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11/02/2004 Archived Entry: "Female Iraq War veteran enters ring"
Female Iraq War veteran enters ring
U.S. Marines Boxing Team tour starts Nov. 9 in Boston
BOSTON, Mass. (November 2, 2004) - U.S. Marine Laura Barrow recently returned from active duty in Iraq. Tuesday night, November 9 she'll celebrate the U.S. Marines birthday by boxing for the U.S. Marines Boxing Team in the opening of the "Great Northeast Tour," promoted by S & L Boxing for the benefit of the U.S. Marines Scholarship Fund, at The Roxy in downtown Boston.
Members of the U.S. Marines Boxing Team will be matched against some of the best New England amateur boxers, so far, featuring representatives of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Maine.
Barrow, of Texas, is matched against Nicki Silveira, of Beverly, at 119-pounds. Two of the leading female amateur boxers in the United States have been matched in another bout. US Marine Grace Kelly, fighting out of Tacoma (WA) not Monaco, was runner-up in the 146-pound division at the 2004 US National championships. Her opponent will be New England champion (14-0) Lisa Kuronya, fighting out of the Portland (ME) Boxing Club. Kuronya is a graduate of West Chester University (PA) with a degree in environmental engineering. She is a well-known animal rights activist.
Four other matches have been made with more being completed this week (see tentative bout sheet below).
The US Marines Boxing Team "Great Northeast Tour" continues Veterans Day, Wednesday (Nov. 11) at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket (CT), and concludes Nov. 13 in Philadelphia.
Honored guests Tuesday evening at The Roxy are former boxing stars "Irish" Micky Ward and Dr. Wilbert "Skeeter" McClure. Two years ago Ward was the recepient of the inaugural Ted Williams Globe & Anchor Award, presented by the Semper Fidelis Society (group of retired U.S. Marines) to a non-Marine for his commitment and dedication to excellence that Williams demonstrated in his life, as well as the hard work and guts Ted showed as a fighter pilot.
Dr. McClure captured a gold medal winner in boxing at the 1960 Olympics. He was captain of the 1960 U.S. Boxing Team (teammate of Cassius Clay) and is the only U.S. gold-medal winning boxer also to earn a doctorate (clinical psychology).
While in the Boston area members of the U.S. Marines Boxing Team will have a private tour of Old Ironsides in Boston and be honored at a special assembly Tuesday morning (9:30, Nov. 9) at Somerville High School.
For more information about the Great Northeast Tour call 1.617.227.9332.
