

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Sixteen-year-old Mackenzie Hatfield, a sophomore at Excelsior Springs High School, notched her second consecutive national boxing championship on Friday, March 15th, 2024. Competing in the USA Boxing National Open championship in the Youth Female 165 lb. division, Hatfield defeated her opponent from Las Cruces, NM, at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Despite the opponent’s home crowd advantage, Hatfield secured a unanimous decision victory after three rounds, with all five judges scoring the bout in her favor.
This win follows her Silver Gloves National Championship victory in February, further establishing Hatfield’s rise in the sport. Her next challenge will be at the National Junior Olympics tournament in June in Wichita, KS where she’ll face a familiar opponent.
Currently ranked #2 in the nation for her weight class and age group, Hatfield is eyeing the top spot. She previously defeated the #1 ranked youth boxer in her class, Olivia Ford, in the Silver Gloves competition. Hatfield will face off against Ford once again at the Junior Olympics in Wichita, and with a win she will likely ascend to #1 in the rankings.
Hatfield’s journey into boxing began with her desire to try something new and fun. Upon seeing an ad for Dayan Knight Boxing Gym in Kearney, she decided to try boxing and instantly fell in love with the sport. “It makes me feel powerful and strong… and it’s just fun! It looks scary but like that adrenaline rush… it’s so much fun,” Hatfield said.
The young boxer credits her coach, Courtney Epperson, at ATG in Independence, MO, for much of her success, highlighting his focus on fundamentals and technique. Hatfield said her family has also been a cornerstone of her support system, with her parents and older brother Caleb offering unwavering encouragement. Her achievements in boxing have brought her closer to her family and also helped her improve her discipline and focus, both in and out of the ring.
Although she took a week off of school to travel to the tournament, Hatfield has been able to balance her boxing commitments with her education. With the support of her teachers and family she was able to keep up on her school work and maintain her her straight A grades.
Beyond her immediate goals, Hatfield aspires to one day qualify for the Olympics. She acknowledged the challenging path ahead, filled with qualifiers and tournaments, but said it’s her “main goal.” Mackenzie also said she hopes she can be an inspiration for others to try boxing. “There are so many positive things… it helps with stress, depression, and focus,” she said, encouraging those interested to explore the sport.


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