Event was a knockout

Downtown Richmond buzzed with activity last week as visitors with red, white and blue lanyards filled the streets as the city hosted the USA Boxing National Championships for the first time.

The event, held Dec. 16–21 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, attracted nearly 1,000 boxers nationwide, all competing for national titles. The championships also marked the start of the qualification process for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Among the hopefuls were Richmond-area standout boxers Isaiah Rodriguez (101 pounds, age 10), Nathaniel Hogan (95 pounds, age 11), and Nnajai Wright (198+ pounds, age 17). Joining them was Texas native Kayla Moore (176+ pounds, age 17), who now lives in Disputanta and trains with Wright at Ninth Dimension.

A deep sense of support permeated the Richmond-area boxing community throughout the competition, particularly near the coaches' entrance at the convention center.

On Thursday, Rodriguez, who trains with Richmond Boxing Club, and Hogan, who trains with Cherry Pick'd Boxing, warmed up in a routine comprised of punches, jabs and laughter. The camaraderie between the two boxers mirrored the friendship of their coaches, Ian Patterson and Tony Cherry.

Patterson recalled Rodriguez's first competitive fight earlier this year: "Isaiah's first fight, I couldn't make it myself, so Tony went with him. That's how we roll."

The same kind of support extended to the stands. During Rodriguez's fight, his family and friends screamed his name, cheering as the 10-year-old defeated Michigan's Es'Jay Hill. Between rounds, Patterson and Cherry offered water and tactical advice from the sidelines.

Rodriguez already has won three national titles. He started boxing two years ago, and his father, Carlos, initially worried about him taking punches. However, Patterson's guidance and Rodriguez's growth eased his concerns.

"Any parent is going to be nervous because their kid is getting hit, but he showed me I don't need to be nervous anymore," Carlos said. "When he's in the gym, his coach is his dad."

On Friday afternoon, Wright took to the ring to cheers from fans holding signs that read, "Richmond, Virginia for Nnajai." His grandmother, Deirdre Aleem, who co-founded Ninth Dimension, handed the signs to attendees seated directly in front of Ring 1.

Wright was born into a family of fighters. His uncles, Moshea and Immanuwel Aleem, are national titleholders, and his mother, Keyonna, remembered attending their fights while pregnant with him.

"When Nnajai was born, he'd be in his carrier, hanging out at the gym with his uncles," Keyonna said.

Wright's grandmother added that his fighting style reflects a mix of his uncles' approaches.

"My two sons fight differently, and Nnajai got both of that mixture," Deirdre said. "He brings it every time. I think he remembers sitting back here and watching them."

For young boxers such as Rodriguez, Hogan, Wright and Moore, boxing offers more than titles. Coach Cherry emphasized how the sport builds confidence, discipline and resilience.

"Boxing is a reflection of life because it's about making adjustments," Cherry said. "The guy you fight today is nothing like the guy you fought yesterday, so you have to deal with what's in front of you."

Cherry also said that coaching challenges him to be intentional. "Every single boxer has different needs, so it's our job to identify them and train them accordingly," he said.

For Moore, a heavyweight fighter at Ninth Dimension, the male-dominated nature of boxing can feel isolating, but she channels that feeling into motivation.

"It's lonely sometimes, but it feels good because it's like, 'Nobody else is doing all this,'" Moore said.

Born in El Paso, Texas, Moore initially wanted to try kickboxing with her siblings. They signed up at Ninth Dimension, and she has been dedicated ever since. Not even the 70-minute "turn and burn" drive from Disputanta to Richmond for training has stopped her.

At the end of the competition on Saturday, USA Boxing announced 37 champions in the Youth and Elite divisions. Wright and Moore were among the Youth boxers who earned national titles, bringing pride to Richmond's tight-knit boxing community.

Julia Mouketo(804)[email protected] @juliamouketo on X