By Raquel Ruiz for MyBoxingFans
Colorado Springs.- Women’s national championships kicked off today and two of the favorite boxers and national champions in the Olympic divisions 112 and 132 pounds, Marlen Esparza (Houston, TX) and Queen Underwood (Seattle, Washington) quickly took their first win.
Esparza did not have to fight. Her opponent, Tiffany Perez, (Hammond, Ind.) had no luck on the scale in the morning and had to return to home. Although Esparza knew it wasn’t going to be a tough fight, she was eager to begin her path to the sixth national championship.
“I was ready, but I’ll have to wait until tomorrow,” said smiling the 21 year-old Nike and Coca-cola athelte.
Esparza will face a difficult battle on Tuesday with Alex Love, who although has been boxing for a very short time, she has proven capacity, speed and technique. Last year in the international competition held in Oxnard, CA in November, she won against Polish Karolina Michaelczuk, ranked third in the World.
Queen Underwood, who is known for her ferocity in the ring, came in with combinations that landed three times in the face of her opponent, Maria Madrigal (Wenatcher, Wash.) and the judge stopped the bout in the first round.
“I think I have had to take it a little easier,” said the monarch, who has been national champion four times in three different categories and is ranked third in her division in the world.
“The Queen of the ring,” as she is called, will have another bout Tuesday against Darina Mims, of (Greensboro, NC), which may not require much of her.
Another national champion, Lauren Fisher, (Dania, Fla.), who last year won the gold medal in the 119 lbs, is competing this year in the 132 lb class. She won her 
first bout today. On Tuesday, Fisher will face the veteran Caroline Berry, who fights in the ranks of the armed forces and is one of the female boxers ambassadors in the United States.
Fisher has been preparing with coach and women’s boxing legend Bonnie “La Cobra” Canino and both said they are very optimistic of achieving their goal which is to finish among the top four of the Olympic division and win a seat for the Olympic trials.
The notable absentees from the event are in 106 pound, Jessica Ponce from Napa, California who couldn’t come to Colorado to defend her title because of an injury to her shoulder. The same happened to Denise Rico, 178 lbs, but who was training at 165 lbs and two weeks ago injured her back. Two other notable absentees is five-time national champion Sacred Downing, 119 lbs, of Newark, NJ, and Stephanie Han, 132 lbs., of El Paso, Texas.
The veteran and recipient of a grant from the Women Sports Foundation, Ishika Lay (Jacksonville, Fla.) also came to fight in the 132 lbs category and won on Monday by a wide margin gainst the Texan, Jenelle Leal.
Moreover, Mikaela Mayer, Los Angeles, CA, who is studying on a boxing scholarship at the university Northern Michigan, won and was great in the ring.
“I think the best decision I ever made is going to train at Northern because I feel that in these six months I have come a long way,” said the 19 year-old, ranked fourth in the country.
This year’s U.S. national championship competition has attracted many more women who aspire to have a place in the Olympic Games in London where for the first time in history, women boxers will display their talent.
For Tuesday schedule and brackets click here.
Photos Adriana González