Duarte’s Paola Arana is #2 in the Nation In Finals of USA Boxing National Championships in Denver

Duarte’s Paola Arana was defeated in the USA Boxing National Championship finals bout against Laura Ramirez of the Bronx, New York, but she still came home a winner in the eyes of her coaches and gym mates at the Duarte Youth Boxing Club.

“I’m so proud of her. She fought her little heart out and went from an unranked contender to number two in the nation,” said head coach Victor Valenzuela.

Quite an accomplishment for the five foot, 101 pound 18 year-old in her first national competition.

Arana will be honored for her achievement by the City of Duarte at the June 23 City Council Meeting at Duarte City Hall, 1600 Huntington Dr.

Arana beat Samantha Guzman of Oak Park Illinois in a 22-20 decision in the first National Championship preliminary bout at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado. Advancing to the semi-finals, she stopped opponent Sherry Sanders of Tulsa, Oklahoma in the third round, winning herself a Championship match against Ramirez for the national title. Judges scored the match 16-4, Ramirez.

Valenzuela, who has been Arana’s coach and trainer since she first started boxing at the Duarte Youth Boxing Club at the Duarte Teen Center three years ago, was there for the finals match.

“I just had to be there for her,” he said. She’s done so well.

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During the semi-final bout Valenzuela followed the blow-by-blow of the Paola’s match against Sanders by telephone.

“A friend at ringside told me everything that was happening and I would repeat the information to all the kids in the gym. It was so exciting. We were all so happy for Paola and so proud of her,” said Valenzuela.

Arana earned her spot on the team of 33 male and female boxers representing the Great West Region of Southern California and Nevada by winning the USA Boxing Southern California Championship Tournament in Pacoima, CA last January and the USA Boxing Regional Championship Tournament in Coachella Valley in February.

The Duarte High School graduate, who now attends Citrus College, said it never occurred to her that she would be competing in a national championship when she first started working out at the Duarte Youth Boxing Club.

“I just wanted to work out. Then I decided I really liked it and started to compete two years ago,” said Arana.

Her parents and two older brothers were at first surprised “that little me would do anything like that, but they are proud of what I’ve accomplished,” she said.

What’s next for the 101 pound Duarte dynamo?

Savor the experience, enjoy the success, and get back to her studies at Citrus College where her favorite subjects are English and Literature.