Two local youths have put Newburgh on the map once again after individually taking home the gold in the USA Boxing National Championships. The week-long competition was recently held in Lubbock, Texas.
Jayshannet Zapata, a 15 year-old girl from the Town of Newburgh, is once again a local celebrity. Zapata defeated Journey Figueroa from Waipahu, Hawaii in the Youth Female 114 Pound Division championship match to earn the national title in her division. The win came after a 5-0 decision by the judges.
Prior to reaching this year’s national championships, Zapata was already a three-time national winner. She has competed in the Junior Olympics and previously captured the Silver Gloves in the Nationals.
Prior to this year’s championship title, Zapata won the Junior Women’s Division of the USA Boxing national qualifiers. As an amateur fighter, she was ranked the top junior female boxer in the country.
Zapata is also mastering her academic studies as a student in the Marlboro School District. She began training to box in 2019 at the Newburgh Hook Elite Boxing Club in the City of Newburgh. When the City of Newburgh forced it to shut down during the COVID pandemic, she began training at the Champs Boxing Gym in New Rochelle. The Newburgh Hook Elite Boxing Club has since reopened.
Ja’sir Junior, a teenage boy from the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, is also a national champion. Junior took home the gold in the Youth Male 106 Pound Division championship match.
Junior competed in three matches leading up to his national win. He started off the championships by defeating Tashad Thomas, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with a 5-0 judges’ decision. The next day, Junior went on to secure a victory over Donavan Correa of Waianae, Hawaii, in a 5-0 decision. Junior captured the national championship title in a win over Emmet Villapando of Weslaco, Texas, with a 5-0 decision by the judges.
Prior to heading into the championships, Junior ranked second in the nation in his weight division as of August 4, 2022.
Last year, Junior won gold and silver medals at the USA Boxing Championships and Junior Olympics held over the summer. He also attends the Newburgh Hook Elite Boxing Club.
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.
