Meet Ademodi Maria, the 12 Year Old Boxing Champion Winning Boys in the Ring

Did you know girls are now becoming boxers at the age of 12 and starting to box as young as 6 years old? I didn’t know that until today when I saw the very fascinating interview of 12 year old boxing champion, Ademodi Maria. Ademodi’s story is very interesting and goes to show that what boys can do, girls can also do and sometimes even better. Who said boxing is a male interest? Not Ademodi who says she’s constantly beating boys in the ring and winning every time. She’s one fiery young woman and I hope her boxing career really takes off. Here’s what Ademodi said in her own words. I’m sure you too will fall in love with her by the end of reading.

In an interview with BBC News Pidgin (which I have translated to plain English for clarity purposes), Ademodi Maria said:

I started boxing when I was 6 years old. I have never lost any match, highest it has been draw. Since I started boxing, I have never fought with a girl once. It’s always boys I fight with because they’ve not seen a girl that is my weight, it’s boys that they see that are my weight and I always beat the boys most times. My name is Ademodi Maria, I am 12 years old. I am in JSS 3 and I’m a boxer.

I don’t fight in school because all of them know that I’m kind to them. I’m friendly to everybody. People look for my trouble at school. They say because I box I think I can beat them. When they say that, I don’t answer them because in training, they’ve given us rules and regulations that we shouldn’t fight on the streets. The only fight that I fight is in the ring.

When I’m in the ring fighting against my opponent, I don’t feel sorry for them because if he wins, he won’t feel sorry for me. People think I won’t be able to fight because of my small stature. They’ll say my hands are too small, that if I throw a punch won’t my hand break? I’ve never lost once. It’s either draw or I win. If you look at me and say I won’t be able to fight because of my small body and small hand, I will surprise you.

Anytime I go to training, I’m very happy. When I train, the sweetest part is when I throw uppercut, when I throw three, when I do one-two double jab, step back. My parent support me very well. All the kits that I need, they buy it for me. All the things I need, they do it for me.

What makes me like boxing is I am able to defend myself and I want to pursue my boxing career and go to the next level. My dream is to become one of the best worldwide boxing champions and fight for my country Nigeria. As you know, Anthony Joshua, it’s from our land they gave birth to him before he travelled to outside country.

Some people say that the boys I fight with are sorry for me because I’m a girl. But one day, I hope I will be able to fight with a girl that’s my weight so I can prove to them that nobody is sorry for me. It’s my talent that has never made me lose to any boy. It’s not because they’re sorry for me.

What an interesting story. You don’t see girls like Ademodi everyday. I really do wish her wish comes true of becoming a heavyweight boxer and competing all over the world. The girl is really gifted and really spirited.

What do you think? Let me know your thoughts about Ademodi by leaving a comment on my Jide Okonjo Facebook post.

That’s All.