A Combat of Warrior Goddesses

By Raquel Ruiz, for My Boxing Fans

Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton, three time world boxing champion in the featherweight category, is the epitome of a woman’s heart with the strength of a goddess. Her personality and values are comparable to those of the goddess Athena in Greek mythology: intelligent, powerful, beautiful and fair.

Julaton, 30, like Athena, who protected Heracles in the Iliad and Ulysses in the Odyssey, spend her time, when not training for her next fight, in social causes around the Bay Area of San Francisco where she was born and resides. She can be seen advocating for zero tolerance to domestic violence or encouraging the study of Philippine history by children. The goddess Hurricane is considered as one of the most influential people in her ancestors’ country and Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo gave her a proclamation letter in 2010.

The transformation of this American Filipino goddess, dubbed ” The Hurricane” for her martial arts mastery, takes place inside the ring. On February 25, 2011, all can see her defending her World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight title against Kansas native, “The Chosen One” Franchesca Alcanter in Craneway Pavilion in Point Richmond in Northern California at 10 pm.

“I’m ready to defend my title, I have been training very hard under the guidance of Freddie Roach,” said the goddess. She has been compared to her countryman Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao, not only because of their origin, but also for her charisma and work in the ring.

Meanwhile, 38-year old “The Chosen One” Alcanter, has also worked with Roach back in 2006 for a video on boxing techniques. Questions: Did Roach change their techniques in five years? Is he like the other great boxing trainers who know how to bring out the best out of each boxer at the right time? On February 25 we’ll know.

Meanwhile, the two boxers are trained to deliver for the public the best they have. The goddess “Hurricane” wants to retain her crown and “The Chosen One” will make every possible effort to take it away.

As the two boxers have shown throughout their careers, their professionalism, athleticism and dedication will without doubt make this a boxing exhibition a great event with high expectations.

“Never underestimate a contender and I always prepare for battle,” said Alcanter, who has the love of boxing in her veins which began in the 30’s, when her grandfather, Joey Alcanter “The Bombarding Mexican” was number 10 in the world.

Julaton who as a child practiced martial arts, jumped into amateur boxing in 2004 with the hope of being the first American Filipino to win an Olympic medal. But in 2007 when she realized it would not be for some time before women’s boxing would be allowed in the Games, she decided to become a professional boxer. Since then she has cultivated a serious boxing career in which she has won three world titles.

“I am very excited to finally know that women boxers will compete in the Olympics,” said the Philippine goddess, not hiding her excitement and maybe a bit of nostalgia knowing that her past dream cannot come true. But now, as she says, her work, is to represent her Filipino roots well and she feels very honored by the recognition they have given her in the country of her ancestors.

For her part, “The Chosen One” Alcanter came to boxing in 1999 after a long and successful career in multiple sports, that because of her dedication, she excelled in without any problem. In 1998 she decided she wanted to practice a sport that would allow her to compete, travel and make money and that’s when she thought of boxing. But it was not until March 1999 when she saw the signs to this path.

“I went to Wyoming to compete and was reading Ring magazine. It had the ranks of the fighters of 1936 and the name of my grandfather was there. I knew it was my destiny,” said “The Chosen One” who picked her own nickname and began boxing with the desire to revive her Aztec warriors’ roots, long lost generations ago when their surname was changed from Alcántara to Alcanter.

“I will bring the title to my people in Kansas,” said “The Chosen One” Alcanter, who feels better than when she was 25.

For her part, the goddess “The Hurricane” is very happy because she will be defending her title at home and in front of thousands of fans who will also be in her corner.

“I’m ready to retain my title. When I climb into the ring I’m not alone, I fight for my people,” said overwhelmingly “The Hurricane.”