Latest / Between The Rounds Official / Jaysha Zapata | The Unshakable Confidence of a Team USA Champion
Transcript
- Sarah: What's up everyone. Welcome back to Between the Rounds. I'm your host, Sarah Cunningham, and I am so pumped for this episode. Today, I'm sitting down with someone I really admire in boxing. Her name is Jayshia Zapata. And when I say she's been putting in the work, I really mean it. She's a multiple national title champion and now is absolutely crushing it at the elite level and has just made the 2026 USA Boxing High Performance Squad. Now I've had the pleasure of being in the company of Jayshia during national I've even got to share some rounds with her in prep for my first ⁓ tournament in Ireland earlier last year. And I've watched firsthand her up title after ⁓ title. ⁓ So this conversation, it's real, it's no fluff. It's about her journey. So Jayshia, first off. Congratulations on making the Team USA squad. It was a month long selection camp in Colorado and that's just wrapped, right? So how are you feeling since the dust has settled? Talk me through a little bit about that. Jaysha: Thank you. ⁓ It was fun. The work was definitely hard. Especially being at like 6,000 elevation. But I would say it was fun ⁓ and was challenging. Like it made everyone push themselves like the hardest. And I'd say definitely developed me ⁓ in a way. So yeah. Sarah: That's awesome. That's awesome. in terms of like, what really hit the hardest? No, I don't mean the punches in terms of like all the work that you're putting in, but like every single day, ⁓ evaluation. What was that like for a month long? What did that feel like? Jaysha: Um, it was like, I'd say probably the running, like strength and conditioning. I'd say that kicked my ass. Um, mostly because like it was so much running and like we were already dead. The sprints were insane. I'd say that's, that's my biggest enemy. The sprints, uh, he made us run 150 meters about 12 times and Sarah: In one session. Jaysha: Yeah, one session. It was 150 meters 12 times and because I guess somebody in like the group missed the cone at the end, he made us like redo it twice. So yeah, I think that was probably the most challenging, but I still liked it because I know at the end of the day I was getting the work I needed and my air was just only getting up, you know, getting full capacity on these lungs. Sarah: ⁓ my gosh. Yeah. Was it like, it takes a couple of days to adjust to the altitude there, Were you fine after a couple of days or did you feel it throughout the full month, really? Jaysha: Yeah, for sure. Well, the first couple of days I got there, like the first day, there's no elevator. So you have to like bring your suitcase up the stairs. And I was on the third floor. So just even walking up the stairs to the third floor, you're already gassing out. And that's how you know the elevation is real. But I feel like it definitely did get better like throughout the days, because especially because you were doing four minute rounds. So the only thing you could do is push yourself. Sarah: You Yeah. Yeah. Jaysha: pretty much that's it. yeah, and with all the running and stuff, I feel like definitely did help. Sarah: I'd say you're in peak shape now, ready for what's to come. That's awesome. So can you paint a picture a little bit of what your typical day looked like there? So you wake up, obviously used to train. Like what was the general rhythm of the day? Walk us through a little bit of that. Jaysha: Yeah. So basically we had a weigh-in by seven. So I would wake up around, yeah, every day. Yeah. So I would wake up like around six in the morning. I would go weigh in, then send the text message to the coach where I was at. I would go back and sleep. And then we had strength and conditioning at about 8.15. And so... Sarah: Every day you get to win. ⁓ Okay. So you only really had a quick cheeky nap, that's all, before you were back in. Okay. Jaysha: Yeah. basically every class you have to be there 15 minutes before. So I would be there by eight. ⁓ would do strength and conditioning. Every day was ⁓ So we did strength and conditioning. And it would be like circuits for strength, squats, pull-ups, push-ups, stuff like that. And running, whether it was like... Sarah: Wow. Jaysha: 30 minute run or sprints and stuff like that or the aerosol bike which I hate. Then after that Sarah: I hate the air bike too, but I love it. You know what I mean? It's like one of those things that you're like, you know, what's good for you. And you're like, got it. I just embrace it. Yeah. Jaysha: Yeah, it's a love and hate relationship. Yeah, I hate it so much. But