When Eileen Miyoko Olszewski moved to New York from her native Honolulu in 1992, boxing was not even on her radar. For most of her life she had trained to be a classical dancer, so that was how she was determined to make a living. 

Her natural beauty and immense athleticism landed her a job with the Knick City Dancers, where she danced regularly and performed stunt work during New York Knicks basketball games at Madison Square Garden. That job was a dream come true for the soft-spoken and deeply spiritual Olszewski.

In the late nineties, however, Olszewski embarked on a new quest. She was introduced to competitive boxing through her husband Matthew, an undefeated professional kick boxer who now has a 26-0 record. To this day, Eileen is amazed at how quickly she took to the sweet science.

“It was a new horizon for me, a new chapter in my life,” said Olszewski. “I liked the fact that it was humbling in the beginning. Boxing kept me balanced and spiritually grounded.” 

After engaging in her first amateur bout in August 2000, Olszewski’s career roared forward at a breakneck pace. She became a three-time New York City Golden Gloves champion, a three-time national amateur champion, and a Pan American Games titlist.

She turned pro in November 2006 with a four round decision over Kimberly Torres at the Monticello Raceway in upstate New York. She followed that up with a six round decision over once-beaten Noriko Kariya in Manhattan three months later. 

With a current professional record of 2-0, she aligned herself with the well-connected David Selwyn, who became her manager in March. 

“Eileen is a genuine blue chip prospect,” said Selwyn. “I am very excited to be involved with her. If any female boxer can become a mainstream star, it is Eileen. She has everything it takes to become a well-respected champion.”

Selwyn says that Olszewski explained to him that she had become disgruntled with her work as a Knicks City Dancer. After so many years rooting for other athletes, she felt it was time that people began rooting for her. It was her turn to be in the spotlight. 

Selwyn realizes that female boxing is still trying to find an audience in America, but is enormously popular in Germany where it is not unusual for two major stars, native born flyweight titlist Regina Halmich, 52-1-1 (16 KOS), and undefeated 19-year-old sensation Susianna Kentikian, 16-0 (13 KOS), who was born in Armenia, to draw well over 10,000 fans. 

“The Germans have a much greater appreciation for women boxers and pure boxing in general than Americans do,” said Selwyn. “I want to develop Eileen to the point where she can challenge either of these great fighters. Looking good against them is important, but emerging from the fight the victor is even more important.”    

Olszewski has always defied convention, and continues to do so as she embarks on a second career in the world’s toughest vocation. She and her husband, who live on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, are also in-demand personal trainers who work with clients from early in the morning until late in the evening.

If ever Olszewski is too tired to train, all she needs to do is think of her father Ronald, who serves as her spiritual muse. He still lives in Hawaii where he has been battling Parkinson’s disease for 20 years. Although no longer able to speak verbally to his daughter, he speaks to her through the positive influence he had on her throughout her childhood.

“He means so much to me,” said Olszewski. “When I was a child, we would watch the fights together: Sugar Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali, Boom Boom Mancini. That was something we were able to share. Even though I never saw myself as a boxer back then, I think that was when the seed was planted. It’s funny how things come full circle.”

Olszewski is already ranked third in the NABF, where female championship coordinator Jill Diamond describes her as “a gem” and in the top-ten at super flyweight. Another person who sees her marching toward a long and illustrious title reign is six-time world champion Emile Griffith. 

“She is something,” said Griffith. “You can’t keep your eyes off of her because she is a beautiful woman and a beautiful boxer. She is one of the best woman boxers that I’ve ever seen. She is a star in the making.”

You can learn more about Olszewski at her web site: www.miyoko-k-o.com