Transgender boxer Patricio Manuel is defiant despite suffering a knockout blow only 21 seconds into a bout in Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California.
Born Patricia Manuel, the boxer was a five-time female amateur boxing champion and even participated in the 2012 U.S. Olympic trials. However, she had to bow out due to an injury. But in 2013, Manuel began to “transition” into a male and, by 2014, had undergone full transgender surgery.
As a male boxer, Manuel has won three fights in a row, but that streak ended on April 4 when opponent Joshua Brian Reyes stepped into the ring and decked Manuel in just 21 seconds.
Manuel is defiant in a message on Instagram, saying that now is not the time to give up the ring, according to Talk Sport..
“I’m not one to hide my face no matter the outcome….I lost last night,” Manuel wrote. “I trained my a** off, had great sparring, cut no corners. But sometimes s*** doesn’t go your way. It’s a risk we all take when we step in the ring. It’s what is exciting about boxing – and also the most heartbreaking.”