yeah, then after that, we would go ⁓ after that basically. Then we would have a next session, I believe at one. A lot of times we did have meetings at like 11. So we had to go to meetings, but yeah. So would just shower in between. ⁓ Sarah: Yeah. Thank you. Jaysha: then get ready for my next session that was at one, which was like school of boxing. We basically like did our stretches, like our dynamic stretch or whatever, boxed or the footwork drills. Then after that we would do a boxing practice, which would be like bag work or tech tag ⁓ or, you that kind of stuff. then. Sarah: kid. Right. So you had like a block of boxing every day and that kind of rotated between partner drills versus bag work versus pad work. And that's all that's after you've done your strength and conditioning and or ⁓ my God. Jaysha: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, in the morning. Sarah: You'd almost wish that you were starting with the boxing and like you had your full focus because you're I mean, it's a good thing, though, because you typically like in a fight, you're going to get tired. And so you have to be able to kind of push through that. Yeah. Jaysha: Yeah. Yeah, it'll only make us stronger. Yeah. And so the minutes were four minute rounds and then sometimes you would end off with like jump rope, shadow boxing. One time they made us do 200 flutter kicks, which was insane, but we got through it as a whole. yeah. Sarah: That's amazing. mean, yeah. I set my 30 second timer and I'm struggling with the flutter kicks for 30 seconds. I can't even imagine doing 200. So that is awesome. That is awesome. Were there ever any moments that clicked with you during that time of like, okay, I belong here. Or was there ever any moments of doubt creeping in? Like how did you kind of overcome some of those things? Jaysha: That's so real. I don't think I ever had any moments of doubt just like starting off like I just I just knew I did belong there Especially like Thank you, thank you But like especially sparring like some of the very good people there like Jenny and stuff like that It like very fun very competitive but Sarah: We knew you belonged there too, so we were so thrilled that you got the selection in. We're like, yes, let's go, J-Chef. Yeah. Jaysha: Like I knew I belonged there, just being able to get in there with them and finish off the rounds. Sarah: Amazing, amazing. So you talking about belonging and actually, you know, makes me think about how fast this has all moved for you, there was a time you had basketball in your life starting out, right? What actually happened there? Like what flipped? I think I saw something around basketball being in your life. Is that a thing? Jaysha: Well, I did. I did used to play it, like when I was younger. I wasn't on a team or anything, but I would just play it all the time. And I did want to be on the team, like a school team or something, but I never did. Sarah: Okay. Okay. Okay. And then boxing, right? You got in what flipped there, what actually happened with choosing boxing. Jaysha: Yeah. Basically, my dad, did boxing. that always a part of my life because he would always go to the gym and I'd be there watching him. And so when I got older, I would watch videos like Yesel and Silva and Juan O'Walton. Because they were big at the time, always making videos and stuff. And I was watching them. And then I was begging my dad to start boxing. Sarah: Yeah. Jaysha: And he was like, no, you're not ready for it. Like I would beg him. And then he just brought me to the gym one day. He said, I want to put you to spar with these two boys. If you do go with them, then you could start. And that's how I started. Sarah: Did you knock them with your body shots? Listen, guys, I've seen, I was gonna say, I've seen Jaysha clean tournaments with just dropping people with body shots, like fight after fight after fight. And you're like, who is this girl? Jaysha: Of course I did. like the second rope dropping the to the body. Sarah: good. Okay, so you've dominated youth nationals title after title, but the elites are different, right? Right. They're bigger, stronger, grown women. And like you said, being in, ⁓ camp with those, it's different. What for you during that? Obviously you've talked about kind of the, the month long in Colorado, but just in terms of like mental aspect and ⁓ preparation that, can you, can you share a little bit around that? Youth, youth into elite. Yeah. Jaysha: Yeah. like between Eli and you. So basically like going into ELITE, I was like, this is definitely going to be harder because it's grown women now. I'm not fighting girls my age, or at least