FSOS graduate student wins Chicago’s Golden Glove Championship
You don’t normally think of graduate studies and boxing in the same way but to Reo Wang, a Family Social Science PhD graduate student, the two disciplines have a lot in common.
“Boxing the sport requires daily dedication, consistency, and a lot of mental strength, which is not unsimilar to doing a PhD,” says Wang. Her hard work paid off earlier in April as she won her bout (114lb female senior novice) during the 100th Anniversary Golden Gloves championship – the same tournament that featured prominently in the careers of boxing greats Muhammad Ali, Sonny Liston, and Joe Louis, among other Olympic athletes.
Wang picked up boxing when she started her PhD journey with Stacey Horn, FSOS Department Head and Professor (who was then chair of the Education Psychology Department at the University of Illinois, Chicago). What started out as a fun and different physical activity turned into a serious hobby.
“It quickly turned into a thing that I looked forward to everyday, so I decided to take it a bit more seriously and compete in some fights,” she says. Wang competed in the 2022 Golden Gloves tournament but and lost in the semifinals. She returned this year to take the championship.
Wang took both her graduate work and training regime very seriously –sometimes getting to the gym at 5:40 a.m. to train for three hours and then heading to the university to teach classes or work. She credits the friends she made at the Sam Colonna Boxing Club for support and inspiration.
“Boxing as a sport makes me happy, and resilient in the face of adversity,” says Wang. “The pure fact that this is a sport for underprivileged communities has really showed me how strong I can be. I am also lucky to be surrounded by strong and/or queer women in boxing. I relate to these people and they make me stronger every day.”
Interestingly enough, Wang said she found some fellow boxers in the academy at UIC, who concurred that boxing and doctoral studies are not so different.
“You do the work for years, meticulously, with a daily grind that seems insane to some people, to achieve something that fulfills you and hopefully those around you,” she says. “I had always approached my graduate work with a radical lens and wanted to advocate for those who are marginalized. Being an Asian woman in boxing makes me feel like that I too am breaking barriers outside of academia.”
Wang also credits Horn (whom she followed to the U of M to complete her doctoral studies) and fellow students for their ongoing support of her competitive boxing career – even presenting for her when the tournament and an academic conference conflicted.
“I had a wonderful time, thanks to the amazing team I have!” Wangs says.
More about Wang and Golden Gloves
“Around Town – Chicago Golden Gloves” report by WGN News.
“Golden Gloves Celebrates 100 Years of Boxing” at Block Club Chicago