New Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee Ana Maria Torres Reflected on Her Illustrious Career
Ana Maria Torres, a recent inductee into the prestigious International Boxing Hall of Fame, made her super flyweight debut in 1999 and retired in 2012 after leaving an indelible mark on the sport. The Mexican boxer, affectionately known as “La Guerrera,” twice held the WBC super flyweight title in 2007 and 2012, showcasing her skills over a remarkable 34-fight professional career.
Standing at 44 years old, Torres compiled an impressive record of 28 wins (16 by knockout), 3 losses, and 3 draws during her time in the ring. In a candid interview with BoxingScene, the new Hall of Famer shared her thoughts on this momentous achievement and her journey in the sport.
“I’m really happy, and it makes me feel it was all worth all the work that I did,” Torres expressed. “I want to thank Canastota and the Boxing Hall of Fame because they recognize that the women and we get recognition for that.”
Despite her dreams of becoming a boxing champion, Torres admitted she never envisioned being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“I never thought about it. I dreamed of being a boxing champion, but I never thought about this point,” she said. “The people that were paying in Mexico to see me fight, it was exciting, but I never imagined being in the Boxing Hall of Fame, even when I was a champion, and now this is the highest point in my career.”
Reflecting on the challenges women’s boxing faced during her time, Torres acknowledged the struggle to gain recognition and opportunities.
“It was really hard in the beginning, nobody cared about women’s boxing. It was hard for us to open doors. But once we did, we showed that women’s boxing has a lot of action where it was worth paying for a ticket to watch us fight. Once we did that, promoters realized that there was business, too, with women’s boxing, so that opened the path, and now it’s a reality.”
Torres believes she and other pioneering female boxers paved the way for the current prominence of women’s boxing.
“Each woman boxer around the world had an effort, and now it’s a reality that it’s open for the new fighters that are coming. I’m very happy that I opened up that in Mexico with some other fighters, and now it’s a reality and women can get paid. That’s what we were looking for, that women can get paid from boxing.”
When it came time to retire, Torres found the transition to be a natural progression in her life.
“It was not hard for me because I was planning a new phase in my life. I became a wife and mother, and my husband told me to realize that if I come back after my kids, it’s just going to be the same. I was at a new phase in my life, so it was not hard because I wanted to live this new phase.”
As for her most memorable fight, Torres highlighted her battles with fellow Mexican boxer Jackie Nava, particularly their WBC diamond belt clash, which is “considered one of the best in boxing history.”
Despite being away from the ring for 12 years, Torres still cherishes the thrill of her boxing career and the connection she has with her fans.
“It is hard to find something that gives me that high, as much as the adrenaline of the ring and people cheering, but right now I’ve got a great feeling when people approach me and ask for pictures, and autographs, or they go to my gym and ask for a picture or a signature. And now I’m a mother, it’s great. I’ve been out of the ring for 12 years, but I still get that feeling of what I did was wonderful.”
🔗 Source
