The diligent and the careless

Chelsea and Juana have radically different approaches to training

Detroit – We reach the mid-point in Chelsea Carter’s training camp ahead of her big fight with Juana Sánchez. It’s a Wednesday when High Voltage shows up at the gym for more demanding work.

The young talent is quickly informed by her cousin Mercedes that the dressing room is a no-go zone today. It doesn’t please the former gymnast, who likes taking the time to change, away from prying eyes, and making sure that everything is perfect before breaking a sweat.

Chelsea: “What?”

Mercedes: “Yer a boxer. Ya don’t ask questions when da coach tells ya what to do! Ya can change here. Don’t care if I see yer tits for 10 seconds!”

Chelsea: “Ah, fine!”

She strips and changes into her workout clothes. A little warmup follows before Mercedes puts the sparring gloves on her hands. As she tightens the laces and puts tape on, Mercedes smiles.

“Okay. There ain’t nuthin’ wrong with dat dressing room. Just had someone in there who was gettin’ ready for ya.”

Chelsea: “Wut?”

Mercedes shouts: “COME OUT!”

The Diva shows up

A world champion comes out and poses in front of the lockers.

The brunette smiles.

Chelsea: “Alesia ‘Fucking’ Schumann!”

Alesia: “I prefer when you call me Diva.”

A little surprised, Chelsea can only stare at her boxing idol.

Alesia: “Well, come here and give me a hug, you retard!”

High Voltage looks up and laughs. Then, she dashes and jumps over benches before throwing herself onto Alesia for a big-bear hug.

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The insider

Mercedes: “Alright. A pork chop, a schnitzel and a goddess of a coach. We be workin’ together. Ally is here to make ya work on short range. Them Mexicans don’t mind bein’ close and trading, and we had problems with dat before. Short punches, da occasional shove… we wanna be ready for inside fightin’ and blondie will help ya with dat.”

The two boxers nod.

Before the action can start, the American has a question. She speaks with authority in the face of a world champion.

Chelsea: “You are in my city and my training camp. In this ring, I’m your boss. How do you feel about that?”

The Diva replies with a cheeky smile. “I’m blessed that you chose me as your underling, Your Grace. Happy to serve!”

A beaming Chelsea’s grin turns devilish.

Chelsea: “We’re gonna have fun here.”

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Mercedes: “Alright schnitzel. Ya know yer mission. Make this uncomfortable in close and see how she works. Make her earn her stripes but ya ain’t here to beat her. Suck it up when she gives ya da business.”

Experienced in this type of setting, the blonde plays her role to perfection. She goes toe to toe with the American, shoves her around, pushes, grabs, pulls her in and totally denies her the distance she loves to throw long punches.

Chelsea’s mind is bent on nailing the assignment. She does anything required to endure and combat the German’s smothering tactics. Her best moment in the first round of action is when Ally pulls her in for an annoying clinch. The brunette remains proactive, bends down and lands both a right hook to the side and a super short uppercut to the jaw.

The Diva grunts when getting hit from both sides. “Damn. I felt that.”

Mercedes thinks: “There ain’t nuthin’ she can’t do. Nuthin’.”

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The second round features close action. Toe to toe trading, pushing and grabbing from both sides. The highlight for the German and lowlight for the American happens when Chelsea is twisting for a right hook. She overshoots while the blonde gets inside to unload a short left hook from below. Nearly a carbon copy of the signature punch that High Voltage likes to blast her opponents with!

It’s Chelsea’s turn to grunt. The red glove caught her on the chin. Pinpoint placement to shake her head.

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The boss

As we get deep into sessions, the two warriors keep working in close quarters. One of the realities of a professional training camp stands out. Chelsea is the boss in this ring and she acts like it. Alesia makes her work but gives her the chance to overcome the challenge.

The brunette has the blonde lined up for a body shot near the ropes in Round 4, leaning in to drive a left uppercut to the midsection and make Alesia gurgle.

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Mercedes says that Round 6 will be a “free style” round. Regular sparring without special instructions.

Chelsea demonstrates how she has become a formidable boxing machine in that round, especially with the switch hitting ability she has acquired in the last year. It’s not exactly switching to a southpaw stance, but pivoting to make motions that are as technically correct and as explosive to hit with both hands.

Even though she has a great defense, Alesia finds the surprise too great for her shoulder rolls to be effective in that situation. It’s worse than fighting a southpaw because you can’t even adapt to a consistent stance. When Chelsea has her cornered in the final seconds of the round, she lets the straight left fly and catches her chin for a solid impact.

