Stephanie Jaramillo
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| Stephanie Jaramillo | |
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Real name | Stephanie Jaramillo |
| Nickname | Golden Girl |
| Weight | Welterweight |
| Nationality | American |
| Birth date | May 18, 1982 |
| Birth place | Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA |
| Style | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 7 |
| Wins | 4 |
| Wins by KO | 2 |
| Losses | 2 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | |
Stephanie "Golden Girl" Jaramillo was born in the South Valley of Albuquerque, New Mexico on May 18, 1982. She has been inducted into the Amateur Athletic World Hall of Fame Museum for Outstanding Boxing Achievement.
Contents |
[edit] Childhood
Stephanie "Golden Girl" Jaramillo is a native of the South Valley located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her love for the sport started while watching a Mike Tyson fight at her grandparents’ house. After the fight was over the five-year-old Stephanie, went to her bedroom and began shadow boxing in front of a window in her room, mimicing the moves of a professional fighter she punched a miniture fist-size hole through the glass. Ever since then, she’s been in love with boxing.
In her adolecence Stephanie would invite neighborhood kids over to spar, through this time she would beg her reluctant parents to let her start boxing.
Her brother bought her boxing gloves so they could have ‘matches’ in the house. Her family began to realized that Stephanie had the strength and desire to box, but her father would not allow her to start boxing seriously until he had seen a female boxing bout on TV.
[edit] Early career
When Stephanie was 14 when her father finally saw Christy Martin fight on TV. True to his word, they went to look for a boxing gym the next day ... and Stephanie enrolled at Irene Garcia's A Woman's Place Gym in Albuquerque ... where world champion Trina Ortegon also trained. Two and a half months later, Jaramillo fought her first amateur fight, knocking out her opponent.
Throughout her teenaged years, Jaramillo devoted her life to amateur boxing, having over 40 bouts. She travelled wherever she had to in search of a fight to improve her record; she lived the life of an athlete; she never compromised her status as an amateur.
Stephanie won the junior division in the New Mexico state amateur championships in 1996 and again in 1997, a year in which she also took home the regional Silver Gloves and Golden Gloves junior titles. In 1998 she repeated her run of these area titles and went on to compete in the junior division of the Women's National Championships, taking the silver medal.
Stephanie was the bronze medalist in the open division at the 1999 Everlast Women’s National Championships. On August 14, 1999 in the 139-lb final of the Ringside US National Golden Gloves in Augusta, Georgia, Jean Martin of New York defeated Stephanie by a 4-1 score. In the 1999 Everlast National PAL Championships she defeated future pro boxers Andrea Nelson and Kelly Whaley, both by 5-0 decisions, to take the gold medal.
On April 13, 2000 in the 139-lb semifinals of the USA Boxing Everlast National Championships at the Chaparral Center in Midland, Texas, Melissa Fiorentino of Cranston, Rhode Island defeated Stephanie Jaramillo by a 30-19 score. (Fiorentino went on to win the gold medal with a 17-14 victory over Jean Martin, and also moved into the pro ranks).
On July 8, 2000 in a 139-lb match at the Canada-USA Dual meet at Camel Rock Casino outside Santa Fe, New Mexico, Tanya Robertson (25-8) of Canada defeated Stephanie by a 41-40 "raw punch", i.e. punches thrown, count in a tiebreaker after they ended up tied at 10-10 on points after three rounds. Jaramillo was the aggressor and attacked the body early, but she left her head an open target for Robertson, especially in the second round where the Canadian landed a hard straight right and an overhand right. Robertson had built a 10-5 advantage after the two rounds and Jaramillo's corner told her she was down, "they told me to go out and give it my all," said Jaramillo, who launched two minutes of all-out attack to tie the points score by going to the head and using Robertson as a punching bag for the final minute. "Every time I gave her a shot, she'd back up and I couldn't catch her," a disappointed Jaramillo said after the draw and technical loss.
On November 15, 2000 in a 139-lb bout in the Russia-USA Dual meet at the Good Time Emporium in Somerville, Massachusetts, Olga Vlasova of Russia defeated Stephanie by a 8-4 score.
