Third-year USC law student Stephanie Wharen is set to compete in the 2015 Ringside World Championship Boxing Tournament from August 5-8, arguably one of the most important events within amateur boxing.
On the weekend of July 18, Wharen competed with teammate Jaylon Pridgeon in a Georgia boxing tournament where the two received the gold and silver medals, respectively.
Following their success in the Georgia tournament, their coach, Dominic Neal, entered the pair into the Ringside World Boxing Championship novice division.
The week-long tournament is predicted to host over 1,500 fighters and over 1,000 fights.
“This tournament will finally give me the chance to compete for a world title,” Wharen said. “It will give Jaylon those same competition opportunities as well as give him the last few fights he needs to qualify for the Olympic trials in September. [Jaylon, Dominic and I] have been working every day to be ready for this tournament.”
Wharen, 26, picked up boxing as part of her rehabilitation after spinal surgery with the help of Logan Holler, USC graduate, equestrian alumna and now-professional boxer after Holler began incorporating boxing drills into Wharen's therapy.
It was through Holler that Wharen met her current trainer, Dominic Neal of the Main Event Fitness Center, where she has been training for over two years.
As a full-time law clerk, training is even more of a commitment for Wharen, who usually trains in the early morning before work, or the evening, adding on hours of exercise to an already long day.
Wharen's routine involves a two-hour-long gym session three days a week, and two long-distance running days on top of that.
To assist the two budding boxers with acquiring sponsorships, they have set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the $2,000 or so needed to cover registration and travel expenses.
Additionally, any funds left over post-tournament will go toward Olympic trials, according to the page.
“We have been working so hard and are hungry to compete for a world title to bring back to South Carolina," Wharen said.