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A message

Chelsea thinks: “Gonna give her a little something to think about for the future.”

The American follows up. As the Diva leans to the right in anticipation of the right hand, she makes a full-body twist to deliver it. While the defensive move is clever enough to deny a full impact, the shot on the temple still sends a message across.

A second later, the ring timer buzzes to end the action.

Mercedes: “Time! Great work, y’all! We have a lot more ahead, but this is productive.”

With hostilities over, Chelsea takes Alesia in for a sweet hug.

Chelsea: “Thanks babe. I’m a little rough in camp. Thanks for sucking it up.”

Alesia: “No worries. I know how it works and I like working with you.”

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Little knowledge

They call it a day and make it to the showers. They discuss as they scrub themselves clean.

Alesia: “How much do you know about that Juana chick?”

Chelsea: “We have info, but no video of her fights. I’m surprised that nobody put them on YouTube.”

Alesia: “Hmmm. The promoter probably filed on copyright grounds or limited the right to view outside of México. Clever.”

Chelsea: “I know she’s dangerous. One of those Mexican punchers who like to trade and make you hurt. I can’t think too much about that when I get into the ring, though. Gonna have to keep my eyes on the prize and go to war to snatch that win.”

Alesia: “Yeah. That’s how you have to think. Otherwise, it’s easy to freeze in the ring.”

Unorthodox thinking

Chelsea: “I do have one question, though.”

Alesia: “What is it?”

Chelsea: “What was your mental approach when you beat Anastasia Orlova? That’s a super dangerous woman. She’s scary.”

Alesia: “Honestly?”

Chelsea: “Yeah.”

Alesia: “My thinking was that I would beat her and become the champion, even if it were the last thing I would ever do.”

Chelsea: “You’re kidding me.”

Alesia: “No. When you’re in the ring with a Top 5 fighter or a champion, the person in front of you has the skills to do more than knock you out. That’s what you’re up against. You have to be crazy enough to accept that risk and believe in your ability to win. It is what it is.”

Chelsea: “Man.”

Alesia: “I know. But that’s our sport. To most people, boxing is just a video game. To us, it’s not.”

Mexican bruiser

Tijuana – The Mexican is having her own training camp as well.

The undefeated Juana Sánchez is not a pleasant sparring partner to have. While most human beings would quickly remark the cuteness of her face, hair and outfit, she’s all violence when she gets into the ring.

Juana likes her action in tight space, where she can let the punches flow. She doesn’t hit as fast as others, but the technique, precision and power of her shots is disheartening upon the first clean hit.

Today, Rafaela Agramonte is working with Juana. Or, rather, she’s getting worked. It takes little time for the young brunette to throw off her training partner, with what feel like brick concealed in boxing gloves. An attempt to throw the left hook in Round 2 is answered by a good pivot for Juana’s very own left hook to maul the right cheek.

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Rafaela doesn’t find the heart to stand up to the bully. She spends most of Round 3 trying to get away from Juana’s hands, which is not a very effective way to earn respect. She gets caught in a corner with 20 seconds to go. Super intimidated, she can hardly do anything to defend herself as the heavy leather flies in.

After that round, the trainer yanks Rafaela out of the ring and puts someone else in with Juana, who continues her handiwork against a better defense.

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Risky for her

After the session, Juana goes to Rafaela to say sorry for the hard punching.

Rafaela: “Don’t worry. You’re getting ready for a fight. I’m sorry for not giving you a better challenge.”

Juana: “That’s okay. If you’ve seen my fights, other opponents haven’t done any better!”

Rafaela: “Who are you up against this time?”

Juana: “We decided to import someone because many locals are ducking me. We got Chelsea Carter. Some chick from San Francisco. I saw pics of her. Hot chick with style, but she’s a typical American. No substance. She doesn’t even look strong.”

Rafaela: “How does she fight?”

Juana: “Don’t know. Don’t care. I won’t even watch videos of her. She’ll go down like all the others.”

Rafaela: “That sounds a little risky.”

Juana: “Nah. Risky for her. I bet they won’t be able to match her face with her passport photo when she crosses the border back. Haha!”

Chelsea Carter
Chelsea Carter
Former Super Lightweight world champion. A daredevil from San Francisco who follows the footsteps of her idol Alesia Schumann.
Juana Sánchez
A Mexican puncher who carries power in both hands and never backs down. Good luck if you are to face her.