Plant City born Chevelle “Fists of Steel” Hallback this weekend proved that age is just a number. The 52-year-old returned to the ring last weekend and beat 27-year-old Yamila “La Maquinita” Reynoso of Buenos Aires, Argentina, to claim the National Boxing Association (NBA) welterweight title.
During the heated battle, which lasted ten rounds, each fighter landed powerful blows. The judges’ scores were 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94, all in favor of Hallback by unanimous decision.
Hallback is now a seven-time world champion, winning titles in the featherweight, super featherweight, lightweight and welterweight divisions with a record of 34-9-2 with thirteen knockouts.
The win makes her the oldest fighter to win a world title championship in professional boxing, a feat that could potentially have her record featured in Guinness Book of World Records.
She was inspired to become a boxer after watching Muhammad Ali and Leon Spinks 2 battle it out for the World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight title. “I knew then I would be great at it and love it,” she said. “I knew when I started that great things would come from it and that God was going to use boxing as an avenue and a platform for me to do great things and reach people all over the world to motivate and encourage them.”
Hallback’s first big win came on March 6, 1998, when she defeated veteran Bonnie Canino to take a newly created Women’s International Boxing Federation (WIBF) Intercontinental Super Featherweight title.
Now, more than 26 years later, she continues to prove herself, in and out of the ring. “Don’t let anyone or anything, especially age, define you,” said Hallback. “If you are mentally and physically capable of doing anything you want to, then DO IT.”
For her, prayer, faith, hard work, discipline and consistency are the keys to success. “Take care of yourself, live for today and don’t stress about tomorrow because tomorrow is not promised anyways,” she said. “It’s important each of us be the best version of ourselves.”
Hallback plans to take a little time off to relax her body and mind, but just for a little while. “I’m going to see what doors open up for me,” she said.
