Peeps, meet Michelle Paredes, a Hillsdale grad and a boxer out of the B Street Gym headed by local legend Eddie Croft. That’s her below, with a grin ear-to-ear, presumably because she just kicked someone’s ass. Anyway, we were told a while back that Eddie was going to have more than a handful of boxers participating in the Golden Gloves tournament this year. I went to speak with Eddie and he recommended Michelle for a profile. She was kind enough to give us some time. Pictures below belong to her friend, Alexis Terrazas.
Here’s an excerpt from the story that ran in today’s Daily Journal.
Paredes looking for a fight
By Julio Lara
A year ago, San Mateo native Michelle Paredes made her debut in the boxing ring — well, sort of.
Less than a year after putting on a pair of gloves for the first time, Paredes found herself with an opportunity to hit the ring for the first time at the 2010 Golden Gloves tournament in Vacaville — not a bad location to make your debut.
But as fate would have it, Paredes would leave the Northern California venue a winner without throwing a single punch. As it were, there were no other competitors for her to face at 165 pounds, so Paredes, the Hillsdale high school graduate, won by default.
“I was (disappointed),” Paredes said, “but at the same time, I was OK. I felt like I could fight, but it was nerve wracking, so it kind of like, ‘whew.’”
Fast-forward a year and Paredes will go back to where it all started when she heads to Vacaville for the 2011 version of the Northern California Golden Gloves tournament. Paredes is one 11 boxers participating in the Golden Glove tournament this year out of Eddie Croft’s B Street Boxing in downtown San Mateo. Last year Croft, a former national champion, had four champions come out of his gym, including Paredes, who comes into this year’s tournament with a bit of unfinished business.
A lot has changed for the College of San Mateo student in a year’s time following her “win” at Golden Gloves.
“I was more motivated to lose weight, get more focus and try a lot harder,” Paredes said. “After (Golden Gloves 2010) and coming down in weight, having fought some girls that are bigger than me, I was kind of thankful that I did. I fought at 150 pounds (and) I felt that I was faster. But still, I feel that if she was bigger it would have been harder for me.”
Feel free to read the rest of the story by click here.
Good luck to Michelle. Keep those gloves up, girl.
Oh My July! 