On November 17, 2000 in another 139 lb at the Russia-USA Dual meet at Rockingham Park, in Salem, New Hampshire, Irina Sinetskaya of Russia defeated Stephanie by a 2-1 decision.
On December 14, 2000 in the Open 139-lb semifinals of the 2000 Police Athletic League Championships in New Orleans, Louisiana, Judith Pyles of Dunnellow, Florida won on a walkover over Stephanie after a misunderstanding about the weigh-in time. (The organizers had changed the day of the women's weigh-in, but Jaramillo, who had been in New Orleans all week, didn't get the information.) Jaramillo's career went into an unexpected recess after this. “After I got screwed out of fighting at the PAL, I wanted nothing do with boxing. But then, I changed my mind and decided to have nothing more to do with amateur boxing. I wanted to turn pro. I have a style better suited to the pros and in the amateurs, I couldn’t be myself in the ring.”
Highlights of Stephanie’s amateur career:
1996 – State Champion-Junior Division 1997 - State Champion – Junior Division 1997 – Junior Olympics Champion 1997 – Silver Gloves Champion – Junior Division 1997 – Golden Gloves Champion – Junior Division 1998 – State Champion – Junior Division 1998 – Junior Olympics Champion 1998 – Silver Gloves Champion- Junior Division 1998 – Silver Gloves Champion – Junior Division 1998 – Golden Gloves Champion – Junior Division 1998 – Women’s National Championships-Junior Division, Silver Medalist 1999 – Everlast Women’s National Championships – Open Division, Bronze Medalist 1999 – Ringside Women’s National Golden Gloves – Open Division, Silver Medalist 1999 – Everlast National PAL Championships – Open Division, Gold Medalist (Defeated, now pro-boxers, Andrea Nelson and Kelly Whaley, both 5-0 decision) 2000 – Everlast Women’s Nationals – Bronze Medalist 2000 – USA vs. Canada – Silver Medalist 2000 – USA vs. Russia Dual – Silver Medalist (Nov. 15) 2000 – USA vs. Russia Dual – Silver Medalist (Nov. 17)
[edit] Turning Pro/Don King
Jaramillo called up promoter Don King’s office and sent him a publicity package. A week later, King called her. “He told me to tell him something about myself, so I said, ‘I’m beautiful.’ “He started laughing. ‘That’s why I love you so much. He said to put my mother on the phone and the two of them talked for a half hour. He told her that he was going to make me famous, rich, everything, and not to talk to any other promoters until he had time to get with me.” To back up his promise, King flew Stephanie and her mother Annette to the Trinidad vs. Joppy fight in New York, picking up the tab on the all-expense-paid trip. King eventually offered Stephanie a contract but she never signed it ... the day after the 20-year-old gave it to her attorney to review, the attorney advised her that they 'needed to talk'. The contract would have given King effective control of Stephanie's career for seven years and would have paid her less for her first fight than it cost her to have the attorney review it. “I wouldn’t have been able to bring Floyd, my coach. He’s the most important part of the team!" said Jaramillo. Stephanie said 'no thanks' and stayed with her mother Annette as co-manager of "Team Golden Girl". She also linked up with coach Floyd Mayweather, Sr. in Las Vegas. “I learned more in twelve minutes with Floyd than I had in the past three or four years,” said Jaramillo. “I really lucked out ... I can’t wait ... I’ve been like a lion locked up in its cage, ready to be released."
[edit] Professional career
Stephanie made her pro debut on June 29, 2002 at Santa Ana Star Casino in Bernalillo, New Mexico, scoring an easy TKO over a wind-milling Martha Flores of San Antonio, Texas at 1:54 in the second round. Chris Cozzone of New Mexico Boxing wrote "Pawing the ground like a rabid bull and scaring half the audience, if not her opponent, with mean stares, Jaramillo came out strong to overpower the shorter, rounder Flores. After a slip to the canvas, Flores got up to fight back, trying to catch Jaramillo coming in. She landed a few shots but could not match Jaramillo’s onslaught. Round Two started to look like gym work for Jaramillo, as she overwhelmed Flores and landed at will until the ref called it quits at 1:54. Although clearly a mismatch, it was the first time Flores had ever been stopped." "In the first round I was real nervous", said Jaramillo, "my corner told me to just calm down and go to work. I learned that I have to be calm. I hit her hard, hard, hard ... at the end she was using a lot of cuss words." Flores fell to 0-6-0 (0 KO) with the loss.
