ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Algeria Johnson, a 22-year-old amateur boxer from Rochester, has become a two-time National Golden Gloves champion. She recently won the title in Detroit, after winning in 2023 in Philadelphia.

Johnson said she’s proud of herself for winning the championship a second time.

“A lot of times when people win one time a lot of people think they can’t come back and do it again,” she said.

Johnson has been training mentally and physically for the past eight years.

“Every day I come here, and try to work on the things I need to improve. My skills, my technique, and [I] added things to my two-box as well.”

Johnson said she is sharpening up so that she is not a one-dimensional fighter.

At the age of 15, Johnson was the only girl on the wrestling team and the first female on the football team. Faced with adversity, her mom signed her up for boxing classes as therapy. The moment she stepped into the gym, she knew it was for her.

“I knew that if I love fighting I would probably be dead or in jail,” Johnson said. “Boxing was the sport that was always for me. This is what I gravitated towards and was obsessed with.”

Johnson honed her boxing skills, training three to four hours Monday through Friday. She quickly advanced from level one to level three, where she could spar and fight. At 5’4″ and 146 lbs, this elite-class fighter has a powerful punch.

“Boxing is mostly a mental sport so you can be tough as you want but if your mental ain’t right and you ain’t mentally tough, you know it can take a toll on you,” Johnson said.

Johnson has hopes to one day be a world champion and Olympian.

“I know I can do it. This is only just the beginning,” she said. “I’m never satisfied, I want more. I’m trying to reach that level of greatness.”

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