Cara Castronuova
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Cara Castronuova | |
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| Born | Cara Wu Castronuova February 6, 1980 Manhasset, New York,United States |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | Super-bantamweight |
Cara Castronuova(born February 6, 1980) is an American champion boxer, a professional sports announcer, political activist and celebrity fitness trainer. She has won twoGolden Gloveschampionships in Madison Square Garden. She was ranked #2 nationally byUSA Boxing.Castronuova also starred as one of the head celebrity trainers onSeason 11ofNBC'sThe Biggest Loser[1][2][3]and is a boxing ring announcer.
Early life[edit]
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Castronuova was born and raised inElmont, New Yorkwith three younger brothers. She began boxing at the age of five in the family garage with her father Nicholas Castronuova, who was a decoratedUnited States Marines CorpsVietnam Warveteran (Purple Heart,Bronze Star) of Italian American heritage. She also wrestled in high school and in college. She graduated fromHofstra Universitywith aBachelor of Arts degreein communications.
Her mother Rosita was a Chineseimmigrantfrom thePhilippinesand worked as an architect.
Boxing career[edit]
Castronuova began her boxing career as a youth boxing trainer. Soon, she started entering local bouts, winning her first fight in 2002 at theNY Empire State GamesinSyracuse.She also was a volunteer for a government-funded program designed to teach troubled youth the virtues of boxing and keep them off the streets.[4]
Later, while working as a personal fitness and boxing trainer at popular sports clubs in theNew York Cityarea, likeChelsea PiersandGleason's Boxing Gym,she used fighting and boxing to encourage clients to “find their warrior within.” While continuing to train clients, Castronuova kept boxing competitively, winning a pair of “Silver Gloves”in 2004, the second-place prize in the Golden Gloves competition. Determined to redeem herself, Castronuova came back one year later and won her first New York Golden Gloves championship atMadison Square Gardenin 2005 in front of a televised, capacity crowd.
Following her first Golden Gloves win, she started competing nationally and was ranked #2 in the nation by USA Boxing. She went on to place in National boxing tournaments and win numerous titles, such as the NYABC title, the Metros, and theEmpire State Games,and won her second Golden Gloves title in 2006 at Madison Square Garden. Certified as a boxing coach by theNew York State Athletic Commission,she is also a personal trainer certified byISSA (International Sports Science Association).
Personal life[edit]
Castronuova is ofChinese,Filipino,andItalianheritage. Her Italian ancestry can be traced backCastronuovo di Sant'Andreawhere her last name originated.
Her mother is fromCotabato,Philippinesand of mixed Chinese and Filipino heritage. Her ancestry is from theFujian ProvinceinSouthern China.
Her father died fromVietnam Warcauses related toAgent Orangewhen Cara was a teenager and is buried inArlington National Cemetery.
Her mother died in a car accident in 2006. These unfortunate events fueled her ambition and motivated her to become a role model and a strong foundation for her family, especially for her three younger brothers and her elderly aunt who lives with her and is disabled. She has stated “I became the 'matriarch' as the oldest child and had to step up to the plate.” “Boxing competitively taught me how important it is to never give up, no matter how hard it gets”.[citation needed]
Castronuova has been tied romantically in the past toShowtimecolor commentatorPaulie Malignaggi.[5]
Television career and appearances[edit]
Cara has trained extensively inmartial artsand other fighting techniques, which led to acting opportunities, primarily as astuntwomanand stunt coordinator. In addition, she has worked as a correspondent and fitness writer for news and boxing press outlets, and as a sports commentator in various boxing venues likeMadison Square GardenandMohegan Sun.[6]
Castronuova has learned first hand that in boxing and in life, “a comeback is important,” and that fighting mentality has served her well, professionally and personally. She was credited byNBCfor inspiring Season 11 contestants and the audience ofThe Biggest Loserto find "their fighter within" and make their own comebacks on the road to good health.[7]
She spent one season on NBC's hit showThe Biggest Loseras a head trainer oppositeJillian Michaels,Bob HarperandBrett Hoebel.
She has been featured onBravo'sTop Chef Masters.[8]
Castronuova has appeared in and voiced characters forGrand Theft Auto.[8]
She has been featured on the cover ofUSA Todayas well as on/inE!,Entertainment Tonight,TMZ,The History Channel,The New York Daily News,The New York Post,The National Enquirer,Selfmagazine,ShapemagazineandWomen's Health.
