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Jajaira Gonzalez

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Jajaira Gonzalez
Gonzalez in 2018
BornFebruary 13, 1997 (age 27)
Glendora, California, U.S.
Relatives3 siblings, including Joet
Military career
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service2016–2018
RankPrivate first class
Boxing career
Statistics
Weight class60 kg / 132 lbs[1]
Height163 cm (5.35 ft)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record[2]
Wins58
Wins by KO19
Losses10
Medal record
Women's amateur boxing
Representing  United States
Pan American Games
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Santiago Women's 60 kg
Summer Youth Olympics
Gold medal – first place 2014 Nanjing Women's 60 kg
Youth and Junior World Boxing Championships
Gold medal – first place 2014 Sofia Women's 60 kg
Gold medal – first place 2013 Albena Women's 57 kg

Jajaira Gonzalez (Spanish: [ɟʝaˈxajɾa]; born February 13, 1997)[3][4] is an American boxer. She won a bronze medal at the 2023 Pan American Games in the women's 60 kg boxing event,[5][6][7] and she represented the United States in that category at the 2024 Summer Olympics.[8]

Career

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Gonzalez (right) boxing Lupe Gutierrez in 2017

Gonzalez was born in Glendora, California,[4] and was a promising young boxer as a teenager, winning the 2014 Youth Olympic Games, a Junior World Championship, and two Youth World Championships.[9] Her career took a downward turn in 2015, however, when she narrowly missed out on representing the U.S. at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro by losing the final fight for a spot on the American team by a narrow decision. Gonzalez subsequently quit competitive boxing for four years, moved across America, and spent a period in the Army's boxing program. After losing her spot on the U.S. team in an upset defeat at the 2018 national championships, she ended up working in a Virginia kickboxing gym.[10]

In 2021, Gonzalez returned to the sport[1] after she saw former USA Boxing teammates' social media posts about traveling to Spain for competitions.[10] She tried to drop down to the 57 kg (125 lbs) category and qualify for the U.S. national team, but ultimately lost out to Alyssa Mendoza for a spot after falling in the quarterfinals of a February 2023 tournament in Bulgaria. However, USA Boxing then asked if Gonzalez would be interested in becoming its number-two 60 kg fighter behind Rashida Ellis. She accepted, and when Ellis later left USA Boxing, Gonzalez became the country's leading lightweight contender.[10]

Gonzalez won a bronze medal at the 2023 Pan American Games and qualified for the women's 60 kg event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. USA Boxing head coach Billy Walsh called her return to form "like Lazarus coming back from the dead."[10] At the Paris Olympics, she bested the French 2016 Olympic gold medalist Estelle Mossely in the Round of 32. Despite competing in front of a Parisian crowd that booed her throughout much of the match,[8] Gonzalez beat Mossely in a 4‍–‍0 unanimous decision.[11] She moved on to face 2020 silver medalist and professional boxer Beatriz Ferreira in the Round of 16.[8] Although only losing the first round 2–3 on the judges' scorecards, Gonzalez was ultimately defeated by the Brazilian Ferreira in an overall unanimous decision, ending Gonzalez's run at the 2024 Olympics.[12]

Personal life

[edit]

Gonzalez is the sister of professional boxers Jousce, JonJairo, and Joet Gonzalez, as well as another brother named Jason.[13] She previously dated 2016 Olympic silver medalist Shakur Stevenson, who won the 2019 WBO featherweight title by defeating Jajaira's brother Joet.[10][14]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Jajaira Gonzalez". www.usaboxing.org. USA Boxing. February 15, 2024.
  2. ^ "Boxing record for Jajaira Gonzalez". BoxRec.
  3. ^ "GONZALEZ Jajaira". Olympics.com. 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Solis, Mario; Jeong, Helen (July 26, 2024). "Jajaira Gonzalez of Glendora aims for gold medal at Paris Olympics". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  5. ^ Binner, Andrew (October 26, 2023). "Santiago 2023: US boxer Jajaira Gonzalez to return to Olympic stage: "I can't mess up this second chance"". Olympics.com. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  6. ^ Rotich, Judy J. (October 27, 2023). "American Boxer Jajaira Gonzalez Secures Spot In Paris Olympics After Pan American Games Win". Sports Illustrated Boxing News, Analysis and More. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  7. ^ Sharma, Muskan (October 26, 2023). "Jajaira Gonzalez becomes first USA boxer to qualify for 2024 Paris Olympics". Sportskeeda. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c Peter, Josh. "US boxer Jajaira Gonzalez beats French gold medalist, quiets raucous crowd". USA TODAY. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  9. ^ Santangelo, Luke (February 15, 2024). "Jajaira Gonzalez's Boxing Journey: The Tale of Two Halves". www.usaboxing.org. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d e Beacham, Greg (July 21, 2024). "Jajaira Gonzalez left boxing after missing out on the Rio Olympics. She fought her way back to Paris". AP News. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  11. ^ "Mossely Estelle vs Gonzalez Jajaira Results". Paris 2024 Olympics. Olympics.
  12. ^ "Gonzalez Jajaira vs Soares Ferreira Beatriz Iasmin Results". Paris 2024 Olympics. Olympics. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  13. ^ Press, The Associated (October 24, 2015). "Sister Fights Older Brothers While Preparing for Shot at Olympics". The New York Times. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  14. ^ "Why Joet Gonzalez wants to beat up Shakur Stevenson, his sister's boyfriend". ESPN.com. October 24, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
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