School of Hard Knocks

Sonya Lamonakis, is a 36-year-old elementary school teacher in Harlem who moonlights as a professional boxer. Despite her humble attitude and constant referral to her sport as a “hobby,” Lamonakis is a top-five-rated female heavyweight who is being groomed for a title shot. She’ll be in action against GiGi Jackson April 16 on the undercard of the Andre Berto-Victor Ortiz fight at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn., but she took time to speak to espnW from a back office at Gleason’s Gym after finishing two hours of training, which came after a full day’s work in the classroom.

Read the full interview from ESPN.