As women’s boxing slowly but surely grows in popularity, the number of women developing their careers increases. Stacia “The Natural” Suttles is part of the current generation diligently working to earn a place on high-profile fight cards.
Growing up in the Bronx, Suttles participated in Karate and Taekwondo, earning a black belt in the latter. When she went away to college, she stepped away from sports, which proved to be detrimental to her well-being.
“I knew I needed to get back into a sport because I’ve always been in one and that kept me grounded,” said Suttles, 30, who took up boxing in 2014. Over the next decade, she established a decorated amateur career, including the New York Golden Gloves (2016), four-time Team USA boxer, nine-time national and international medalist, and twice at the U.S. Olympic trials, finishing second in 2024. She turned professional last year.
“Team Combat League (TCL) is a great opportunity for women to compete at the same level as the men and make a good amount of money at the same level as the men,” said Suttles, who hopes this will lead to more professional opportunities. “I’m overwhelmed with gratitude because I’m able to display my skills, do what I love to do, get paid to do it, and at the end of the day, hopefully gain exposure.”
Now in its third season, TCL Team Boxing League teams are composed of both male and female fighters. Each boxer earns points toward a team’s total performance. TCL appears on MeritTV as well as streaming on its website, and many of the matches are on YouTube. On any given fight night, Suttles, who is with New York City Attitude, fights one or two rounds. Her next TCL fight is May 30 in Nashville.
“Outside of my own professional boxing journey, I do own my own business where I help children and adults develop social and emotional skills through boxing,” Suttles said “With that, I teach in after-school programs, summer camps, I do private coaching, and I’ve done seminars as well.”
She is a huge advocate for female boxers and women’s sports. “The biggest message that I’m trying to convey is that everyone is their own individual,” she said. “If you can pursue doing your best in whatever you want to do, you never know where it can take you.”
which is amazing under a year ag0 I was j0bless in a h0rrible ec0n0my. I thank G0d every day I was blessed with these instructi0ns and n0w its my duty t0 pay it f0rward and share it with Every0ne
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