Female Pro Boxer & Her Coach Blast USA Boxing Transgender Policy: 'Isn't Right'

In 2023, USA Boxing announced a new transgender policy that allows males who have undergone sex reassignment surgery – and maintain a specific testosterone level – to compete in women's boxing. 

Sarah Cunningham, a professional boxer in Michigan, told OutKick that she was upset when the organization made the decision that would ultimately allow males to fight females in the ring. 

"A male has a different body structure, bone structure, and muscle structure… and that's what gives them an advantage," Cunningham, who is also a registered nurse and sports dietitian, said.

"Having them come over and take over women's sports…  [even if] they've had surgery, it still doesn't make it right." 

Cunningham stressed that she has no issues with people identifying how they choose, if it makes them happy. But she said that despite having empathy for transgender people, allowing them to compete in women's sports is wrong. 

"If you think you're another gender, I really don't care. I'm all for being happy, everybody deserves happiness," she said. "But in terms of competing and boxing, and going from male into female, that's a different story because your body is different. It doesn't have anything to do with what you have underneath your clothes." 

One of the major issues with the USA Boxing policy is that the organization is not obligated to tell women that they might be matched against a male. That's something to which Cunningham's coach, Jeff Watters, strongly objected. 

"My biggest question [for USA Boxing] is would I be notified if one of my girls was about to fight, essentially, a guy? I don't mean to sound insensitive, but if my girl was going to have to fight a guy, would I be told ahead of time because I'm not good with it and I