Dreads pushed back under her purple cap, headphones tucked in, 28-year-old Tiara Brown quietly works through her daily routine among the group of men and young boys at the gym in Washington, D.C.
“As a woman, they say, you have to go the extra mile. As a woman in a male-dominant sport, you have to go the extra 10 miles,” she says after breezing through six miles on the treadmill.
Brown began her journey in the ring at age 13 in her home town of Fort Myers, Fla. In 2012, she became the third U.S. boxer, male or female, to win a world title at the International Boxing Association World Championships.
She made her pro debut in 2016 and has maintained a 4-0 record, her opponents backing down before their fights, nervous of her left hook to the body and her two-KO record.
It’s not uncommon to find her training in the empty gym on Friday nights, or after attending Sunday service at the Suitland Road Church of Christ in Maryland.
When she’s not training, she’s patrolling Southeast D.C. as Officer Brown. In a neighborhood better known for street violence and armed assault, she has built friendly relationships with residents who regularly approach her for a quick chat during the day.
“Crime is everywhere; the world is so tainted for the youth. I want to make a difference and clean the streets up,” she said.
She signs her text messages with “They shall walk and not faint,” a phrase from Isaiah 40:31.
“It’s about patience. Giving yourself to God knowing that with faith, he will carry you only if you believe in yourself,” she said.
Carrying others is her most valued goal, serving as inspiration for youths and future boxing generations.
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