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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
Jairo Escobar, Casey Morton's full-time coach, works with her to improve strategy and learn new boxing techniques at World Class Boxing Gym in San Francisco, CA.
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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
Coach Jairo tightens Casey’s boxing glove in between a sparring session. Casey mostly trains for her boxing pro-debut at World Class Boxing Gym in San Francisco, CA.
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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
Casey is fitted with a helmet by her full-time coach, Jairo Escobar, before sparring with another female boxer at World Class Boxing Gym in San Francisco, CA.
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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
In addition to training with women, Casey also trains teenage male fighters once a week at the Community Youth Center in Concord, CA.
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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
Casey takes a short break in between a sparring session at World Class Boxing Gym in San Francisco, CA.
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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
Coach Escobar spars with Casey at Undisputed Boxing Gym in San Francisco, CA.
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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
After doing a combination of warm up exercises, Casey takes a moment to wipe sweat and listen to Coach Jairo's critiques at World Class Boxing Gym in San Francisco, CA.
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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
In preparation for her pro-debut, Casey trains on a Hypoxico breathing machine, which teaches Casey how to pace her breathing so she does not exert all of her energy at once.
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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
Casey stretches out on an exercise ball at the Undisputed Boxing Gym in San Carlos, CA. In addition to mitt-work, Casey's work-out regime includes a variety of aerobics and cardio.
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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
Casey takes a moment to re-adjust her sock, exposing her tattoo of her beloved dog Lola who still lives in Hawaii.
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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
Every Friday evening, Casey goes for a run around the track at Cezar Stadium in San Francisco, CA. The majority of Casey's free time outside the ring is doing other exercises to help her stay in shape for her pro-debut.
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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
In between sparring, Casey shares a laugh with another female fighter at Undisputed Boxing Gym. Because of Casey’s demanding training and work schedule, she has little time to socialize outside of training.
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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
Casey practices training by herself at Undisputed Boxing Gym to improve techniques and practice self-discipline for her upcoming boxing fights.
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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
Casey regularly visits a chiropractor who massages and helps realign her body in-between training.
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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
While driving to the hotel, Casey is accompanied by her partner as she discusses the details of her upcoming pro-debut fight.
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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
Casey’s final weight measurement is taken the evening before her pro-debut fight. Female boxers are often weighed multiple times before a fight. They must meet a certain weight goal in order to qualify for a fight. If they do not meet the weight, they cannot fight.
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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
To ward off hunger pains, Casey drinks large amounts of water and meal supplements after her first weigh-in for her pro-debut. Boxers are restricted to very little food and liquid intakes the day before weigh-ins so that they can make their goal weight.
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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
Casey takes a nap in between weigh-ins at her hotel room in Sacramento, CA.
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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
Some last minute eye-liner is applied before Casey leaves her hotel room to prepare for her pro-debut fight.
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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
Casey peeks through a curtain to look at the audience before being called to the ring.
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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
Casey sizes up her opponent during her pro-debut match in Sacramento, CA.
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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
Blanca Raymundo, right, delivers a punch to Casey Morton during her pro-debut fight in Sacramento, CA.
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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
Casey delivers a staggering blow to her opponent, Blanca Raymundo, during her pro-debut match in Sacramento, CA.
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© 2021 Erin Lefevre
On October 11, 2014, Casey Morton won her debut fight in Sacramento, CA, officially making her a professional female boxer.
Public Story
Fight Like a Woman
Credits:
erin lefevre
Date of Work:
01/20/14 - 10/11/14
Updated: 05/31/20
“There was once a man who went to a guru because he wanted to be great. The guru told the man to meet him at the beach the next day wearing shorts. The man showed up the next day all dressed up. The guru told the man to go walk into the water. Confused, the man walked into the water and the guru followed him. The guru grabbed the man by the head and held him underwater until he almost passed out. He pulled the man out of the water and asked him what was the first word that came to his mind. The man replied, 'air.' The guru told this man that the secret to greatness is wanting something more than you wanted air in that moment. That story kept playing through my mind because I want my dream more than I want the air that I breathe.”
The first time I met Casey Morton, I photographed one of her training sessions at World Class Boxing Gym in San Francisco, CA. Within the hour I spent photographing Casey, I became captivated by her passion for life and boxing. Growing up as an at-risk teen in Hawaii, Casey managed to flee her environment to pursue a more positive lifestyle. Casey traveled from state-to-state and put herself through college while working as a motivational speaker for at-risk teenagers, and then she finally found her love for the sport of boxing. For an entire year, Casey allowed me to photograph her journey to becoming a professional female boxer. Her decision to pursue boxing as a professional career shows that it is a long, solitary road to success. Being a woman trying to succeed in a man's sport means Casey has to work twice as hard as all of her male peers and is confronted with double the dilemmas, doubts, and hardships. Casey’s story proves that anyone can accomplish their dreams, making Casey a champion both inside and outside of the ring.