, especially when I saw that I could have cleaned up the next division above mine as well. I really wanted to fight,” said Kwan, who lives in Las Vegas.
During her six-year career, Kwan has compiled a 20-1 record. Her lone defeat was a disputed decision against a hometown fighter at the 2002 Ringside National Championships.
“That wasn’t a loss. That was a robbery,” Perozzi insisted.
In 2003 the Ringside event expanded to an international amateur tournament and Kwan is returning to Kansas City, Mo., Aug. 17-21 for this year’s world championships.
Though she was less than thrilled about receiving her U.S. national title by default, Kwan noted that the outcome should help her remain in peak condition for the upcoming Ringside tournament.
“Going into the U.S. championships I was already in great shape, so now I’ve got a couple weeks to polish some things up in the ring and I’ll be ready to go,” Kwan said.
In the fall Kwan is heading back to school to pursue a master’s degree in marketing, but she plans to stay active in the ring. Among her commitments are the Blue and Gold Invitational Labor Day Weekend in Southern California and the International Games this November in Argentina.
Kwan’s long-term objective is to compete in the Olympics. USA Boxing officials have assured Perozzi women’s boxing will be approved for the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, China.
“Women’s boxing is really going to change once it hits the Olympics. That will bring a lot of credibility to the sport,” Kwan said.
“I want to box in the Olympics and be one of the first women to get a medal. That’s history-making.”
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