She has worked as a spokesperson forPuma[9]andEverlast Sports.[10]
Cara shot a pilot for a major production company and it is currently being shopped. She shot it with her ex-boyfriend, professional boxer andShowtimecolor commentatorPaulie Malignaggi.
Cara founded the Knockout Obesity Foundation, a501(c)(3) nonprofit organizationthat helps kids that are obese or at risk of becoming obese lose weight and get healthy by teaching them the virtues ofboxing.[11]
On October 14, 2013, Cara participated in an Everlast/Modell's sponsored event for breast cancer awareness inTimes Square.
Castronuova is a boxing andrefereeapprentice forUSA Boxing.2024The Biggest loser two chances
Castronuova is notable as one of the few female boxing ring announcers in the USA. On January 10, 2020, she announced the Press Conference Weigh-In and the undercard leading up to the historicalShowtime Championship Boxing"Herstory" matchup betweenClaressa ShieldsandIvana Habazin.
Political activism[edit]
In 2020, Castronuova has appeared onFox & Friendsand other news outlets speaking about her political movement "Liberate New York".[12]
She was recognized by PresidentDonald Trumpfor her work in political activism on hisTwitter accountbefore it was shut down.[13]
She was one of the organizers of theJustice for J6 rally,a September 18, 2021 rally in Washington, D.C. in demonstration in support of those arrested for theJanuary 6 United States Capitol attack.
She paired with the organizationLook Ahead America,its founder Matt Braynard and on behalf of both organizations they filed a formal complaint with theUnited Nations Human Rights Committeeregarding the January 6 prisoners.[14]Braynard and Castronuova also worked together to hold rallies inWashington, D.C.and in 17 states between 19 June 2021 and 2 October 2021.[15]Castronuova announced her intentions to run in the2024 Senate election in New York.
References[edit]
- ^"'Biggest Loser' Trainer Cara Castroneva Doesn't Want To Be Like Bob And Jillian ".Hollywood Life.14 March 2011.Retrieved9 February2016.
- ^"The Bobby D Show Interview with Cara Castronuova".The Bobby D Show.12 April 2011.Retrieved9 February2016.
- ^Bendix, Trish (27 May 2011)."An interview with Cara Castronuova".After Ellen.Retrieved9 February2016.
- ^"Home".caracastronuova.com.
- ^"TV personality Cara Castronuova and Paulie Malignaggi attend Star".13 April 2011.
- ^"Karperis Beats Burrell on Deguardia Show".26 March 2017.
- ^"Cara Castronuova".Green Key Management.Retrieved9 February2016.
- ^ab"Cara Castronuova".IMDb.
- ^"PUMA Trains Alongside Cara Castronuova to Launch Women's PowerCore Training Collection"(Press release).
- ^"Everlast Signs Reggie Bush and Cara Castronuova to its Roster | SGB Media Online".8 September 2011.
- ^"Knockout Obesity".
- ^"Albany rally organizer calls on Gov. Cuomo to restore civil liberties, gets Trump's attention".Fox News.17 May 2020.
- ^"Trump praises organizer of NY rally against Gov. Cuomo's lockdown orders".17 May 2020.
- ^Tillman, Zoe (September 18, 2021).""Justice For J6" Says They're Rallying For Nonviolent Offenders. Most Alleged Capitol Rioters In Jail Are Charged With Violent Crimes ".BuzzFeed News.RetrievedOctober 24,2021.
- ^Domingo, Ida (September 19, 2021)."'This is about justice': Hundreds gather near US Capitol for Justice for J6 rally ".ABC News.Archived fromthe originalon September 19, 2021.RetrievedDecember 4,2021.
- Living people
- American exercise instructors
- Participants in American reality television series
- People from Elmont, New York
- American women boxers
- Boxers from New York (state)
- 1973 births
- Super-bantamweight boxers
- American sportspeople of Filipino descent
- American sportswomen of Chinese descent
- American people of Italian descent
- Sportspeople from Nassau County, New York
- 21st-century American women
- Storm King School alumni
- American athlete-politicians
- Hofstra University alumni
- The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication alumni