From the positive side of boxing – the Ashley Landa story
Everybody’s been talking about this young lady and now they’re reading about her. Local gal makes good by winning the Iowa State Golden Gloves Championship. A local magazine in Clinton, IA has Ashley Landa on the cover of their latest issue.
Too often we hear only the negative side of boxing. About the boxer who ended up in custody after beating up his estranged wife or something stupid that a boxer said about another boxer or the current riff between the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions and it’s President. The haters enjoy seeing heads roll. Well, here’s a tale that’s positive, coming out of middle America from The Clinton Herald, Clinton, Iowa, read and enjoy.
May 31, 2014
Knocking out the competition By Samantha Pidde, Herald Staff Writer
Growing up watching boxing with her father and grandpa, Ashley Landa (Vasquez) never expected to take up the sport. Now dubbed the “Punching Princess” by her family, friends, and fans, Landa is the current Iowa Golden Gloves champion in her weight class.
Ashley started boxing three years ago after she attended a local gym to get in shape. A female mixed martial arts competitor was training at that time and her group asked Ashley to work with her to hone her skills.
“I had never really boxed anyone before,” Ashley said. “And within 30 seconds, I knocked her out with a body shot.”
After boxing with the MMA fighter, Ashley became more involved in the sport. Her entire family became involved with it, with her brother Jorge and sister Eliza also competing. The rest of her family, including her mother and father, helped her form the Delsol Boxing Club, which meets every weekday evening.
“The more I pursued it (boxing), the more I fell in love with it,” Ashley said.
After winning the Golden Gloves during early April in Des Moines, Ashley has been training every day for the National Championships, to be held from July 7 to July 11 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“When I found out I was Golden Gloves champion, it was kind of like winning the Olympics I guess,” Ashley said.
Her days begin at four a.m., so she can train. They end late in the afternoon or evening after she trains some more with her father and the children participating in the Delsol Boxing Club. Having always been interested in teaching, Ashley enjoys working with the children and teaching them how to box.
“I love seeing that look on their face when they get it,” Ashley said.
She also is on the board of the non-profit organization Against the Ropes, which is working to turn the former Elijah Buell Elementary School into an athletic facility.
“She has big goals and big aspirations. So I’m definitely behind her 100 percent,” said Jorge Landa Rodriguez, Ashley’s father. “I think the fact that her goals and aspirations are to make sure everybody has goals and aspirations, that’s commendable.”
Samantha Pidde can be contacted at samanthapidde@clintonherald.com.
Schoolmates have been known to tease Ashley Landa (r) about how she resembles the actress Angelina Jolie. Personally, I see no resemblance whatsoever. Liar!! The uncanny physical similarities: the straight brown hair, full rosy lips, pale skin, defined eyebrows and similar cheekbones.
The differences: Jolie’s natural hair color is dark blonde. Her mother dyed it dark brown when she was five and she’s kept it dark ever since. In total, Jolie has been tattooed fourteen times. Landa is pristine, unmarked. Growing up, Jolie didn’t like being hugged. Ashley Landa is a big hugger. On Wednesday, June 4, 2014, Jolie celebrated her 39th birthday. Ashley is just 16, still a teenager.
How good a boxer is Ashley? How tough is she? Could she defeat the Lara Croft who appeared in the movie Tomb Raider? Since she’ll be participating in the Golden Gloves National Championships in July in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, you can head down that way and see for yourself.
According to her folks, Ashley and her friends are very enterprising. They know what it’s like to earn money the hard way. Back on May 17th, Ashley and fellow boxers from her gym worked throughout the day at a car wash fundraiser.
Ashley’s online solicitation stated: “CAR WASH” today 10 to 2. Let us wash your car and support your local boxing club at the same time. I’ll be the one with a big grin on my face since the weather is finally nice, yeah! Stop by and say hi. Show your Luv for the “Del Sol Boxing Club”…SUPER WASH – North 2nd Street, Clinton, Iowa.”
(top, left) Ashley Landa poses for a photo with her dad, Jorge Landa Rodriguez. Who’s kidding who Pop? We can all see that your daughter is prettier than Angelina Jolie. Prediction: It won’t be long before Hollywood will come to call, especially after all the articles that have been written.
Since 18-year-old India Eisley (bottom, left) has been cast to play a young Angelina Jolie in the upcoming Disney movie Maleficent, we were advised to add her photo plus (top, left) a photo of WCK Muay Thai Champion Lena Ovchynnikova of Ukraine. All three have similar features.
Updated photos of Ashley Landa of the Del Sol Boxing Club, Clinton, Iowa, as of 4-22-18. USA Amateur Boxing Club Member.
Clinton, Iowa: population 26,647+ sits on the easternmost section of Iowa along the banks of the majestic Mississippi River. Clinton’s claim to fame: “There are so many things to do…with a river view!” (top, right) We see the river view from Lookout Point at Eagle Point Park. Below is the Clinton Marina with its Candlelight Inn Marina Restaurant also on the banks of the wide Mississippi.
It appears Clinton, Iowa is a great place to raise a family. It’s certainly worked out well for the Landa household.
