Boxing champion gives back to Fremont for Thanksgiving
Undisputed featherweight boxing world champion Alycia Baumgardner and Mayor Danny Sanchez hosted a Thanksgiving turkey giveaway for 75 local families on Nov. 9 at her alma mater, Fremont Ross High School.
Flanked by a pom-pon shaking color guard of Fremont Ross cheerleaders, Baumgardner jogged into the school gymnasium to cheers of adoring fans.
After an introduction from Sanchez, she took the microphone and spoke to the hometown fans with words of encouragement as an example “of small-town success.”
“You can do anything you put your mind to, as long as you have the hard work, discipline, dedication to keep pushing forward in life, you are in control,” Baumgardner said. “You can be your own champion, in your own way. I encourage everyone to keep pushing in life. We have our trials. We have our tribulations, but there is joy at the end of the tunnel, and I am an example of what joy looks like.”
Thanks mayor, boxing club for help in arranging event
She also gave credit to Sanchez and the Fremont Wreckers Boxing Club for helping to arrange the event.
After posing for a group photo with the cheerleaders and the basketball teams, the players were introduced.
While the boys and girls teams showed off, Baumgardner had additional words about the event.
“We are giving back to my community by giving turkeys away. It’s Thanksgiving and there’s nothing better than having a turkey on the table and I want to make sure everyone has one,” Baumgardner said.
As she watched the players show off a bit, a small crowd developed around her asking for selfies. Baumgardner took the opportunity to talk about her next move in boxing and her position as a role model.
“What’s next is becoming undisputed at 135. I’ve conquered the 130 division and I’m ready to move up in weight and conquer 135 and continue breaking barriers in boxing and women’s boxing and just being an inspiration for the youth,” Baumgardner said. “Even when they don’t say, I know they are inspired. It’s nice to have somebody to look up to and keep encouraging. Encouraging goes a long way.”
She addressed her impact on young women.
“I think they are happy to see someone like them, someone from a small town like Fremont, to know that dreams can come true. If you work hard and have the work ethic, you can achieve it,” she said.
That was echoed by senior cheerleader Briyana Simms.
'She's so little, but she's so strong'
“She’s so great. I love seeing her. She’s so little, but she’s so strong. It’s really an inspiration, especially to black girls, that we can do anything. I love her,” Simms said.
In a play on Baumgardner’s nickname, the event was officially called "Celebrate the Champ’s Way: Bomb Tukey Giveaway."
The turkey donation came from Baumgardner and Sanchez, with more than 75 turkeys given away to families in the Fremont community. The event was in collaboration with the Ross basketball team’s canned good drive.
Baumgardner is the undisputed World Featherweight Champion with a 15–1-0 record. Her most recent fight was at Masonic Temple in Detroit on July 15, beating Christina Linardatou in a unanimous decision for the scheduled 10 round fight.
Outside of the ring, Baumgardner recently signed a modeling contract with the Ford Agency.
Sponsors for the event included Mayor Danny Sanchez, Fremont Ross Basketball, Fremont Wreckers Boxing and DJ Werk It.
rlapointe@gannett.com
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This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Baumgardner gives turkeys for holiday at her alma mater
