At just five years old, Laila Zakirova stepped into the boxing ring for the first time, and immediately fell in love with the sport. Daughter of Akmal Zakirova, a two-time kickboxing world champion and the owner of New York City's Bars Boxing Gym, Laila has always felt the weight of expectations on her shoulders.
“There is a lot of expectations I have to live up to,” she admits. “What runs in his blood runs in mine. So, I have to live up to the expectations that he is a two-time world champion, so I try to be like him when I box.”
Now, at 17, she is gearing up for the 2024 World Boxing U19 Championships, motivated not just by the desire to make her father proud, but also by her own dreams and wanting to make herself proud. Despite the pressure, Laila embraces it.
“I have been in the sport of boxing a long time now,” she explains. “With 12 years of boxing comes skill and pressure. But I’ve learned to overcome the pressure and showcase my skills to the world.”
While boxing is a significant part of her life, Laila does not just have her eyes set just boxing. With dreams of becoming a physician assistant and going to college to get her medical degree, she maintains a rigorous academic schedule alongside her boxing training.
“Balancing school and boxing is not easy,” she stated when talking about overcoming all her adversity. Zakirova enjoys school and makes sure her academic agenda is no less important than her demanding boxing schedule. Zakirova earned an impressive 4.0 GPA at Tottenville High School. When she was asked about the future, she had no hesitation that she will still be boxing and stated she has her dream set on competing at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
A typical day for Laila starts at 6:30 a.m., when she wakes up and prepares for school. After classes, she heads to her basement for cardio training, where she alternates between sprints and long-distance runs. Once her workout is finished, she completes her homework before heading to the boxing gym for training. She trains with various groups before assisting her dad in coaching the kids class. After the kids class is concluded, she trains by herself for another two hours. After a long day, she returns home to study for any upcoming tests before winding down for bed at around midnight.
Behind every champion is a strong support system, and for Laila, that is her family. Her mom, Olga, is not only her biggest supporter but also her best friend. “I tell my mom everything,” Laila shares. Their relationship is built on honesty and respect. Laila often turns to her mom for advice and is inspired by her mom’s sacrifices.
Laila’s proudest moment as a boxer was when she won the National Championship and named the most outstanding female boxer in her weight class in December 2021. She looks for a similar result as she prepares to represent Team USA on the Youth High-Performance Team at the 2024 World Boxing U19 Championships.
“I want to dominate and show the world how tough I am,” she stated. “I look up to my dad for his mental and physical toughness, and I want to show all my years of hard work and go and get that gold. I am leaving no mercy in the ring.”
Laila is ready to take on the world. “I’m going to make myself proud,” she states, embodying the spirit of a champion poised to leave her mark in the boxing ring and beyond.