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by MELISSA WICKHAM
SHE'S AS CUTE as a butterfly but she stings like a bee.
Watch out Lela Ali, here comes Nyzinga Howell, a 12-year-old St Lucy Secondary student who's looking to make her mark in boxing locally and internationally.
Her appearance is deceptive; she's timid and only speaks when she's spoken to but when Nyzinga puts on those gloves and steps into the ring, the "tiger" inside of her comes out.
That tiger roared when she took on an older more experienced opponent at the recently concluded Caribbean Amateur Boxing Championships in Trinidad where Barbados won the title and little Nyzinga walked away with a silver medal.
She's now the toast of her friends, school and small household in rural Westbury New Road, St Michael, where she lives with her mum Kathy Ife-Harris and her older sister Earlisha Howell.
While her friends enjoy "safer" sports like track and field, she is most comfortable in the ring.
And perhaps the one question she is most frequently asked is: 'Why Boxing?'
"It is the only sport I've tried that I like. I tried track and field, netball and volleyball but I didn't like those," she explained.
She has certainly come a long way from that day three years ago, when her mum first took her to Barbados' boxing coach Gary Bowen.
It was the first time a little girl stood before him wanting to be a boxer. Bowen was pleasantly surprised.
Though she had potential, she lacked co-ordination, so he worked with her on her technique until she reached the point where she could compete in regional championships like the one in Trinidad.
But she still has a long way to go.
"She has potential, yes, but I've seen kids with more potential. I can't say she'll be an outstanding boxer, I think she'll be a good boxer. She can be outstanding if she's prepared to put in the work," Bowen said, continuing: "Right now women boxing is taking off all over the world. People tend to think that because you're a woman you shouldn't be involved in boxing but it's all about skill and technique. If you're the best, you're the best, nobody can beat you."
He added: "I have no problem with women boxing and as long as she wants to continue, I'll be willing to teach her whatever I know."
Nyzinga finds herself in a peculiar situation – she is not yet a woman, in fact, she's barely a teenager. It is a task for her coach to find other girls her age who are willing to box.
That is why the first time she ever competed was at this year's championships.
Most people see boxing as a violent sport, even though there are certain rules in amateur boxing to protect the boxer.
Nyzinga will probably have to wait until next year's championships to box again. In the meantime, she'll have to practise with the fellows in the boxing gym at the National Stadium.
They see her as sort of a little sister and are always eager to give her advice to improve her technique.
It is not at all intimidating for her to spar with the boys. She shows no fear when she comes up against them.
"I'm not afraid of them, they're more afraid of me," she said, flashing a smile, adding that her mentors are Shaka Henry, Omar Beckles and Shawn Terry-Cox.
She practises three days a week – Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays – and even gets up sometimes as early as 4:30 a.m. to go walking on Brandons Beach with her mum.
Her aim is to get as fit as she can to be the best boxer she can be.
She thanks her mum Kathy for always encouraging and supporting her dreams, especially her dream of one day becoming a boxing coach.
Kathy is the one who's thankful. Since her daughter got involved in boxing she has seen her confidence sky-rocket.
"She is so happy. She has finally found something which makes her feel as though she belongs. I know boxing is seen as a dangerous sport but I trust Coach Bowen. I know he won't let her get hurt," she said.
Nyzinga admitted that her first bout in Trinidad was a scary one. She could've backed down after the girl she was supposed to fight didn't show up and they had to substitute with an older opponent. But she didn't.
"I was a little scared. I thought I could've done better but I tried my best. I know if I had done some things differently, I could've won," she said.
Kathy interjected: "That was her first bout so we were expecting her to be nervous. She called afterwards and she was excited even though she lost. From what I was told, she performed credibly and everyone was proud of her. Whatever points she got contributed to Barbados winning the championships so I'm doubly proud."
She said she would like to see some changes to boxing at the national level, including more females competing; better facilities for both men and women and better equipment.
In the meantime, Nyzinga is making the best of the available facilities. She has to change, like the boys, in the gym since there are no changing rooms. She is grateful to all those people who support her like Maryan Hinds and Mary Beckles and promised to continue to make them proud in the ring.
by MELISSA WICKHAM
SHE'S AS CUTE as a butterfly but she stings like a bee.
