(SEPT 12) Professional football, baseball and basketball players get no shortage of trading cards of themselves, even if they’re far from the stars of their teams. However, in the sport of boxing, it’s a much rarer feat. It’s hard enough for a male boxer to get a card. For a female fighter, it’s near impossible.
Jennifer Han, John Suazo, And Abie Han
One Albuquerque, New Mexico resident who appreciates gladiators of all genders is looking to change that. John Suazo, President of Zia Boxing Trading Cards, which pays tribute to retired and active pugilists from New Mexico and the southwest region, released his second set of trading cards on Saturday and two of the fighters featured are sisters Jennifer Han and Stephanie Han. Jennifer, now retired, held the IBF featherweight title for five years between 2015 and 2020, and Stephanie is the reigning WBA lightweight champion.
“It feels great to be recognized by Zia Boxing,” said Jennifer. “It’s the first set I’ve been part of.” The Han sisters hail from El Paso, Texas. They have also trained in Cruses, New Mexico under trainer Louie Burke.
Zia Boxing’s first set of boxing trading cards, released in November, did not feature any female fighters, but Suazo planned for his second set to be an all-female collection. However, it did not come to fruition.
“There were enough women, but they did not respond to my e-mails, and many were unavailable to meet with me,” he said. “We had about eight releases signed and one picture [permission] secured.”
When he reached out to the Han sisters, he didn’t run into any roadblocks.
“The Hans were easy to work with. They were excited about the cards,” said Suazo.
In addition to Jennifer and Stephanie, Zia Boxing also produced a card of their brother, Abie Han, who retired in 2018 with a record of 26-4-1 (16). His card highlights his UBF Intercontinental middleweight title win in 2014.
Even though Jennifer is a former world champion, she feels like a champ once again thanks to Zia Boxing.
“I’m so excited to be on a card,” she said. “I feel like I’m on a new level of awesomeness amongst all these great fighters.” Boxing fans were given a sneak peak of the cards on July 17 at a fight card in El Paso, two months before the second set’s official release this past Saturday.
“Jennifer made an appearance [at the El Paso County Coliseum] and signed the cards we gave out to fans,” Suazo said. “The sneak peak event was tremendous…She interacted with every fan, young and old. She made them all feel special.”
A boxing historian, Suazo said women’s boxing has a “strong following” in New Mexico, adding, “Holly and Stephanie Jaramillio had two amazing fights in the early 2000s that really lit a fuse to women’s boxing in New Mexico. When I attend fights that feature female boxers, such as Katherine Lindenmuth and Jordanne Garcia, I see the positive effect it has on the young women and female children in the audience.”
Courtesy photos: Monica Lovato
Suazo is currently working on procuring fighters for his third set of cards. He has already secured Albuquerque, NM resident and former IBA bantamweight champion Monica Lovato. Jessica Sanchez, Jordanne Garcia, Brandi Montoya, Amanda Crespin and Katherine Lindenmuthare in the mix as well.
Any New Mexico-based and southwest region fighters looking to be featured on future card sets should contact Suazo at 505-934-4481 or suaz13@gmail.com
Zia Boxing’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/zia.boxing, which debuted in December 2023 to honor and profile the New Mexico boxing scene, also features many of the existing trading cards.
Questions/Comments: kirklang@yahoo.com
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