First Person: Why I'm Boxing for Cancer Research, and for That Little Girl I Once Was
Did all Asian kids grow up taking some kind of martial arts? Was that actually normal, or was it just a stereotype?
I grew up in the 1990s and Hong Kong movies were a big influence. So it’s no surprise that my mom signed me up for kung fu lessons. I’m not even sure why I stopped going, just remember somehow, I quit.
Looking back, I realize that quitting became a pattern in my life.
In kindergarten, I wanted to learn the keyboard.
In elementary school, I wanted to learn how to sing.
In middle school, I wanted to learn guitar.
In high school, I wanted to learn dance.
In college, I wanted to learn design.
I was always curious. Always wanting to try something new. But every time, the same thing happened: take a few classes, get excited, and then … stop.
Maybe things got too difficult. Maybe I lost interest. Maybe no one was there to push me to keep going.
Or maybe, deep down, I never really believed I could be good at those things.
I'd wonder: “Why was I always so quick to give up?”
But sometimes life surprises. At 36 years old, I’m preparing for my first boxing fight. Yes. A boxing fight — a charity fight for cancer research. It’s been months of training, sparring, headaches, and some blood…
I get lots of double-takes.
“Can you actually box?”
“You look so weak.”
“Are you trying to kill yourself?”
They remind me of the little girl inside me, the one who always doubted herself, who never thought she was good enough, who always thought she was too old…
“Why am I starting now?”
“Everyone looks so much better.”
That voice has been with me for my entire life. “I CAN’T DO IT...”
I remember when I was 15 and wanting to learn piano again, but wondering if it was already too late. And somehow that same voice is still there.
I lost my brothers when I was little. For a very long time, I carried so many “what ifs.”
Life can change in a second. Losing people taught me how fragile, and how heavy, life can be. Sometimes, things happen that we simply can’t control.
Three years ago, I moved to Boston on my own. A new city. A new job. A new life. I found a gym close to work called Everybody Fights. What a name.
At the end of every workout, everyone shouts: “FIGHT!”
Whenever I feel frustrated at work, whenever my mind gets too loud, I go box. There’s something about boxing that quiets everything down.
For those moments, it’s just the gloves, the bag, and my breath. I feel alive!
I’ve been training for more than two months now. Am I ready? No.
But who is ever 100% ready?
Sometimes you just have to stop waiting to feel ready. This whole training camp has brought me back to that little girl who wanted to learn something new. I wish she had believed in herself more. I wish she had stayed with the things she loved. I wish she had understood that being patient doesn’t mean you’ll never be good at it.
And maybe that’s what this fight means to me.
It’s not just about boxing. It’s about finally giving myself permission to start again, to be scared, to work hard on something that I really like. Life is too short to wait.
You don’t need to have your whole life figured out right now. But just choose to keep trying .. keep going... keep fighting…
On Oct. 14, I’ll step into the ring at 36 years old, having never fought before. I’m fighting for Haymakers for Hope — with every dollar raised supporting cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
I’m fighting for the people we’ve lost. I’m fighting for the people fighting for their lives every single day. I’m fighting for you! ... And for that little me who always quit.
I’m truly grateful to everyone who's been part of this journey and supported me along the way —my coaches, teammates, organizers, and friends.
I couldn’t do this alone. Big shout-out to: Haymakers For Hope, EveryBody Fight Gym, Jason M, Matt B, Ben S, Ava C, Taylor C, Jess W, Amanda M, Rachel T, Jules K, Kasey E, Seraphina B, Johnny T, RiRi W, and many more of you!
Yang is copy editor for the Chinese section of Sampan and a regular contributor. For tickets or to make a donation to her fundraiser, go to: https://haymakersforhope.org/events/boxing/belles-of-the-brawl-2026/fighters/dd-yang-ngwl5o
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