On March 15, 2003 at Sky City Casino, Acoma, New Mexico, Stephanie (143¼ lbs) won a four-round unanimous (40-36,40-36,40-36) decision over debut fighter Angie Poe (143 lbs). Jaramillo said that Poe was tough, and had a lot of heart, also that she had wanted to pace herself and use her jab. On May 23, 2003 at Sandia Casino in Albuquerque, Stephanie (145 lbs) won by a first-round TKO over overmatched debut fighter Mimi Palfy (136 lbs) from Rapid City, Wyoming, who was a late substitute on the card. Palfy's corner threw in the towel after she had been pummeled against the ropes by the aggressive Jaramillo ... and was obviously unwilling to continue.
On August 26, 2003 at Sandia Casino in Albuquerque, in a much-anticipated showdown between two unbeaten local fighters, Holly Holm (141 lbs) of Sandia Heights, Albuquerque won a four-round majority (40-37,39-37,38-38) decision over Stephanie (142 lbs). Holm was the early aggressor, landing solid straight lefts to Jaramillo’s face. Jaramillo stormed back in the second but Holm outboxed her and landed more good right hooks, straight lefts and combinations. Jaramillo landed some power shots cleanly in a good third round. Holm didn't seem fazed and closed the fight out well in the fourth, again landing with hard straight lefts to Jaramillo's face. Holm outworked the shorter but determined Jaramillo on the way to a 5-0-0 (2 KO) record as a pro boxer (she is also a kickboxer).
On October 3, 2003 at Sandia Casino Holly Holm (142 lbs) and Stephanie (139¾ lbs) battled to a six-round (58-56 Holm, 58-56 Jaramillo, 57-57) draw in a rematch of their August four-rounder. Holm dominated the opening round but Jaramillo turned it around in the second, coming back with hard counter left hooks and straight rights to keep herself in the bout. Holm used her jab well and outlanded Jaramillo in most rounds, bloodying her mouth, but Jaramillo landed the hardest shots of the fight and wobbled Holm in the fifth round to keep the bout a tossup on the scorecards. Holm remained unbeaten as a pro boxer at 5-0-1 (2 KO).
On February 28, 2004 at Santa Ana Star Casino in Bernalillo, New Mexico, Stephanie (150 lbs) won a six-round unanimous (60-54) shutout decision over unranked Imelda Arias (5'1") of Cuidad Juarez, Mexico, who looked rusty coming off a two-year layoff. According to Chris Cozzone of Inside Women's Boxing, "While she (Arias) was game, Jaramillo dwarfed her in size, making the fight the equivalent of a workout on the bags for Jaramillo. While Jaramillo buffaloed Arias around, the Juarez veteran was able to land loopy overhand punches now and then, many of which landed flush. But for most of the time, Arias stood rooted in one spot while Jaramillo had her way." Arias fell to 8-15-1 (8 KO). "The girl (Arias), her style was bad. It was like hitting a punching bag," said Jaramillo. "It's hard to look good against somebody that short and fat."
[edit] WIBF Title
Jaramillo's next fight was supposed to be for the WIBF Americas Junior Welterweight title in Port of Spain, Trinidad against local favorite Giselle "Magic" Salandy, at 18 the reigning Latin American Junior Welterweight champion. Jaramillo traveled to Trinidad and squared off with Salandy at the press conference, but the eight-round bout was canceled when the promoter could not come up with the finances. (Jaramillo had been due to receive US$2,000 for the fight, and Salandy US$1,500.)
[edit] Sumya "Island Girl" Anani
With one week notice Stephanie Jaramillo was offered to fight Sumya Anani, argubably one of the top female fighters. Anani held WIBA, IFBA, IBA, and GBU titles. In 2003 Ring Magazine ranked her as the BEST pound-for-pound boxer. She is currently ranked number one in just about everything. The fight took place on December 3, 2004 in Kansas City, MO.
