Alysia Magen

TNRG: How did you get into boxing?

AM: It was in 2022, which was a celebrity boxing match with Blac Chyna, I had just gotten out of detox, and I get a call asking if I wanted to step into the ring for this match... and I saw it as an opportunity,

The only problem was that I only had two months to prep and normally you need a lot of years to even be good at boxing. It’s not a natural type of sport, you can’t just pick it up, you must be consistent every day.

So, I was not nearly good enough, but now that I have put in the training and I’m with Misfits and have my first pro fight in Houston, Texas. So, no headgear this time, eight-ounce gloves, so it’s the real deal this time.

AM: Oh, there’s nothing normal about fight camp. So, I’m training twice a day. I do my strength training & sprints in the morning, but it’s important not to overtrain, particularly as I am following a very strict diet regime right now to keep my weight where it needs to be before the fight because you don’t want to cut too early.

I have boxing training at two o’clock followed by cardio, as your cardio has got to be amazing. If you don’t have cardio, you can’t box. So that’s been one of the big things for me.

TNRG: So, who have you been training with?

AM: I train with my coach, and he has a big team here in Nashville, which is amazing. It’s like a family out here. Then I’ve been training with one of the girls who is an Olympic boxer.

I have four fights lined up with them after this one. But the girl I’m fighting first, is 5’9”, I’m 5’4” and she’s a Southpaw. So, I’m training for Southpaw right now, which is totally different, but yeah, it’s interesting training for Southpaw for sure.

TNRG: What’s camp been like? Has it been very strict? Have you locked yourself away or are you still getting on with life as normal and training around that?

TNRG: Tell us about your opponent and how your training has changed?

AM: She’s been boxing for nine years, and I’ve only been doing it for about two years, and I really didn’t have the proper training until I got to Nashville. Before that I just sparred a lot and I was getting hit in the head, but none of that matters if you don’t know how to move your feet. So, I can handle the punches now, and I’m putting everything together, like how to move my head and place my feet. So much more technical, like boxing never gets boring.

You’re constantly thinking it’s just like an adrenaline rush. Every time I get in the ring, it’s like this high, cause you’re getting hit in the face, like your anxiety, no matter who you are, every time, even if it’s just sparring, you’re about to get in the ring, your anxiety is like going up, and it’s just so great. Like every time you’re done, you’re like, you know what? I overcame that, I did what I had to do, and that’s why I love boxing. Cause it’s like life, it’s going to hit you, some days are good, and some days are bad, but you got to get back up. You can’t just lay there and quit.

TNRG: How will the fight be different this time?

AM: So, it’ll be interesting for sure, but I just hope to have more matches as now I know what I’m doing, it will be better. So, the first fight I had no idea what I was doing, but the fact that I went out there and most people won’t get in the ring. People are first to criticize and say oh, they suck at this, but the fact is that anybody who gets in the ring, I give them props.

TNRG: Tell us about Misfits?

AM: I think the sport is getting a little more serious and Misfits is wanting girls who are like, fighters and not so much like cheerleaders.

TNRG: What is your motivation?

AM: I was a workaholic before I became an alcoholic. I was in the gym 24/7. You saw me bodybuilding, like I was tiny, I was like a workaholic. I had all kinds of addictions. So that’s an amazing, like for me, it’s like boxing is like beating your demons, and I had a lot of those, and with my testimony, I just want to help people that you’re not stuck with your addiction.

I just want to use my story to really help others because there are a lot of people hurting.

Now I do things because I want to help people. I want to help people with my testimony. That’s why I box. That’s why I do the things I do.

TNRG: What attracted you to Box for Misfits rather than perhaps going into a different federation or going the more traditional route?

AM: They reached out to me, and they really wanted me on their team. And I think they do a great job putting on a show. I went to London, and I saw the KSI fight with Joe Fournier, and I just really liked the community and Mams is great.

TNRG: So, we’ve got a couple of fun questions for you. First one is if you could train with anybody alive or from the past, who would that be?

AM: Oh, interesting one. Gosh, this is a good question. Muhammad Ali.

TNRG: What’s your favourite cheat meal if you have one?

AM: Oh, my goodness, I’m such a foodie, I love food, obviously. I think if you’re in the fitness or if you’re an athlete, you’re just like, food is your second love. Gosh, I love cookies.

TNRG: If you could choose any actress to play you in a film, who would that be?

AM: Ooh. What’s the one who did wonder woman? Gal Gadot, yeah.

by Alysia Magen

Air Force Veteran and Boxer