GIVING BACK — ROYAL BOXING

GUEST POST AUTHORED BY JESSE SHIPLEY

After winning the WBC Featherweight world championship in New Zealand Ronica Jeffrey did something unusual with her training partner and best friend Melissa St-Vil who had also won the WBC Super-Featherweight title on the same trip. After returning to the USA Ronica and Melissa gave a joint lecture to a group of college undergraduates at Haverford College an elite liberal arts college outside of Philadelphia.

For almost two hours they discussed the rigors of being a professional boxer. They explained to the students the blend of dedication and passion that is required to become a world champion. The students were fascinated by the presentation by the two world champions. Melissa and Ronica commanded the room the way they command a boxing ring.

One student asked about the particular struggles that women in sports face. Another wondered if the boxers had dealt with kinds of racist stereotypes that black female athletes like Serena Williams were constantly confronted. Ronica addressed these issues by describing the struggles of trying to gain recognition and respect through boxing and also how her boxingfamily has supported her over time. Melissa talked about the fact that many women face abuse and that boxing is a way for them to feel in control of their lives. They both argued that female sports were entering a new era of recognition. After the talk the world champions led a boxing master class for 15 of the attendees. They led them through drills, shadow boxing, pad work, and conditioning.

After a long productive day with the boxers, the students were left inspired. One is even starting a boxing club for women on her campus. The world champions showed that not only are they inspirational in the ring but that they can challenge people to see the world in new ways in other realms.