Women ready to spar in Lake County charity boxing event

LAKE COUNTY – Several fierce females will be featured in Friday's Badges vs. Bad Guys boxing event at the Libertyville Sports Complex, including Chicago Golden Gloves champion Cayleigh Holland of Mundelein.

It was only last summer that the 23-year-old, who now ranks 4-0 as an amateur boxer, began taking boxing lessons at the Lake County Athletic & Boxing Club with coach Larry Lentz.

“I was kind of going through a hard time. I wasn’t able to lose weight. I was stuck in school and couldn’t find anything that was inspiring to me anymore,” Holland said.

Holland tried kickboxing but said it didn’t click. Some friends suggested boxing, which was when Holland was introduced to Lentz, who has been coaching for more than 20 years.

With a pre-boxing weight of 190 pounds and no previous athletic experience, the challenge was on for Holland and her coach.

“It was extremely hard to fit in. I was overweight, not good at running ... couldn’t do pull-ups," Holland said. "I’d get so discouraged."

Despite her struggles, Holland discovered she loved boxing and was determined to succeed.

“Something about it kept me going. I wanted this so bad and trained as hard as I could to reach my goal," Holland said. "It gave me such an empowering feeling.”

Holland trained five days each week and participated in a strenuous boot camp several hours per day. In eight months, she had lost nearly 50 pounds.

Getting in the ring

With Lentz’s encouragement and training, Holland won her first match as an amateur boxer in January.

“It was the biggest experience of my life. I knew it was where I was supposed to be,” said Holland, who won her second match in February and third at the Wisconsin Golden Gloves.

Holland then set her sights on competing in the Chicago Golden Gloves, a prestigious tournament started in 1923 that boasts the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali as one of its champion title holders.

On April 10, Holland won the Senior Novice Division for the 147-pound female weight class.

Had someone asked Lentz on first day of meeting Holland if he thought she could be a Golden Gloves champion, he would’ve said “absolutely not.”

“She never played a sport in her life, never was athletic. After a few months of training her, I knew she could do it,” Lentz said. “I’ve never had someone work so hard and so diligently listen and do what I say. I got her at the right time. It really is inspiring.”

Holland said she plans to continue boxing and competing in more bouts – maybe even going pro, adding it's "very heartwarming" to know she's a role model among young girls and women who have heard her story and watched her compete.

"It gives me courage to go out in the world and say I can fight my own battles," Holland said.

A new experience

Holland won’t be the only inspirational woman getting in the ring for Friday’s Badges vs. Bad Guys charity boxing event.

Mundelein Police Officer Sarah Ruffolo, who was recently appointed school resource officer at Mundelein High School, will spar with Mundelein resident Michele Van Arsdale, who is a school social worker in Lake Zurich School District 95.

Ruffolo has been training at least two days a week since January. She decided to participate in the boxing event at the suggestion of Lentz, who had enlisted other Mundelein police and fire personnel.

“I’m always for getting involved in the community and getting some exercise is always beneficial too,” she said. “I’m excited. It’s a great experience. It’s all in good fun.”

Van Arsdale said she started taking boxing lessons with Lentz last September “with no intention of ever getting into the ring.”

Lentz convinced Van Arsdale to go out on a limb and challenge herself by participating in the charity event.

Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran, Mundelein Mayor Steve Lentz, actor Joel Wasserman and Chicago Golden Gloves heavyweight champion Brandon Lawson, among others, are also set to box Friday.

Attendees can meet professional boxer Nick Asberry and participate in a live auction to be held in the ring between bouts.

Proceeds from the Badges vs. Bad Guys event will help cover the cost of enrolling at-risk Mundelein High School students in the Lake County Athletic & Boxing Club’s youth boxing program.

If you go:

Badges vs. Bad Guys

Where: Libertyville Sports Complex, 1950 N. Highway 45, Libertyville

When: May 1 (6 p.m. cocktails and 7:30 p.m. bouts)

Cost/Info: Tickets are $30 at the door. Call Larry at 847-345-5666 or email larrylentz@hotmail.com for advance tickets. Eight-seat tables are $750 (front row) and include dinner. Dress is business casual.