World boxing champion Tiny Tina with her WBC title, which she won for the first time in 2018 in a fight against Yokasta Valle. © Manuel Buschendorf/Siegfried Kerpf
Professional boxer Tiny Tina (30) loves the tough fight. At the end of March, she suffered her first defeat and gave up the WBC world title. At the same time, the Augsburg native works as a teacher.
Augsburg – 1.52 meters and 48 kilos: Tiny Tina (30) has been boxing since she was a young girl. She started kickboxing at the age of twelve, and the martial arts immediately captivated her. However, she quickly realized that classic boxing was more fun for her. "In kickboxing, I fought semi-contact, there was a stop after every punch and you can't hit hard," explains Tina Rupprecht in an interview with Merkur.de. "It wasn't mine at all, because I always wanted to go all out," she says with a laugh. At the age of 14, she moved to the Haan Boxing Club, where she still fights with her trainer Alexander Haan. And with success.
Tiny Tina defended her WBC world title for five years - until the fight in the USA
After seven professional fights, the Augsburg native got her first chance at the World Cup in 2018. The then 25-year-old prevailed over Yokasta Valle from Costa Rica and won the coveted WBC title in her weight class. She successfully defended this year after year. Until March 25, 2023. After ten rounds, Rupprecht (Tiny Tina) lost 90 to 100 points in the fight against the American Seniesa Estrada (Super Bad) in the USA.
It's tough in the ring: Tiny Tina fighting Yokasta Valle from Costa Rica. © Siegfried Kerpf
"Of course I was very disappointed, I think every athlete always wants to win," Rupprecht revealed after the bitter defeat. "There are days when you just lose, that's just as much a part of it, you have to learn that." It was their biggest fight to date, in front of over 10,000 spectators.
The atmosphere in the arena in Fresno (California) was "mega". "When I got out of the ring, the audience cheered and clapped," says Rupprecht. And this despite the fact that most fans kept their fingers crossed for the local hero. "You take a lot from a fight like this and come back stronger."
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Family supports Augsburg woman in professional sports
Grandma, grandpa, mom and her partner and her boyfriend traveled to the USA to support her. The professional boxer had trained for the fight for eight to ten weeks, after which she took a break.
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In the meantime, Rupprecht can make a living from professional sports, but only with the help of sponsors. It is an arduous business. "People always think you're in the ring and then get a fat fee, but that's not the case." One must co-finance the struggles. She would like to see a greater interest in boxing in Germany.
Professional boxer from Augsburg is also a teacher: "Yes, I'm also smaller than my students"
Until 2018, Rupprecht studied primary school teaching in Augsburg with sports as a major in addition to her athletic career. She currently works two days a week as a sports teacher at a secondary school in Augsburg. Her students are very enthusiastic about their teacher's professional boxing career. "After the U.S. fight, they made a poster for me and everyone clapped when I came," says Rupprecht. Sometimes they also tell her that they saw them yesterday on TV or in the newspaper. At 1.52 meters, the Augsburg native is shorter than most of her students. "Among the 5th graders, there are still a few that I excel at."
She owes her nom de guerre, Tiny Tina, to a WBC supervisor. He called her Tiny Tina in an article and years later she was also addressed by that name at the WBC convention. But the name also fits her perfectly, because she is always asked about her size. "Oh you little one, and you're boxing, you don't look like that, you can't even imagine," she heard more than once. It doesn't bother them. If you don't believe her right away, she shows her biceps or says: "Google me".
Former world boxing champion Tiny Tina loves to be in the ring
Rupprecht's eyes glow when she talks about boxing. "What I love most about it is the direct fight, I love the direct counterpart, the one-on-one, that you are alone in the ring and measure yourself." Anyone who has ever stood in the ring would confirm the indescribable feeling to her. In addition to her passion, it is also a kind of personal development. She has learned a lot about herself through the sport: "Whether it's going beyond your limits or dealing with emotions or having respect for your opponent."
"My boyfriend always says he doesn't recognize me in the ring because I'm completely different." In her private life, Rupprecht is in need of harmony, and she does not like quarrels and conflicts. In the ring, she loves it when things get tough, when things get aggressive. "That's such a switch with me, as soon as the fight is over, I'm the sweet, dear Tina again." When Rupprecht is not boxing, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, or transplanting her allotment.
Tiny Tiny talks about injuries during the fight: "Wow, something broke"
Martial arts are not harmless. Her family is still afraid for her when she steps into the ring. "Swelling or a black eye is quite normal after the fight," explains the former boxing world champion. "But I've also had cuts before." So lacerations on the head. Once it was so deep that it had to be stitched with six stitches. Rupprecht felt the pain and thought to himself: "Wow, something has broken."
Her "cutman" had dripped adrenaline on her wound during the ring break, because it stops the bleeding. However, the cut was too deep and was pulled even further apart by Rupprecht's braided braids. "Tina, I have to cut your braid now," he finally said to her. Rupprecht therefore suffered a hole in his hair from the fight. "Those are the sacrifices you have to make." After all, despite a laceration, she was able to continue fighting – and winning. (tkip)
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