I thought it was going to be harder. And when I went into it, basically when I went into it, Sarah: You were just built for this, Jason. Let's period. Jaysha: I was excited because I've always waited to be elite. Even when I first started, I would always watch the elites and be like, damn, this actually looks pretty easy compared to us. I think it just shows the level because I have to fight so many grown women that's already in their full body. ⁓ And feel like going in there ⁓ and them. Sarah: Yeah. Jaysha: is just like proving a point in a way. yeah. And I feel like elite for me is easier than youth was. I don't know. Sarah: 100%. That's great. So can you break that down a little? I'm curious. Because I didn't obviously come up through the youth program at all. I'm curious on your insights in that. Jaysha: Yeah. I'd definitely say you've, it wasn't ⁓ challenging. Like it was, but it wasn't that challenging. I like there probably wasn't. ⁓ Sarah: I can't wait till you get into the internationals. This is going to be brilliant. Jaysha: I feel like there wasn't really much girls in the youth compared to how many girls there is in the elite. I feel like what makes the elite easier than the youth, I'd say is probably my ego. I like getting in there, I'm thinking like my opponent is probably thinking like, I really had to fight this little girl. So then like, I'm in my head like. Sarah: Right. Yeah. Jaysha: Yeah, she probably thinks she's gonna beat me, but she's not. I think it's more like an ego thing. So I kind of go in there thinking like, yeah. Sarah: Yeah. Well, it's confidence, right? Like, cause I think if you, have to come in with confidence first in what we do, because if you don't have confidence like that, you're, you're already giving up and you've already quit on yourself or you're already exactly, exactly. Jaysha: Yeah. Yeah, they're already doubting herself. Yeah. And I feel like in youth, I was just fighting girls my age, you know? And I was just like, okay, just another day. Like, I'm just gonna go in there and do what I do best. But like, in elite, I feel like a more competitive, like, kind of nature. So I'm like, yeah, like, it's really on. Yeah. Sarah: Yeah. You're ready for this. Yeah. Well, I want to get into the mental side a little bit with you because I do see you being so cool, calm and collected all the time, right? Nothing really rattles you. And so like you're just saying, I was about to ask you like, is that real or is it, are you really good at hiding things? Like have there ever been moments of nervousness or like jitters and things like that that come up for you and how do you handle that if that happens? Jaysha: I don't think there's ever been I think probably just once but it was because I had woke up with a really bad like stuffy nose and my throat was hurting and it was finals and I was like damn like how am I gonna breathe through this fight and I was like more nervous for that part cuz my nose was stuffy my throat was hurting I was like damn I think I'm gonna die out in this fight but Sarah: Yeah. Jaysha: Honestly, I just had some amino acids and I might, I don't know what happened, but my lungs were like the best they've ever been. And I was even breathing heavy in the corner. Yeah. I just had a lot of tea with honey and did some pushups beforehand. Yeah. Sarah: Amazing. That's so good. You probably had some nasal spray and that just opened up your lungs and you're like, ⁓ my God, I'm good. Amazing. There's your secret guys. Love that. The sugar fix. That's all you need. So the flip side then of your inner voice, there is a lot of confidence there. So what does it actually say to you? like You've got opposite. talk me through like things that that inner voice says to you. Jaysha: Yeah. I think that if you start doubting yourself, that's a first step to failure. So I think even if you don't like really believe that you will, you should still always tell yourself that you will because ⁓ only lifting yourself up because you could only do it. Like so many people can believe in yourself, but you have to believe in yourself before anyone else does. If you don't believe in yourself, I feel like Sarah: Okay. Jaysha: Anyone that does believe in you, that's really no use. Sarah: Yeah. The magic you're looking for is in the belief in yourself for sure. Yeah. Okay. Talk me through fight week a little bit. I've obviously experienced what it's like being around you in fight week, but walk me through it. What's your routine? know, ⁓ you an individual who has headphones in your ears all the time? Are you joking around the hotel? Talk me through a little bit on fight