Virginia Fuchs Explained

Virginia Fuchs
Birth Date:9 March 1988[1]
Birth Place:Houston, Texas, USA
Weight:Flyweight, Super-flyweight
Height:163cm
Style:Southpaw
Boxrec:866528
Total:3
Wins:3
Ko:1

Virginia "Ginny" Fuchs (born March 9, 1988) is an American professional boxer who as an amateur represented her country in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics as well as winning a bronze medal at the 2018 World Championships and a silver medal at the 2019 Pan American Games.

Early life and education

Fuchs was born in Houston, Texas. Fuchs became interested in sports at a young age and played soccer, softball, and basketball as a child. She attended Episcopal High School where she ran track and cross-country.[2]

Her athletic abilities earned her an invitation for walk-on spot on the track and cross-country team at Louisiana State University. Fuchs graduated from LSU in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology.[3]

Amateur boxing career

Fuchs first tried boxing during her sophomore year of college to stay in shape. After a coach took an interest in her, she dedicated her focus to boxing in 2008. She trained for a year before her first fight, which she won.[2]

She began to compete at the state level and won three Louisiana state Golden Gloves, and later won a national Golden Gloves title in 2015. Fuchs was a finalist for the US National Tournament for 2013, 2014 and 2015.[4] [5]

When it was announced that women’s boxing would be added to the 2012 Summer Olympics, Fuchs tried for a spot on the USA Boxing team but future Olympic medalist Marlen Esparza received the only flyweight position. Fuchs finished fourth at the Olympic Test Event.[3] [2]

In October 2015, she defeated Esparza in the Olympic Test Event for the USA Boxing flyweight spot for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Fuchs has also defeated Olympic medalist and five-time world champion, Mary Kom of India. Fuchs won gold at the Olympic Trials Test Event.[6] [7] [8]

Fuchs was 1st in the 2016 USA Boxing Nationals defeating Esparza for the third straight time with a unanimous 5-0 decision. She won bronze at the 2018 AIBA world championship in India.

In 2020, Fuchs tested positive for a banned substance, but was ruled not at fault due to contamination via unprotected sexual intercourse.[9]

Fuchs qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021, where she was defeated in the round of 16 by Bulgarian boxer Stoyka Krasteva.[10]

Professional boxing career

Fuchs announced she was joining the professional boxing ranks in December 2021.[11] She made her pro-debut with a fourth-round knockout win over Randee Lynn Morales on 9 April 2022 at The Hangar, Costa Mesa, California, on the undercard of her friend Mikaela Mayer's unified super-featherweight title defence against Jennifer Han.[12]

Her second outing as a professional was at The O2 Arena in London, England, on an all-female card topped by the Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall unified middleweight title showdown on 15 October 2022. Fuchs defeated Gemma Ruegg on points over six rounds.[13]

Fuchs next contest was at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, on 17 June 2023 when she overcame a cut above her left eye from an accidental clash of heads in the third round to beat Indeya Smith by unanimous decision in an eight-round battle.[14]

In February 2024, Fuchs revealed she had agreed to join the second season of boxing's first squad-based format, Team Combat League (TCL), competing for the Houston Hitmen.[15] She made her first TCL appearance at Red Owl Boxing Arena, Houston, Texas, on 18 April 2024 winning both her rounds against Tiana Schroeder by unanimous decision.[16]

Fuchs is scheduled to challenge Adelaida Ruiz for the interim WBC female super-flyweight title at Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California, on 31 August 2024.[17]

Personal life

Fuchs is an advocate for mental health awareness and was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) at a young age. She has appeared in the PBS documentary series Mysteries of Mental Illness and the Oprah Winfrey/Apple TV documentary series The Me You Can't See.[18] Fuchs cites Olympian and runner Steve Prefontaine as an inspiration for her athletic career.[19]

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
3Win3–0Indeya SmithUD8 (8)17 June 2023
2Win2–0Gemma RueggPTS6 (6)15 October 2022
1Win1–0Randee Lynn MoralesKO4 (6)9 April 2022

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Boxrec profile of Ginny Fuchs. Boxrec.com. 2024-05-12.
  2. Web site: The Olympic dreams of Ginny Fuchs. 11 April 2015. 2016-08-05.
  3. Web site: Learn to fight like a girl from Olympic boxing hopeful Ginny Fuchs - GirlsLife. www.girlslife.com. 2016-08-05.
  4. Web site: Ginny Fuchs takes another shot at Olympic boxing team. houstonchronicle.com. 25 October 2015. 5 August 2016.
  5. Web site: About. ginnyfuchs.com. 5 August 2016.
  6. Web site: Marlen Esparza Eliminated From Olympic Contention With Loss To Virginia Fuchs. November 2015. 2016-08-05.
  7. Web site: Ginny Fuchs looks to qualify for the Olympic Games. 15 March 2016. 2016-08-05.
  8. Web site: Houston fighter Ginny Fuchs wins gold at tournament in Rio. 7 December 2015. 2016-08-05.
  9. Web site: Sex excuse clears boxer of doping. 12 June 2020.
  10. Web site: Ponder. Erica. 2021-07-29. Houston native Ginny Fuchs falls to Bulgarian boxer in Olympic matchup. 2021-07-31. KPRC. en.
  11. Web site: US Olympic women's boxing team captain Ginny Fuchs turns pro. ESPN. 2024-05-12.
  12. Web site: Mikaela Mayer defeats Jennifer Han in IBF/WBO, 130-pound defense. maxboxing.com. 2024-05-12.
  13. Web site: Ginny Fuchs, April Hunter, Shannon Ryan Get Wins on Shields-Marshall Card. Boxing Scene. 2024-05-12.
  14. Web site: Ginny Fuchs Outpoints Indeya Rodriguez Over Eight Rounds On Prograis-Zorrilla Undercard. Boxing Scene. 2024-05-12.
  15. Web site: Ginny Fuchs: "Life happens, it doesn't always go the way you planned, so I'm just trying to figure it out, make the best of it, and hopefully, get to where I want to be.". fightpost.co.uk. 2024-05-12.
  16. Web site: Team Combat League event Thursday 18, April 2024. Boxrec.com. 2024-05-12.
  17. Web site: Ginny Fuchs: A New Beginning. fightpost.co.uk. 17 August 2024.
  18. Web site: Beacham . Greg . Olympic boxer Fuchs determined to win her fight against OCD . . 2021-06-21 . en . 2021-07-31 . mdy-all .
  19. Web site: Olympic Boxing 2016 Hopeful Ginny Fuchs Opens Up About Her Inspirations and More in New Interview (EXCLUSIVE). intouchweekly.com. 5 August 2016.