By Dan Murphy
Congratulations to Christella Cepeda, a Yonkers native and graduate of Saunders High School, for her recent victory in the National Golden Gloves boxing championship held in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Cepeda, won four fights in a row to win the Golden Gloves National Championship (139 lbs.). The final match, against Texas state champion Briana Carrera, was tough but as Christella tells us “I jabbed her so many times, my arms were tired after for days.”
The first match in Tulsa for Cepeda was a RSC (Referee Stops Contest) after having the ref come in to give four standing 8 counts to her opponent, after a few right hands and another few hooks.
Most of us boxing fans have heard about the Golden Gloves, which is now called Ringmaster in New York State. Cepeda won the NY State Ringmaster in her weight class to move onto Tulsa. She has fought before other New York State Ringmaster events, but recently she took a couple of years away from boxing during COVID.
But her boxing career is a true Yonkers success story. I came into the YMCA with my sister years ago. We heard about a boxing program being offered. My sister didn’t stay with it, but I loved it.
At the Yonkers Y, Christella met Boxing Coach John Morrison, and the two have trained together ever since. Now 28, Cepeda started boxing with Johnson when she was 16.
“She has a real talent for boxing, and she works hard. Two months after she came in, she had her first fight. Usually it takes 6 months, but she stood out. I saw right away how gifted and talented she was,” said Morrison, who plans on opening a boxing gym called Knockouts, at 29 South Broadway, next month.
“After she won the NY Ringmaster, we felt good about going out to Tulsa for the national golden gloves, but we had no idea about her competition. Her second fight was a split decision and so was the last fight. It was close but she’s the champ now,” said Morrison.
Coach Morrison explained that the winner of the national golden gloves usually competes in the Olympic trials, to get a chance to represent the USA and go for the gold. The trials are in December.
“She has a great shot at the Olympics. I believe that she can do whatever she sets her mind to. She has the determination, and when she gets in the ring, she becomes ‘Showtime’, her nickname.”
“I’m proud of her ups and downs, we had a lot of fights that she won, but got robbed by the judges. But she kept working and now, seeing her dreams become a reality, is a great thing,” said Morrison. “She is paving the way for other young kids in Yonkers, and I have some good boxers coming. She is going to put Yonkers on the map for boxing.”
Christella said that she is enjoying her recent championship and still has to decide about her future. She could try for the Olympics, or turn professional, or take some time off. “We are still trying to figure all of that out,” said Cepeda, a graduate of Saunders High School and a lifelong Yonkers resident, born and raised and she still lives here today.
“I’m proud to be from Yonkers and bring the belt back to my city. I hope to have a positive effect on kids, and maybe they will see what I did and think that they can do it.”
Cepeda has a good jab, and a straight right-hand punch that is dangerous, along with a left hook. She has the complete boxing package and is fearless in the ring. You can find some of her boxing videos on YouTube, and we will post a few on Yonkerstimes.com.
Congratulation Christella Cepeda. We will continue to report on her future achievements. And thanks for making Yonkers proud!