week for you. Jaysha: is within yourself, yeah. So basically fight week, it's pretty chill. Like I'll wake up early. I'll do my workout early. So ⁓ do like a bit of jump rope, some shadow boxing. I might do a sprint or two. That's pretty much it. Then other than that, like I won't just block out everyone ⁓ and just music on because I feel like that's not. ⁓ Sarah: Thank Jaysha: a great way to prepare yourself mentally. So instead of doing that, I'll just go around, talk to my friends, hang out, stuff like that. I feel like that's a better way because now you're by yourself and in your thoughts, you're going to be thinking about the fight. If you're talking to your friends and hanging out, you're not thinking about it until when the time does come. Sarah: Right. I think it's to have a good understanding of context of that. Thank you for having me. You're ready. You're locked in. Do you do any sort of visualisation and prep again, maybe as you're transitioning more into the elite side of things, because it sounds like the youths was pretty easy for you. Do you do any visualisation or what does that kind of prep work look like? Jaysha: Yeah. feel like I don't really do that. I feel like I'm just more in my head thinking like, yeah, like I'm going to win. Nobody's better than me. Like kind of like that more like my inner self speaking to me. And then I always have my dad that's always in my ear also telling me the same thing. Like no one's better than you. Like you're going to win this. Like, you know, kind of uplifting me. Sarah: Yeah. That's awesome. Yeah, the combo of you both being around, like even I found that, that I was like, I want, there was one fight where your dad did myths with me to warm me up and I was like, I need this energy. I love it. I love it. And I do have one question to ask you about your mascot. Can you tell us a little bit about him and how it came about? Jaysha: Yeah. Yeah, so basically, last women's championship, my dad had bought him for me and he him to me. ⁓ He's obviously of rainbows. So I call him gay monkey. Ever since, not right now. I should have, I should have. He's resting right now. Sarah: So cute. Do you have him? Do you have him with you? No, okay. No, no, it's okay. We'll, got a big, big few months ahead. Yeah. ⁓ Jaysha: Yeah, he does. So basically, my dad brought him to me and I had finals the next day. I won the finals I had the monkey on me like the whole like tournament for like the rest of that tournament. So that I said I should like bring him to every tournament now. And so then I started to bring him to every tournament. And ever since I got him, I didn't lose not once. So I said, you know what, this is my good luck monkey. So he's going everywhere with me. Sarah: So good. So good, It's awesome. when you think about kind of future, and obviously younger girls are watching you now, does that feel different or how do you think about that and being like this influence to the younger generation? Jaysha: I feel like that's a reason to push more because I want to show them what work gets you and ⁓ also a space for them. Sarah: Love that, love that. Look, I know Katie Taylor is one of your favorites, myself. ⁓ do you love about her ⁓ are there things that you've tried to incorporate ⁓ her style into yours? Jaysha: She's the number one. So I love her humbleness because she's always so humble. It doesn't matter who she's going to fight. She always stays humble. She doesn't talk shit. Queen Katie for the win. Sarah: did see her talk a little bit of shit in the last for her trilogy fight and I was like, I kind of like this. ⁓ Jaysha: She did, yeah. But she was clearing. I didn't like it because after Amanda talking shit for the three fights, she finally said something and she was clearing her. And I'm like, yes, queen. But I love the way she boxes because when she starts boxing, she like goes into like a ⁓ state and really can't be stopped just boxing anyone. Sarah: You Yeah, love it. Jaysha: I feel like when she was kind of going like punch for punch with Katie, it didn't look as good as when she was boxing. And I feel like her boxing is just amazing in her ring movement. Sarah: Yeah. Yeah, it's one of those things where it might not be as exciting to the casual boxing fan, right? But she is so disciplined and so skillful in what she does and she knows how to win fights and it's, yeah, it's beautiful to watch. Jaysha: Yeah. Yeah, you don't have to go killing yourself to have to win a fight. You can win it easily. Sarah: Exactly. Yes. Like Jay, she sits back and she's waiting for you. She's luring you in and she just pops that uppercut, that left