In a very short time, Selina Barrios has not only turned pro but she's also claimed her first title belt. The Southwest High School graduate won the the NABF Female Lightweight title in December of 2017.
This weekend she will enter the ring for the second time to defend that title.
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Barrios (4-0, 2 KOs) will face Patricia Juarez (4-0) on Saturday night in a 10-round bout in Corpus Christi. This is the first boxing event to be held at Whataburger Field, the home of the Houston Astros double-A affiliate the Corpus Chrisit Hooks, since 2009.
"I love fighting in Texas, its where I'm from and it is a major honor to entertain so many people," said Barrios this week. "Everyone watching my fight Saturday is going to see something special."
Barrios is no stranger to competing in Corpus. Her first defense of her NABF championship belt came back in July, when she knocked out her opponent, Aida Satybaldinova, at the American Bank Center. Barrios's convincing victory had many in the boxing world considering it "knockout of the year".
"Patricia Juarez is a deserving and tough challenger but my mindset is to also go for a knockout. The NABF lightweight title means the world to me at this point in my career, and defending it is very important. I live for people to call me 'champ' and to not have a belt, would mean I didn't work hard enough to keep it. I can't let that happen."
Boxing has been a male dominated sport but female boxers are finally getting the publicity that is very much overdo. Earlier this year, HBO aired it's first female boxing match in 45 years when Cecilia Braekhus won in a unanimous decision over Kali Reis.
If you watch boxing regularly, you may have noticed more concentration on female boxers in attendance of events and commentators taking the time to acknowledge those athletes. The boxing spotlight is finally opening up to include the hard working and talented females of the sport. San Antonio has it's own rising star in the lightweight division who has her heart and soul battling to be the best.
"This is the best division in all of women's boxing in my opinion. I want to fight all of them and I want to prove I am the best fighter in this lightweight division. I am training and working hard so that I can be the first female fighter to make a million dollars in the ring. I'm going to be a million-dollar baby, and my fighting style will be the reason."
Tickets range from $10 - $150 and can be purchased at ticketreturn.com.
Daniel P. Villanueva has worked with KSAT 12 Sports for over 15 years and is an award-winning sports producer. To submit story ideas, email sports@ksat.com.