Stephanie said that was an opportunity that she thought she might never have. Anani, ten years her senior, is in her prime. Stephanie figured that by the time she even reached the same status as Anani, that she (Anani) would be looking at retirement. "It just feels right, for me to face her in the ring. What an honor to be able to get into the ring with the BEST. I've been in the gym training, just something inside tells me that it's right. It's just right. I may be holding a pair of 2's in a poker game, but I feel good about them. Something deep inside is telling me that I need this. I'm a student of the game, and there are some lessons that can't be learned in the gym. And I know that just by stepping in the ring with Anani, it will make me a better fighter, a different fighter. " Stephanie says, "How are you gonna get better and grow if you don't just do it. There are two things that happen when you step up to the plate, you swing and miss or you hit the ball. But you can't possibly know what will happen UNTIL you step up to that plate."
Stephanie took Anani to the limit, proving that she has the heart, and the detication to be one of the top female fighters. Though she lost by descion, she smiled and jumped up at the end of the bout ... apparently happy to have gone the full distance against Anani.
[edit] Retirement
After a very successful 9-year career in boxing, which included 18 titles and three spots on the USA Women's Amateur Boxing Team, New Mexico's own Stephanie "Golden Girl" Jaramillo announced her retirement on May 10, 2005. Although she hung up her gloves and stepped out of the ring, she didn’t leave the sport she still loves.
Jaramillo is moving to the other side of the ropes to begin managing and training professional fighters, this gives her, and others an opportunity to fully utilize her experience earned in over 50 fights, coupled with her continuing passion to advance the sport. She wants to push for both bigger fights and larger purses for women's boxing.
While the announcement came as a shock to many who believe she is not even at her peak yet, Jaramillo is satisfied with her career, stating, "I've reached the goals that I set for myself and even more. I am looking at my future and at the big picture: I walk away now as a winner; young, strong, on top and ready for the next great challenge."
The new inductee to the Amateur Athletic World Hall of Fame Museum for Outstanding Boxing Achievement, Jaramillo sees more potential to grow the sport, especially women's boxing, by focusing that experience and passion outside the ring. "I know I can have more impact on the sport now by working behind the scenes," says Jaramillo. This move reflects her love for boxing and her determination to stay involved in and contribute to the sport's growth, fighting outside the ring for the boxers.
To help fund her new endeavor as a professional boxing promoter, Jaramillo will be putting more energy into her company, AmeriStar Construction, Inc., of which she is Vice President. Her company has expanded multiple times over the years, its evolution and success in many ways paralleling her boxing career. Says Jaramillo, "If not for the sweat and tears and hard work of my mother and father, the company would not be where it is today. Now President Ricky Jaramillo, his wife Angela Jaramillo, and Stephanie run the business.
[edit] Outside of the ring
With her clean cut, feminine image, Jaramillo has become a youth spokes-person for the “Jump Rope for Heart”, having participated for five years with the local community. She also speaks at local schools on career days, telling students to “Stay Off Drugs, “Eat Healthy, and to “Always Follow Your Dreams”.
[edit] Professional record at a glance
[edit] 2002
- June 28, 2002 - Santa Ana, Bernalillo, NM - Martha Flores - TKO 2
- March-15-2002- Acoma Angie Poe UD 4
[edit] 2003
- May-23-2003 - Albuquerque - Mimi Palfy TKO 1
- August 26-2003- Albuquerque Holly Holm Majority Decision 4
- October-3-2003- Albuquerque Holly Holm DRAW 6
[edit] 2004
- February 24, 2004, Bernalillo, NM Imelda Arias UD 6
- December 3, 2004 - Kansas City, MO Sumya Anani UD 10 WIBA World Jr. Welterweight title
[edit] References
- Golden Girl Productions
- Golden Girl Management
- Women's Boxing Archive Network
- New Mexico Boxing
- Eastside Boxing
- Women Boxing
- Jaramillo's boxrec entry
