Valley student wins 2nd national boxing championship

Traveling from New Kensington to Downtown Pittsburgh hardly would seem like a picnic, especially by bus.

“I usually come every day, weekdays and weekends,” Valley High School sophomore Gea Fultz said as she wrapped up running a warmup mile on a treadmill at the 3rd Ave. Gym, the training site for Pittsburgh National Youth Boxing.

She first donned gloves and stepped into the ring at age 11. Four years later, she can lay claim to a pair of national titles and, according to her mentor, celebrity status.

“No matter where we fight in the country, when we walk in the door, she is pretty much the Queen Bee,” Pittsburgh head coach Jim Hoy said. “And a lot of it’s because she has this infectious smile. She’s kind to people. She’s a good look for the sport, for sure.”

In August, Fultz bested a boxer from Texas to win the 110-pound class in the Junior (ages 15-16) division at the USA Boxing Women’s Championship in Louisiana. She accomplished a similar feat last year in Ohio, competing against 13- and 14-year-olds.

“When it comes to nationals, it’s a lot of pressure. Sometimes, getting really, really nervous throws me off,” she acknowledged. “But at a certain point, you just get used to under a lot of pressure and being around a lot of people.”

The spotlight will continue to shine on her this week as she joins a select group of Americans facing off against Team Ireland in Rio Grande, N.J. Then in December, she plans a trip to Richmond, Va., as a participant in the year’s final tournament for USA Boxing, which governs the sport’s amateur competition.

If Fultz wins in Virginia, she’ll train in Colorado next summer as a member of USA Boxing’s High-Performance Junior Team, which will travel and compete internationally in preparation for potential spots in the next Summer Olympics.

“Her goal and our sights are on 2028 in Los Angeles,” Hoy said. “That would be very cool.”

And as far as Fultz is concerned, it’s within the realm of possibility:

“I feel like if I have enough focus, and I definitely work hard enough, I’ve got it.”

Fultz’s foray into the sport started with a suggestion by a teacher who’s a friend of Hoy, and he readily welcomed Fultz to Team 412, the alternative name for Pittsburgh National Youth Boxing.

“She had our 12th birthday with us, and she got her first pair of boxing shoes on her birthday from the team,” the coach said. “She’s kind of like the poster girl for what we do down here. She rides a bus an hour each way. How many kids are that dedicated?”

Hoy is attempting to work with New Kensington-Arnold School District officials on adjusting Fultz’s academic schedule to accommodate her boxing aspirations.

She is among roughly 40 participants ages 8 and older in Pittsburgh National Youth Boxing, a nonprofit with the mailing address of 1402 Field Club Court in Ross and the goal of instilling the values of discipline, accountability, respect and integrity.

“We try to make it about a lot more than boxing,” Hoy said. “We have such committed kids and committed families in what we do here. It’s a solid program. We get invited all over the country.”

During their travels, the students have opportunities for educational experiences such as visiting the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tenn., and laying flowers at the Muhammad Ali gravesite in Louisville, Ky.

Back in Pittsburgh, 3rd Ave. is a flurry of activity during practice.

“One thing I just love about the gym is the atmosphere, the things you get from coming here. It’s not going to be the same as going to any other gym,” assistant coach Mike Barroso, 18, said. “It’s a great atmosphere, great energy, and it’s good to be here each and every day.”

The Bellevue resident began boxing when he was in seventh grade, achieving a success in the ring while finding a niche outside of it.

“I really started to find a love for coaching. I’d always help on the side,” he said, including guidance for Fultz as she embarked on national tournaments.

No matter what the level of competition, she looks forward to having fun.

“I really like fighting,” she said. “Even if I don’t win all the time, it’s still a good experience.”

For more information, visit www.412boxing.com.