FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- Military spouse Tiffany "Twinkle Toes" Coussens experienced victory and defeat at the USA Boxing National Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo., July 11-17.
She defeated her first two opponents, but fell short in the fight against Caroline Barry of Fort Carson, Colo., according to her coach, Kevin Green. Coussens finished sixth in her weight class.
"I was impressed with the execution of the technical stuff," Green said. "The one thing that stood out was her conditioning. She really had to dig down in the first fight."
Coussens fought in the 132 pound amateur division at the competition. During her first fight against Jessie Owens of Virginia Beach, Va., things started to go wrong early in the match, Coussens said.
"I just wasn't performing very well at all in the first fight," Coussens said. "I was losing after the first two rounds, but I managed to come back and win. Coach Green just kept telling me to keep my hands up and that really helped to keep me in the fight."
"Twinkle Toes" managed to pull off a comeback victory with a final score of 10-9.
Her second bout against Lauren Coney of Maple Heights, Ohio, was a better experience than the first, she said. Coussens won, 13-5. Still, the fight wasn't an easy one.
"I was more focused the second night, but things still didn't start off well" Coussens said. "I got hit in the eye with an uppercut and couldn't see very well for the rest of the fight. Coach Green kept telling me to keep moving and pay attention and relax, so I was able to come out on top."
Green said Coussens' loss in the third fight was most likely due to nerves rather than the high elevation of Colorado.
"She looked good, but she was going up against somebody with a lot more experience," Green said. "We've got a lot of work to do now. She's got some down time right now, but the training never really stops."
Coussens said she isn't sure which competition she'll train for next, but she plans to keep fighting until she reaches her goal of competing in the 2012 Olympics.
"There are a few fights I'm interested in competing in, but it might be hard to get some of the amateur girls to fight me since I've fought in a higher level competition," she said.
Green said Tiara Brown of Fort Meyers, Fla., joined Coussens here for training on Sunday and plans to train with the two as Green's newest student. Brown was ranked second in the 132 pound weight class last year.
"It's going to be really good for (Coussens) because she'll be able to spar with somebody in her weight class," Green said. "They'll be training partners until 2012. We might add a little more strength training, but the overall training will stay mostly the same."
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