Good Sports: Sanger boxer aiming for Team USA Olympic roster spot

SANGER, Calif. (KFSN) -- At 10 years old, Alyssa Samurano conscionable wanted to container for fun.

Now astatine 18, she's trying to gain a Team USA roster spot for LA 2028.

"I'm focused connected 1 happening and 1 happening only, and that's boxing," she said.

But it wasn't ever similar that. The archetypal clip Alyssa tried boxing, she discontinue the archetypal day.

"When I archetypal went, I was the lone girl," she said.

She bounced from gym to gym and ringing to ring.

That's erstwhile her dad, Albert, stepped in.

"He started grooming me, similar helium started from the bottom," Alyssa said. "He knew nothing. He had nary boxing acquisition oregon thing similar that."

In a athletics made for one, they became a team.

"She fundamentally needed maine close there, and I needed her too," Albert said.

Dad became the manager and their backyard became the gym, until Sanger MMA became home.

"They're conscionable similar household now," Alyssa said. "Like I said, everyone present astatine the gym present is each family."

That caller situation was the propulsion she needed, and Alyssa's favourite pastime turned her into a nine-time champion.

While competitions person taken her each over, Alyssa volition participate the ringing astatine the Big Fresno Fair adjacent -- a spot wherever she got her start.

"It makes maine similar affectional due to the fact that I had my archetypal combat determination arsenic a small girl," she said.

That small miss is present ranked 2nd successful the nation, chasing USA nationals successful December, with hopes of representing the state and Sanger connected a satellite stage.

"It's not going to beryllium easy, I'll archer you that, but I cognize she has what it takes," Albert said.

For sports updates, travel Sydney Berger connected Facebook, X and Instagram.