Jennah Creason was set to make her professional debut Saturday, but the hype around “The Gem” will have to hold a little longer.
Many of Creason’s strongest supporters believe she will be the next superstar in women’s boxing – a chip off the block of one of her inspirations, mixed martial arts star Ronda Rousey.
Creason, of Vidalia, California, was due to fight in the early prelims of Saturday’s card at the SaveMart Center in Fresno, California, headlined by local attraction and former unified junior welterweight champion Jose Ramirez facing Rances Barthelemy. But the plan was ultimately scuttled after four opponents pulled out against Creason.
The last of the bunch, Maria Garcia, never arrived in Fresno and pulled out of the fight at the last minute.
“I took time off school for the training – this really hurts,” said a dejected Creason at the weigh-in. “This is the most heartbreaking thing for me. I’m devastated I can’t fight at home. I had friends and family who aren’t even boxing fans who bought tickets to support me.”
Creason is a senior at Redwood High School and graduates next month. She had hoped to walk into the ring before she walked across the stage as a high-school graduate.
Creason’s team consists of MMA coach Bob Cook and well-respected boxing trainer Robert Garcia. Her longtime boxing coach, Louie Gallardo of the Visalia PAL, was also going to accompany her to Saturday’s scheduled fight.
Now Creason restarts the countdown to her pro boxing debut, even as her end goal, she admits, is an MMA career.
The 18-year-old Creason recalls wanting to become a fighter when, at age 7, she and her father watched Rousey force Liz Carmouche to submit in 2013.
Although life hasn’t always been easy for Creason, who in 2021, at age 16, became the youngest inductee to the USA Unified Martial Arts Hall of Fame when she was named “Most Winning Female Competitor of the Decade,” Creason has demanded respect at every step of her journey.
“I actually enjoy the experience,” Creason told BoxingScene, “because you have to earn your spot – because not everyone is going to be able to see you can do the same thing as a man.”
Creason, a three-time USA Boxing national champion who was ranked No. 1 in her weight class for three years, won gold at the Brandenburg Cup in 2023. She won state in California Interscholastic Federation wrestling, becoming the first girl to do that in Tulare County. Also a multiple-time jiu-jitsu league winner, Creason forgets many achievements that others would gloat endlessly about.
Creason’s early opponents were bullies, and one in particular was so cruel that a security guard was stationed at her bus stop because of his antics. Creason recalled that same bully flicking her hair at a park and later pleaded with her dad to get a chance to box the bully.
“I used to carry around my gloves when I was younger,” Creason said. “I grabbed two pairs of gloves and met him right where they come out of the bus stop.”
Creason told the bully to get his mom, and that they needed to “handle this.” The fight never happened, but the legend of Creason’s toughness had begun. She also recalled her first day in the boxing gym, when she was belittled by a younger fighter.
“Coach, why is there a girl here?” the kid asked. “Girls don’t belong here – girls don’t belong in boxing.”
The bullying hit a boiling point when that same youngster shoulder-checked Creason in the gym.
“I got really upset and pushed him,” Creason said. “He went about 10 feet across the floor.”
That led to a sparring session in which Creason beat up the bully. Things were never the same again.
The 5-foot-4 Creason now looks to transcend professional sports, much in the same way Rousey did. Creason wants to be a well-rounded athlete so that she can ultimately compete in professional MMA.
“I looked up to Ronda Rousey – and hopefully younger girls can look up to me,” Creason said.
This story isn’t exactly new. Holly Holm was a decorated boxing world champion who became an icon when she knocked out Rousey. Creason noted that she also admired Holm, and especially her ability to compete in both sports.
“She’s been a four-sport athlete since she was 10 years old,” said Cook, who has worked with fighters such as UFC heavyweight champions Cain Velasquez and Daniel Cormier. “Boxing, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu and wrestling.”
Creason is working with manager Rick Mirigian on the boxing side of her career.
“Jennah will be a two-sport star and is a special fighter,” Mirigian told BoxingScene. “You don’t find ones like this often; she is a generational talent.”
Whether between the ropes, in the cage or on the mat, Creason wants to shine an increasingly brighter light on women’s combat sports. She plans to keep drawing inspiration from the accomplished and attitude-forward Rousey.
“She just kicked the door down for women fighting,” Creason said, “and I just love that.”
Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of ‘Inside The Ropes of Boxing’ (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing
