MADISON TOWNSHIP, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A local boxer is getting national recognition, and she's still in high school. She's also the subject of an upcoming documentary set to air on Amazon Prime.
28/22 News Reporter Avery Nape met with the rising star Wednesday evening to learn more about her boxing journey and beyond.
18-year-old Olivia Ford started her boxing career roughly four years ago.
What started as an escape from personal troubles quickly evolved into a passion, which so far has led her to seven national titles and aspirations for the Olympics.
"I knew I wanted to fight, but I never knew, like, the level I would be at, and we've pretty much manifested everything we've wanted so far," Ford said.
The Western Wayne senior says she's had to sacrifice a lot to get where she is now.
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While other kids are preparing for prom or heading out to a Friday night football game, Ford is in the gym training for her next fight.
"There's just a bigger goal, and you know, if you want to achieve something you've gotta sacrifice and you've gotta put everything you've got towards it," Ford explained.
Ford's coach, Shawn McFadden, began working with her shortly after she started boxing.
He opened Cerberus Boxing, an at-home professional boxing gym, to help Ford get the training and attention she deserves.
"All of the things that a coach cannot teach, she has, and I've seen that since the first week I met her," McFadden told 28/22 News.
In 2021, McFadden's boxing journey was featured in a documentary, Fight Story.
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Now, the same filmmaker is working to share Olivia's story. They're calling it The Iron Phoenix.
"I think it's important for young girls, for young women to see her story and hopefully down the road maybe she'll inspire somebody just like Shawn, her coach, inspired her," Documentary Filmmaker John Messina stated.
While she's already accomplished so much in so little time, Ford still isn't finished.
She now has her heart set on the 2028 Olympic Games, something she says still doesn't feel real.
"I know, like, even 10-year-old me wouldn't believe it," Ford explained.
The Iron Phoenix is still in production, but the film's director says it will likely be available for streaming next summer on Amazon Prime.
