Looks forward to sports training the youth in Daly City, CA
By Marivir R. Montebon
New York – Luminously, three-time world champion Ana Julaton gets to retire with a tribute for being a woman of color trailblazing the male-dominated world of boxing. The Shadow League, a nationwide media organization for sports and culture, held its 5th Annual Awards honoring Julaton and three other sports trailblazers at the Edison Ballroom here on October 28, 2018.
The 38-year-old boxing champ hails from San Francisco and flew in to the Big Apple to accept her award, expressing gratitude to her family, friends, and coaches to include Freddie Roach and Angelo Reyes.
Julaton accepts her trailblazing award as a woman of color in the boxing world.
Three other sports achievers were honored by TSL in partnership AT&T Humanity of Connection, and were all equally inspiring. They were head coach Dawn Staley for South Carolina’s Gamecocks (who could not make it to the event), Fox sports broadcaster Gus Johnson, and IBF middleweight boxing world champion Bernard Hopkins.
With Gus Johnson and Bernard Hopkins during the press hour of the awards night. (Photo by Boyet Loverita)
The first to speak among the honorees, Julaton said she was blessed to have a supportive family and great coaches for her achievements. She cited that her award came at the time when the Filipino community celebrates the Filipino American history month of October. “This is truly an honor.”
Julaton revealed that Bruce Lee was an absolute idol. “I learned a lot of techniques by watching classic Bruce Lee films. It truly inspired me to have a career in combat sports.”
Julaton is the first and only Filipina to win the International Boxing Association’s world boxing championship title. Her second world title was won in North America, as the first female champion in the first World Boxing Organization. Under world renowned coaches Freddie Roach and Angelo Reyes, Julaton won her third world title.
Asked what it takes to succeed, she said that one has to choose something that one truly loves to do, and “to focus and surround yourself with people who will support your dream.”
In 2015, Julaton took up mixed martial arts (MMA) and became the first woman athlete to compete in the highest levels of boxing and MMA. Julaton has earned the monicker ‘The Hurricane’ and considered the female counterpart of Philippine world boxing champ Manny Pacquiao.
With members of the Filipino American Press Club of New York (FAPCNY). From left, Grace Labaguis, Lambert Parong, Don Tagala, Marivir Montebon (President), Richie Rillera, Ms. Julaton, Lindy Rosales, Boyet LoveRita and L.P. Pelayo. (Photo by Troi Santos)
She retired from boxing and MMA in March this year but is looking at a pay-it-forward kind of life soon. She said she is now taking steps to partner with Daly City mayor Juslyn Manalo, a Filipino, to implement a sports training program for the youth in the city.
“This is challenging and exciting for me. I will be training the youth to excel in sports. I look forward to be doing that soon,” she said in a separate interview with local media. (Featured photo by Lambert Parong)
