theGrio

Main menu

Skip to primary content
Skip to secondary content
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Living
    • Health
  • Inspiration
    • Good News
  • Entertainment
    • Music
    • The Dish
  • News
    • Education
    • Sports
    • Black History

News

  • thanksgiving-travel-16x9.jpg

    Holiday safety tips

  • Meagan Good

    Good staying celibate

  • obama-and-choom-gang-16x9

    Obama's pot history

  • 2) I Am Legend (2007): In arguably one of his greatest dramatic performances, Smith held the screen virtually all by himself for most of this apocalyptic thriller's running time. He plays a military scientist who may or may not be the last man on the planet.  A scary good time at the movies.

    Will Smith's top 10 films

Florida woman sets sights on Olympics

by theGrio | August 16, 2011 at 5:57 PM
Comments
Print
femaleboxerflorida.jpg

A Florida boxer has her eyes set on the Summer Olympic Games next year in London. “I should be competing for the United States. That’s the plan. USA team number one!” says 32 year old Ishika “Isis” Lay.

She wants to be one of three U-S women to head to London next year where, for the first time, women’s boxing will be an Olympic event.Lay is getting ready for an October tournament in Ohio.

If she wins in her 132 pound weight class, then she’ll go to the Olympic Box-offs in February. A win there will send her to the Games.

Lay trains up to three times a day at Headstrong Gym in Jacksonville Beach. She works the heavy bag, speed bag and her sparring partners are men.

Her strategy in the ring?

“I’m going to use my athleticism. I’m gonna keep on moving. I use my strength on top of that. I’ve competed in a heavier weight class and dominated there,” she says.

Lay’s trainer, Sonny Cummings, says Lay is one of the top female boxers he knows and says she has what it takes to make it to the Olympics. “This girl can fight guys. I seen her fight the Lopez boys. They are well known Olympic quality. I’ve seen her drop them right here in this gym,” says Cummings.

Lay almost never got the chance to box. In 2002 a motorcycle accident in Jacksonville left her in a wheelchair for seven months.

Her coach and chiropractor, Linda Banister, helped her rehabilitate. “She wasn’t going to be disabled by that accident. That wasn’t in her world of possibility. So she did what she needed to do,” says Banister.

Filed in: News, Sports, Top Stories, Video | Related Topics: Boxer, Headstrong Gym, Indiana, Ishika Lay, Jacksonville Beach, Linda Banister, Olympics, Sonny Cummings
  • Top Stories in News

    • Slideshow: The 15 best dunkers in NBA history Slideshow: The 15 best dunkers in NBA history
    • The noose makes a comeback The noose makes a comeback
    • Hidden WWII film could aid today’s vets Hidden WWII film could aid today’s vets
    • Serena Williams says sister Venus is ‘inspiring’ Serena Williams says sister Venus is ‘inspiring’
    • ‘Man with 30 kids’ actually has 24
    • Rape conviction overturned: Now what?
    • Marvin Winans’ license suspended when carjacked
    • DNA study seeks origin of Appalachia’s African-Americans
  • New Stories on theGrio

    • How Harry Truman desegregated the military How Harry Truman desegregated the military
    • How WWII vets helped lead the civil rights fight How WWII vets helped lead the civil rights fight
    • Rangel on black America’s truest heroes Rangel on black America’s truest heroes
    • Remembering America’s black war heroes Remembering America’s black war heroes
    • Beyoncé performs for first lady, Malia and Sasha
    • Rape conviction overturned: Now what?
    • Rap Genius: Top 5 rap lyrics of the week
    • Hidden WWII film could aid today’s vets
  • LIKE TheGrio

  • Hot on Facebook

  • Category Cloud

    Atlanta Black History Business Chicago Detroit Education Entertainment Health Inspiration Living Los Angeles Miami Money News New York Opinion Philadelphia Politics Reviews Service and Activism Slideshow Sports TheGrio's 100 TheGrio's 100 Women Top Stories Travel and Leisure Video Washington DC
  • More from theGrio

More Stories on theGrio

Top News

Politics

  • In this Jan. 23, 1942 black-and-white file photo, Major James A. Ellison, left, returns the salute of Mac Ross of Dayton, Ohio, as he inspects the cadets at the Basic and Advanced Flying School for Negro Air Corps Cadets at the Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Ala. Sixty years after President Truman desegregated the military, senior black officers are still rare, particularly among the highest ranks. (AP Photo/U.S. Army Signal Corps, File)

    Rangel on black America's truest heroes

  • Obama honors veterans during Memorial Day weekend

  • Woman claims she dressed like Obama for Berlusconi

  • Florida voters support 'Stand Your Ground' law

» Read More in Politics

Business

  • © olly - Fotolia.com

    Black Enterprise celebrates largest black companies

  • Facebook unveils Instagram rival

  • Donna Summer album sales up 3,277 percent

  • 5 resources for black entrepreneurs

» Read More in Business

Living

  • thanksgiving-travel-16x9.jpg

    Holiday safety tips

  • Good staying celibate

  • School to distribute condoms at prom

  • 'He tucks me in,' first lady says of president

» Read More in Living

Inspiration

  • 20120528-003600.jpg

    How Harry Truman desegregated the military

  • How WWII vets helped lead the civil rights fight

  • Remembering America's black war heroes

  • Tuskegee Airman grants b'day wish

» Read More in Inspiration

Entertainment

  • In this Friday May 25, 2012 photo provided by Parkwood Entertainment, Beyonce performs at Revel in Atlantic City, N.J., for the resort's premiere. (AP Photo/Parkwood Entertainment, Robin Harper)

    Beyoncé performs for first lady, Malia and Sasha

  • Rap Genius: Top 5 rap lyrics of the week

  • 50 Cent endorses marrige equality

  • Meet the breakout star of 'Battleship'

» Read More in Entertainment

News

  • This May 24, 2012 file photo shows Brian Banks reacting in court after his rape conviction was dismissed in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

    Rape conviction overturned: Now what?

  • Hidden WWII film could aid today's vets

  • Kyrie Irving poses as 'Uncle Drew' in new Pepsi ad

  • Backlash against African migrants in Israel

» Read More in News

Main menu

Skip to primary content
Skip to secondary content
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Living
  • Inspiration
  • Entertainment
  • News
  • Help
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with TheGrio
  • About
©2011 NBCUniversal
Powered by WordPress.com VIP