Town of Newburgh resident Jayshannet Zapata is the real deal. At the young age of 15, she is already a three time national boxing champion and is currently ranked top in the nation.
Zapata began training to box in 2019 at the Hook Elite Boxing Club in the City of Newburgh under the direction of owner Leonard Lee. She continued training there until the COVID pandemic began and city officials forced the business to close. It has since reopened.
After training in Newburgh for over one and a half years, she started training at the Champs Boxing Gym in New Rochelle.
When Zapata competes in events, she represents Newburgh as a community instead of her actual training facility.
Soon after she began her boxing training in 2019, Zapata competed in her first fight at the USA Boxing Metropolitan Championships. After lots of hard work, she made it to the Junior Olympics and captured the Silver Gloves in the Nationals.
Currently, Zapata is competing in the Junior Women’s Division in the USA Boxing national qualifiers. She is the top junior female boxer in the nation as an amateur fighter. USA Boxing is ranking her in two different weight divisions. She is actively enjoying a first place lead in the 101 pound division and is ranked in second place in the 119 pound division. Her current record is 27-6.
USA Boxing is the national governing body for Olympic-style boxing. It is overseen by the United States Olympic Committee and the International Boxing Association, which sets its rules.
Zapata is currently attending school in Marlboro. She is said to be doing excellent in her academic studies while she continues to train hard in boxing every day.
Her goal is to become a professional fighter.