Watch out Lela Ali, here comes Nyzinga Howell, a 12-year-old St Lucy Secondary student who's looking to make her mark in boxing locally and internationally.
Her appearance is deceptive; she's timid and only speaks when she's spoken to but when Nyzinga puts on those gloves and steps into the ring, the "tiger" inside of her comes out.
That tiger roared when she took on an older more experienced opponent at the recently concluded Caribbean Amateur Boxing Championships in Trinidad where Barbados won the title and little Nyzinga walked away with a silver medal.
She's now the toast of her friends, school and small household in rural Westbury New Road, St Michael, where she lives with her mum Kathy Ife-Harris and her older sister Earlisha Howell.
While her friends enjoy "safer" sports like track and field, she is most comfortable in the ring.
And perhaps the one question she is most frequently asked is: 'Why Boxing?'
"It is the only sport I've tried that I like. I tried track and field, netball and volleyball but I didn't like those," she explained.
She has certainly come a long way from that day three years ago, when her mum first took her to Barbados' boxing coach Gary Bowen.
It was the first time a little girl stood before him wanting to be a boxer. Bowen was pleasantly surprised.
Though she had potential, she lacked co-ordination, so he worked with her on her technique until she reached the point where she could compete in regional championships like the one in Trinidad.
But she still has a long way to go.
"She has potential, yes, but I've seen kids with more potential. I can't say she'll be an outstanding boxer, I think she'll be a good boxer. She can be outstanding if she's prepared to put in the work," Bowen said, continuing: "Right now women boxing is taking off all over the world. People tend to think that because you're a woman you shouldn't be involved in boxing but it's all about skill and technique. If you're the best, you're the best, nobody can beat you."
He added: "I have no problem with women boxing and as long as she wants to continue, I'll be willing to teach her whatever I know."
Nyzinga finds herself in a peculiar situation – she is not yet a woman, in fact, she's barely a teenager. It is a task for her coach to find other girls her age who are willing to box.
That is why the first time she ever competed was at this year's championships.
Most people see boxing as a violent sport, even though there are certain rules in amateur boxing to protect the boxer.
Nyzinga will probably have to wait until next year's championships to box again. In the meantime, she'll have to practise with the fellows in the boxing gym at the National Stadium.
They see her as sort of a little sister and are always eager to give her advice to improve her technique.
It is not at all intimidating for her to spar with the boys. She shows no fear when she comes up against them.
"I'm not afraid of them, they're more afraid of me," she said, flashing a smile, adding that her mentors are Shaka Henry, Omar Beckles and Shawn Terry-Cox.
She practises three days a week – Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays – and even gets up sometimes as early as 4:30 a.m. to go walking on Brandons Beach with her mum.
Her aim is to get as fit as she can to be the best boxer she can be.
She thanks her mum Kathy for always encouraging and supporting her dreams, especially her dream of one day becoming a boxing coach.
Kathy is the one who's thankful. Since her daughter got involved in boxing she has seen her confidence sky-rocket.
"She is so happy. She has finally found something which makes her feel as though she belongs. I know boxing is seen as a dangerous sport but I trust Coach Bowen. I know he won't let her get hurt," she said.
Nyzinga admitted that her first bout in Trinidad was a scary one. She could've backed down after the girl she was supposed to fight didn't show up and they had to substitute with an older opponent. But she didn't.
"I was a little scared. I thought I could've done better but I tried my best. I know if I had done some things differently, I could've won," she said.
Kathy interjected: "That was her first bout so we were expecting her to be nervous. She called afterwards and she was excited even though she lost. From what I was told, she performed credibly and everyone was proud of her. Whatever points she got contributed to Barbados winning the championships so I'm doubly proud."
She said she would like to see some changes to boxing at the national level, including more females competing; better facilities for both men and women and better equipment.
In the meantime, Nyzinga is making the best of the available facilities. She has to change, like the boys, in the gym since there are no changing rooms. She is grateful to all those people who support her like Maryan Hinds and Mary Beckles and promised to continue to make them proud in the ring.