SACRAMENTO, California – Former super middleweight contender Brandon “Flawless” Gonzales is now training his daughter, an amateur fighter who hopes to win a National Collegiate Boxing Association (NCBA) national title.
Ayahna Gonzales is part of Sacramento State’s Combat U program, in which student-athletes can compete against other collegiate teams. Her goal is to compete for a national title next year.
Ayahna, who competes in the women’s 139lbs division, is the first women’s boxing All-American at Sacramento State. Ayahna was in the midst of her 7 p.m. training session at her father’s gym, Flawless Boxing, in Sacramento, California, already preparing for next year, when BoxingScene caught up with her.
“I want to take gold at nationals this upcoming season,” Ayahna said. “Training with my dad and finding a deeper connection to the sport inspired me to take it more seriously.”
Previously, Ayahna had been a gymnast for 11 years. Then she spent four years playing competitive tennis. Boxing was something she had always done, but it was mostly used to cross-train her for other sports.
“It is unexpected with her wanting to pursue boxing the way that she has,” Brandon told BoxingScene. “This is a college journey. She did express that she wants to go to the Olympics eventually. We will cross that bridge when we get there at the end of her four years.”
Brandon finished his career with a record of 18-1-1 (10 KOs), his last fight coming in May 2014 against James DeGale, a loss – the only defeat of his pro career. For the past 11 years, he has focused on coaching his daughter. Ayahna is 5-3 as an amateur, and though she has a passion for the sport, her father is quick to point out that she is a biomedical science major who has ambitions of becoming a doctor.
“It is a balance since he has to play the role of coach and dad,” Ayahna said. “It has helped us connect as father and daughter, and as coach and athlete.”
Brandon says it isn’t difficult to watch his daughter compete on fight night. Ironically, sparring took a bit of an adjustment for him.
“We put her in with pretty tough girls and guys, so I probably experienced that feeling more in sparring than competition,” Brandon said of his paternal apprehensiveness. But training is all about preparing for whatever may come on fight night.
“When she steps in the ring, I know she is ready to compete.”
Austin Melendez, the president of the Sacramento State boxing club, trained beside Ayahna and explained the dedication he had seen in her. Ayahna serves as the club’s vice president.
“In just a year, it is amazing to see her focus and dedication,” Melendez told BoxingScene. “When things are starting to get serious, she just locks in and she is ready to go.”
Ayahna might be looking for a gold medal, but the process appears to be just as fulfilling as the end goal, as she bonds with her father to achieve something memorable.
“I love coming in here, and I love being with my teammates. We are all here for the same thing,” Ayahna said. “We all want to win. My ultimate goal is to win. I want to win every match. I am coming in here to see how I can get better and train harder.”
Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at .