9-Year-Old Female Boxer In New Jersey Training For Golden Gloves

HACKENSACK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A 9-year-old boxer is turning heads in New Jersey as she trains for the Golden Gloves.

Jesselyn Silva has been boxing since she was 7 after her father took up the sport to lose weight. After she begged to put on a pair of gloves, her gift was undeniable.

"I just like the sport. When my dad asks, 'Do you want to go to the gym?' I always say, 'Yes,'" Jesselyn told CBS2's Hazel Sanchez.

Pedro Silva, Jesselyn's father, told CBS2 that he was "surprised" at his daughter's talent.

"I noticed when she started picking things up quicker than me," he said. "So I was … surprised"

The 74-pound phenom works out for nearly two hours a day, four days a week. Since there aren't many female boxers her age, she usually spars with older boys.

Jesselyn has only had one sanctioned fight so far. Her championship belt hangs in the Bergen Police Athletic League boxing gym where she trains.

"When I won my first match [it] felt so good when they put up my hand because it was like my first match and I won and I'm undefeated, but it's only one fight. I can't wait for my next fight," she told CBS2.

Jesselyn is now training for the Golden Gloves in March. Don Somerville, her coach and a former professional boxer with nearly 30 years of experience, told CBS2 that he's never seen a talent with Jesselyn's discipline at this age.

"I don't ask her to do anything twice. She's done, she's right on me, 'Coach, what do I do next?' So she has that desire to be different and that's the uniqueness of 9 years old to want to be different now. She has that work ethic," Somerville told CBS2.

Jesselyn realizes that even though she's young, she's a role model to a lot of girls.

"Yeah, I know. I have a lot of little girls follow me on Instagram and it feels good that I'm inspiring a lot of girls," she told CBS2.

Jesselyn is hoping to compete in the 2024 Olympics, and she also wants to become a lawyer.