Sherman teen scheduled for USA Boxing national Junior Olympics in Wichita
USA Boxing's bout sheet lists Texoma's Alauna Luper against Taliyah Rodriguez of Montana on June 24. The official June 24 bout sheet provides no result, and a claimed Grayson County first remains independently unverified.
USA Boxing scheduled Alauna Luper of Sherman to fight Taliyah Rodriguez of Billings, Montana, in the junior female 132-pound division at its national Junior Olympics and Summer Festival in Wichita, Kansas, on June 24, 2026. The organization's official bout sheet establishes Luper's scheduled entry in a tournament that drew registered boxers from 46 states. It provides no result.
The claim that Luper's appearance was a historic first for Grayson County remains independently unverified. The bout sheet lists her hometown and weight class and makes no historical claim, and no primary-source statement supporting one was located.
USA Boxing defines its junior age group as 15 to 16 years old, according to the organization's high-performance FAQ. That supports describing a junior-division entrant as a teenager, though it does not establish Luper's exact age.
USA Boxing's 2024 championship record lists Rodriguez as the intermediate female 132-pound champion, with two wins and no losses at that event.
The six-day tournament ended June 27 at Wichita's Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center, USA Boxing reported. The organization counted more than 1,180 registered boxers and 1,047 bouts, and designated the event a Tier-3 national ranking tournament, meaning its results contributed to USA Boxing rankings. Registration cost $25 for invited boxers and $50 for other competitors.
fought over six competition days at the 2026 USA Boxing Junior Olympics and Summer Festival in Wichita
More than 1,180 registered boxers representing 46 states
USA Boxing's Oct. 12 rankings for junior female 132 pounds list Rodriguez first and Luper tied for ninth. The rankings label Luper "NM," while the June bout sheet identifies Sherman, Texas, so the later listing should not be treated as independent confirmation of her residence or of Rodriguez's ranking in June. Ranking points alone do not qualify an athlete for Team USA. USA Boxing says selection depends on its most recent National Championships results and applicable selection procedures.
For North Texas comparison, USA Boxing's 2024 champions list for the same event includes Gizelle Acosta of Fort Worth in junior female 95 pounds and Angela Perez of Arlington in youth female 114 pounds. Each recorded two wins and no losses. That list shows Texas produced 34 champions in 2024, compared with 20 for California and 10 for Hawaii.
Texas led the nation in 2024 Junior Olympics champions
The chart loads when visible. All values are in the table.
USA Boxing, 2024 Junior Olympics and Summer Festival Tournament Champions list
Texas leads the field
View as a table
| Label | Champions |
|---|---|
| Texas | 34 champions |
| California | 20 champions |
| Hawaii | 10 champions |
Youth boxing programming existed in Sherman before this summer's tournament. The Boys & Girls Club of Sherman advertised a June 25, 2025, session with Andre Luper, owner of The Camp, and stated that he volunteered one hour weekly to its youth.
USA Boxing says it lifted its ban on women's boxing in October 1993 following a lawsuit by Dallas Malloy. Women's boxing entered the Olympic Games in 2012 with three weight divisions. The organization reported 59,850 members in 2023, including 42,077 boxers, and total membership exceeded its 2019 record by 18%.
Beginning November 13, 2025, USA Boxing's annual national membership cost for athletes ages 11 to 16 rose from $60 to $67.50. The organization attributed its increases to rising event-operation, insurance and staffing costs and expanded competitive opportunities.
_Editor's note: Everyone charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law._
Join the conversation