Amaiya Zafar is back!

Amaiya Zafar wins big at the 3rd Annual Sugar Bert Boxing National Championship this past Sunday in Orlando, Florida. 18-year-old, Amaiya is a women’s flyweight champion who also is the first Muslim to box competitively in the U.S. wearing a hijab.

 The young woman from Minnesota made boxing history last year when she, along with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, successfully petitioned USA Boxing, the national governing body, to lift its ban on wearing a hijab in the ring. Zafar was disqualified from the championship event two years ago due to USA Boxing’s ban on wearing religious headgear in the ring, but now is able to fight wearing her hijab and clothing covering her arms and legs.

 Amaiya will continue training in preparation to compete in the 2020 Olympics. Orlando Sports Mag would like to commend the Sugar Bert Committee for setting equality standards for every single person that would like to fight in their events. Its a huge step forward and the right attitude to have! See you at the next event.

Photos by Lester Silva @LSBoxing