Ring Sports United

Amateur boxer Alex Love is not to be trifled with. All 112 pounds of her.

"In real life, I'm super happy-go-lucky; I've never even gotten into a fight with anyone in real life before," Love said.

But when it comes to the boxing ring:

"I'll mess your body up real bad," said Love, a 21-year-old with a ponytail, a chiseled upper-body and a confident swagger that's likable, not cocky.

It's not just her jab that's powerful. It's also an unbeatable work ethic, a devotion to a six-day training schedule (one day of "active rest") and an eagerness to learn that makes her coaches cheer. It's also that special something that can't be taught.

"When I step into the ring, it's like stepping into my office. This is my place," she said.

A Monroe native and Interlake High School graduate, Love worked for the City of Bellevue's Parks and Recreation Department coaching youth sports. A basketball player in high school, boxing went from being part of her cross-training program to a serious ambition last summer, when she startled the boxing world with a grand entrance.

With less than 10 fights under her belt, she placed second at the National Golden Gloves in Florida and fourth at the USA nationals in California.

The sudden success caused a change in life plans for Love when she heard that women's boxing would be added to the roster of Olympic sports for the 2012 London Games. She put getting her bachelor's degree on hold and said bring on the challenge. Last month, Love moved to Colorado, a hub for her sport, to seek out trainers and prepare herself in hopes of making one of six spots (three who compete, three alternates) on the USA team.

She currently sports a 25-6 record.

Love's coaches agree that her secret weapon is her quick, busy footwork, speed and strong defense that makes up for her 5-foot-1 frame. As the National Examiner put it, "Alex's pressure can easily turn a boxer into a slugfest to her advantage."

The monumental decision to add women's boxing to the most elite competition came from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) last August, when it announced 36 places would be available to the world's top female fighters in three weight classes: flyweight (112lbs) lightweight (132lbs) and middleweight (165lbs).

Alex's weight division may be one of the more competitive of the three, because women who normally box at 101, 106 or 110 pounds are all trying to fit into that new category, said Mark Messer, who, along with his ex-wife, four-time world title holder, Kim Messer, coached Love at their Bellevue business Ring Sports United.

Another of Love's coaches, Deonne Hansen, said the young woman has a good chance of making it to the London games. Hansen said she's only known one other fighter who works as hard as Alex – and that's Kim, who is known as one of the most elite female fighters in the world.

In order for her to have a shot at the Olympic team, Love said she will have to place in the top four at either the Golden Gloves competition or nationals this summer. She lost in the semifinals of the Pan American Games Box-offs last month but, undaunted, she's been keeping up with her training in Colorado and continuing to make a name for herself.

Still, her biggest fans may be in Washington.

From the time Love experienced her first victories last summer, Mark warned her that this was only the beginning.

"Alex's biggest challenge may be making sure her heart doesn't jump out of her chest," he said." She's got such a fierce spirit and will over-train if we didn't reel her in once and a while."