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My children, my daughter who is the oldest is 46 years old. My son is 42. They’re very proud of their mom. It takes their breath away because I was single parent. I mean, even my grand daughter came to see me hit the bags and everything. They feel so good about this so I’m never going to get old.

Most people when you say you’re 65, they say, “My God! Why would you want to do…why would you want to box?” Well, why not? You know, I’m a strong woman. And I never knew how strong I could be and I’m very strong. And I know that.

At this point in my life. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. It’s the one place where I feel whole.

I come from a generation where women weren’t allowed to box. I work out with women half my age. Some of them could even be my grand daughters for all I know.

A lot of women join boxing because they want to feel like they can protect themselves. There’s a lot of women that think that they’re not capable It makes you stronger. It makes you feel like you can conquer anything. Anything that comes your way. And this gives them that strength that they didn’t have.

When someone my age works out the younger women, say if she can do it, I can do it.
My older brother, unfortunately has passed now 30 years. Always wanted to box in the golden gloves, but he never made it. And so, when I box, I see his face.

I always do a one-on-one with my coach, Teresa Scott. She’s very patient. I work my butt off as hard as I possibly can. The more I sweat, the more I love it.

Life is like a roller coaster and this keeps me centered.

It’s a dream that I’ve always wanted and I know that I can do it. I can take care of myself. There’s nothing you can’t do. It doesn’t matter how old you are.

more info:

Minerva “Duchess” Muniz, who works in the textile industry, takes boxing classes at Mendez Gym in the Flatiron section of Manhattan through the for-profit organization Women’s World of Boxing (WWB).
Founded by former creative director-turned-boxing trainer Teresa Scott, WWB offers private and group mechanics/technical training to women 15 years old and up.
While most people her age are planning their retirement, Muniz, 65, decided to pursue her longtime dream of learning how to box. Muniz has been training with Scott for about a year, and says that boxing has bolstered her physical strength and confidence. “I feel I’m as strong as any other woman out there, it doesn’t matter if they’re 40, if they’re 30 or 20,” she says. “I know that I am just as strong.”