Transgender boxer wins in historic pro debut Patricio Manuel made boxing history on Saturday night, becoming the first transgender male to fight professionally in the United States. Manuel, 34, beat Hugo Aguilar by unanimous decision in Indio, Calif., on a Golden Boy Boxing fight card. Afterward, as he heard
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some detractors in the unprecedented decision. audience, Manuel vowed to continue fighting, and That led to a pair of try to win them over. amateur fights — he won the first in a three-round “I hear some fans aren’t decision, and lost the happy, it’s OK, I’ll be second — before his pro back. I’ll make them debut on Saturday night. happy then”, Manuel said during his in-ring Fresh off the win over interview. Aguilar, Manuel insisted he’s looking to a future Manuel began his in the ring. transition to male shortly after being “I’m not in here just eliminated in the 2012 for one show, for one US Olympic Trials, fight”, he said. “This is having withdrawn after something I love. I’m not one fight with an injury. done with this sport. I’ll be back”. He eventually convinced the California Boxing — Field Level Media Commission to approve an amateur licence, after (eile.ie 11 December 2018) it had hesitated with the
