By: Sean Crose
“I am hungry at the moment,” Sulem Urbina told me. “I haven’t eaten yet, but I’m so excited for tomorrow.” It was Tuesday afternoon. On Wednesday night, Urbina will be busy with her business – that business is professional boxing. Her opponent at Sony Hall on Broadway will be Indeya Smith, whom Urbina will face in a scheduled 8th round of super fly. This will be Urbina’s first fight in New York, which gives the 13-2-1 boxer a chance to gain new fans. “It is wonderful to be here in this state,” she said. “It was a dream come true.”
Although boxers who want to have a successful career must always look at the big picture, Urbina realizes that she must also focus on the opponent in front of her, her current opponent is Smith, “She is very strong, ‘ Urbana said of Smith. She comes forward very aggressively and she always comes to fight. Urbana also came to fight. In fact, she fights more than most boxers – or at least most notable boxers – in the contemporary fighting scene. “I’ve had about five fights this year,” she said, adding that she wants five more in 2023. In an era where the most popular fighters tend to fight. Once a year – twice at most – such ambition stands out.
What stands out, however, is how one succeeds in boxing. And indeed, Urbana likes to show off different aspects of her life on her active Twitter account. “When I fight, I am a boxer, I go there and I work,” she said, “but outside of the ring, I like to be feminine.” Urbana seems to instinctively understand that, while skill in the ring is the first and foremost thing for a fighter, the ability to be liked can also go a long way. “I think I’m just a very friendly person,” she said, a fact evidenced by the relaxed nature of our brief conversation. “I hope I get some new fans tomorrow night.”
Having been a professional athlete for over six years now, Urbana has outlasted the people who first introduced her to the sport. “I have four brothers,” she said. “I just wanted to show that I’m as tough as my brothers.” Therefore, when her siblings got into boxing, Urbana got into boxing herself. However, unlike her brothers, Urbana decided to stick with the sport for a long time. It’s a strategy that has served her quite well so far.
