Sulem Urbina: Boxing

Urbina is an amateur boxer and Olympic hopeful.

The women’s boxing movement gets another big boost, as Phoenix, Arizona resident and Mexican amateur boxing standout, Sulem Urbina, has emerged to help increase the young star power building in the sport. Born on July 8, 1990, in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, Urbina was raised in a modest home with both of her parents, and is the middle child, with two older brothers and two younger brothers. At age four, she relocated with her family to the United States. She is proudly fluent in both English and Spanish. Since childhood, Urbina has always been a very active female athlete, having competed for teams in basketball, cross country, and softball.

At the age of ten, Urbina discovered boxing when her two older brothers started boxing at a local gym. She wanted her brothers to include her, however they weren’t comfortable with their little sister sparring and training with them. Her father eventually instructed her brothers to allow her to accompany them. She began boxing at just 75 lbs, and seemed to enjoy the sparring sessions and competition.
Unlike her father, her mother didn’t approve of her continued participation in the sport. Soon after she started boxing, her mother forbid her from continuing with the sport and influenced her to quit. With boxing out of the picture, she decided to focus on her schoolwork. Nearing the end of her junior year of high school, Urbina realized how much she had missed boxing. She again begged her mother to allow her join a boxing gym, and was eventually given permission. At seventeen years old, Urbina resumed her boxing activities.

In March 2007, she started attending Knockout Boxing Club in Phoenix, Arizona, co-founded by Urbina, along with her current trainer and husband, Andrews Soto. Andrews Soto began coaching boxing when his brother’s friend, who was also a boxer, had passed away from a head injury. When the friend passed, he left Soto’s brother with enough boxing equipment to fill a gym, via a will. Andrews Soto, received the items from his brother, and decided he would give back to the community by opening up a boxing gym. Soto’s athletic resume included playing basketball and a brief, but successful amateur boxing career. He found his calling in coaching boxing and began to have success in coaching his Arizona travel teams.

Urbina initially sought out Soto, because his boxers had reputations of winning in boxing shows across Arizona. When they met, Soto tested her commitment to the sport, by putting her through a rigorous training routine to see if she would return. She continued to train under Soto, and they formed a bond based on their dedication and love for the sport of boxing. After marrying Soto, Urbina continued to train at the gym, and her hard work, coupled with Soto’s training, helped elevate her to compete internationally.
Urbina’s amateur boxing record is 45-10, including national and international competition. In 2007 and 2009, she was the Golden Gloves Champion in Arizona. In 2009, she placed third at the U.S. National Golden Gloves tournament. She has travelled all across the U.S. to compete in tournaments, including trips to Florida, Missouri, Kansas, New Mexico, and California. She has competed internationally in Brazil and Mexico. She is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Since October 2010, Urbina has trained in the gym consistently. Visa issues prohibited her from participating in the 2012 Olympic games, but were recently resolved. In addition to boxing, Urbina has continued her education, and currently attends college classes. When her amateur career has concluded, Urbina plans on bringing excitement to women’s boxing as a professional. Her goals include fighting on television, becoming a world champion, and increasing the opportunity and equality for women in the sport that follow after her.

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