Peru’s Female Superstar Fighting Soon
Get used to seeing more of women’s boxing this year as the 2012 Olympic Games in London will feature female fighters competing for the first time ever. Little girls hoping to lace up may have more ring heroes to look up to after the Summer Olympics.
One female boxer who is already a superstar in her home country of Peru is Kina “Dinamita” Malpartida (13-3, 3 KOs). This queen of the ring is well-known among her tens of thousands of fans in South America. She has graced the covers of magazines, has been a spokesmodel in commercials, and is treated like a rock star in her homeland.
While training in the U.S., the tall, lanky professional prizefighter gets to maintain a lower profile–and low key lifestyle–in Southern California. And that’s just the way the humble boxer likes it. I recently caught up with the WBA Female Super Featherweight Champion and her trainer Mario “Big Yuca” Morales. The two lent support to another Morales’ charge, Aaron Martinez, who fought and won his bout last Friday.
Malpartida’s own last victory was in April 2011 in a rematch against Rhonda Luna in Kina’s native country.
She is hoping to step into the ring again soon. The team wanted to fight as early as March 24 (a day before her birthday) but details are still being worked out, the Peruvian puncher tells me. Two early names that were bandied about were Olivia Gerula and Jelena Mrdjenovich (who’s reportedly set to fight March 23 and April 27 against other opponents). While the camp plans to fight soon, a foe and a location await.
“I am looking forward to defend my title for the fifth time,” the brunette says. “I may fight here…or in Europe; I cant wait to fight again!”
The super featherweight trains in the City of Bell with “Big Yuca” at the Azteca Boxing Club, alongside many world titleholders that fill the gym.
She fits right in with all the other elite sluggers, and in Los Angeles she gets to enjoy the best of both worlds. She can go from being an ultra famous face in Peru (as “Kinacha”) to switching to a more of an incognito mode when she’s here in the States. It’s a role that suits her just fine.
“Yes! I love being ‘undercover’ low key,” she confirms, “’cause it gives me a lot more freedom. However, I love my fans and I enjoy the change when go over there too. It’s exciting!”
The athlete is treated like royalty whenever she steps on Latin American soil; she was the first Peruvian world champ after her defeat of Maureen Shea in 2009 at Madison Square Garden. And she also hails from a dynamic family: Her father was Peruvian National Surfing Champion Oscar Malpartida, her mother is former supermodel Susy Dyson, and her brother is surfing champ Alvaro Malpartida.
Before boxing, the female pugilist was also a women’s surfing champ before the sweet science became her main passion. With her huge fanbase around the world, the dynamic globetrotter has fought in various locations including Lima, Peru, Queensland, Australia, New York, New York and Ontario, California, close to her current residence.
But for all the attention she receives internationally, Kina remains friendly and humble to her fans and encouraging and supportive to her fellow fighters.
Twelve-year-old amateur champ Ryan Garcia enjoyed catching up with the female stick of dynamite at the boxing event as well. The boy told me he had first met her a couple of years ago at an amateur boxing show. Malpartida remembered him, recognizing him immediately, and quickly checked in on how his training and career was going. “I can’t believe she remembered me!” he grinned. The last time I talked to her at the amateur show she gave me a lot of good advice; she’s so cool!”
Friendly and cool outside the ropes, she’s sure to sizzle center ring.
And Kina Malpartida hopes to have a sizzling 2012 as she and her team make plans to fight soon!
Photos by Michele Chong/ Additional images courtesy of Team Malpartida