Nijhof makes it four national boxing crowns

By all normal accounts, Stella Nijhof is at a great age.

The 34-year-old redhead from New York City entered the U.S. Women’s National Boxing Championships for the fifth time, with three gold medals to her credit: from 2000, 2001 and 2003.

Saturday night she added her fourth, stopping 18-year-old Chris Martinon, herself a five-time national champion, in the 119-pound championship match at the Spokane Fairgrounds.

“I feel so old!” the bartender laughed as she stepped down from the ring. “I feel like I’m 50!”

Nijhof scored an 18-5 decision in a bout that was fought in flurries and hurries.

“I was over-punching the whole fight,” Nijhof said. “She made me feel so slow.”

As one of the tournament’s most veteran fighters, Nijhof said she’s pleased to see so many younger women coming into the sport. “It’s not an easy sport,” she said. “We’re one of the only women’s sports that isn’t into the Olympics. There’s not a lot of money in the sport and we have to use our own money to get around.”

Especially in the 119- and 125-pound weight divisions – the two most hotly contested divisions in the tournament.

“Those two divisions are insane,” she said. “And there are some great juniors out there in those classes just waiting to come in.”

Contrary to what many might think, Nijhof said being a four-time national boxing champion doesn’t come in all that handy behind a New York bar.

“I’ve never had to use it,” she said, laughing again. “My tongue is a lot sharper than my jab.”

Saturday night’s program saw a national champion crowned in each weight class, from 95 pounds through 189-plus in the senior division, and 10 more gold medals were awarded to junior boxers.

Among the top junior performers were East Wenatchee’s Vicki Smith, who won the 138-pound gold medal when the referee stopped her fight with Monica Carrizales, from Lubbock, Texas, and Ashley Barnett, a three-time national champion from Cleveland who swept through three bouts in the amateur equivalent of a TKO. The referee stopped each match early when Barnett built a 15-point lead.

In the senior division, Cheryl Houlihan, from Norton, Mass., captured the 106-pound gold medal, stopping Natalie Gray, from Aurora, Colo., :37 into the second round.

At 110, top-ranked Emily Klinefelter, from the University of Iowa, scored a 22-1 victory over No. 2-ranked Keisher McLeod, an aspiring actress and model from New York City.

Trenton, N.J. 114-pounder Sacred Downing stopped Gabriella Barragan in the second round of their bout. Barragan, from Hillsboro, Ore.

Jennifer Han, from El Paso, Tex., stopped Teresa O’Toole, from Huntington, N.Y., in the closest final bout of the night – earning an 11-9 decision.

Carrie Barry, from Cement City, Mich., scored a 9-4 victory over Lissette Medel, from Maywood, Calif., to win at 132.

Orlando’s Lena Taylor easily outdistanced Myranda Benallie, from Shiprock, N.M., in a 27-6 victory.

Elizabeth Quevedo, from South Gate, Calif., edged Grace Kelly, USMC, 11-7, to win at 145.

New Orleans’ Tiffany Junot stopped Lily Avetyan, from Pasadena, Calif., in the second round to win at 154.

Texan Allana Huggins scored a 27-8 decision over Jaclyn Nichols, from Berlin, N.J., to win at 165.

Seattle’s Tricia Turton scored a 21-11 decision over Sonya Lamonakis, from Turners Falls, Mass., at 176.

Tanzee Daniel, from Queens, N.Y., scored a 10-4 win over Tameka Stephens, from Charlotte, N.C., at 189.

Tina Hooks, from West Palm Beach, Fla., scored a 12-1 decision over Burien’s Sara Lean Purcell to win at 189-plus.