hook and you're like, ⁓ damn, I walked straight into that. Anyone else that you're watching in the pros right now that you're excited for? Jaysha: haha That's a Katie Taylor move. love watching, Clarissa as well. I feel like she's also another one of those boxers that a lot of people don't like watching as much because she doesn't throw herself out. But I feel like the way she boxes, like she boxes so ⁓ beautifully. she'll, ⁓ yeah, jab is crazy. ⁓ Yeah. Sarah: Yeah, that jab. We call it the T-Rex jab. Jaysha: But I feel like she boxes so smoothly and beautiful and I feel like ⁓ she doesn't have to throw herself out to have to win. a lot of the people miss that point that they just want to see ⁓ girls going at each other the whole time. It doesn't have to be that way. Sarah: Yeah. No, it's a short lived career if that's the type of fights that you want to take. know, to get them wrong from time to time, it's exciting for sure. I actually love when you see pockets like Ellie Scotney will be one where she, I think she'll be in your weight class where she, you know, gives you pockets of fireworks, but then comes disciplined again into boxing of like, I've given you a little bit of excitement, but I'm staying disciplined to win this fight. Yeah. Yeah. Jaysha: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. like Alicia she'll do the same thing too she'll come in burst and then like come out and box you for a bit yeah Sarah: Yeah, that's so good. Okay, question for you. If someone offered you a pro contract tomorrow, what would your gut say? Jaysha: would say not at the moment. Yeah. Yeah. Only because I have like these international fights coming up ⁓ I feel like that's a goal for me. Yeah. Sarah: Yeah. Love it. And yeah, I think you taking this step too. I think we were all really excited that you were leaning into another chapter of the amateur world getting that international experience because that's going to stand to you long term. ⁓ to say like someone like an Eddie Hearn dream promoter or MVP promotions, like what that looks like in the future for you will be so exciting. But ⁓ truly believe that you're on the right path right now as well. Yeah, yeah. Jaysha: Yeah. Yeah. And it definitely developed me to... Yeah. Sarah: Let me go back a little bit on, cause I wanna talk to you a little bit about, you know, when you're exhausted in a fight and you're in deep waters and you're trying to kind of navigate through that. And then obviously the coaching and the long-term partnership with your dad, kind of what's the dynamic that plays out there and can you kind of share a little bit of how you guys work through situations where there's deep waters? Jaysha: So if I'm ever in a situation, he'll basically like, he yell at me or anything in the corner. He'll talk me calmly and he'll basically be like, you have to pick it up. Like you're losing this round. Like if you don't do this, you're going to lose. Like, and he'll basically just tell me what I have to do and tell me that I don't pick it up, ⁓ I'm just going to Yeah. Sarah: That's great. Just like you, cool, common, collected. Here's the deal. Here's direct information. You gotta pick this up. Here's the things you need to work on. ⁓ Jaysha: Yeah except he's a lot more animated in the corner. Sarah: a good energy. He is a good energy. ⁓ you've got GB coming up in April. ⁓ what happens between now and then? What's one thing that you're locked in on between now and that tournament? Jaysha: Yeah, yeah. Yeah. I think I'm just locked in on working out and doing the same thing. I feel like I have all the tools already. I just think I just have to keep ⁓ doing same thing and keeping myself sharper ready for it. Sarah: I'm excited for you, Jayshia. This is going to be epic. ⁓ And then you've Eid at Hoven, the end of May then as well. So it's like a short window between ⁓ the two tournaments, Jaysha: Yeah. Thank you. Yeah, I don't know when it is. I mean, I don't know which one it is exactly, but I know it's in the Netherlands. Sarah: Yeah, Okay, what's something people see about your journey? Something that doesn't make Instagram and doesn't make the highlight Reels? Is there anything that you can share? Jaysha: I think probably like the weight cutting or just the amount of hard work. Cause my gym is in Rochelle. And so I don't go to that gym to work out. I only go to spa and I feel like that's what people don't see. Cause I do have like a shed behind my house and that's where I have my gym and like. Sarah: Wow, Cheshire, I didn't even know this. Wow. You're really living the Katie Taylor lifestyle, I'm telling you. Yeah. Jaysha: Yeah, and it's a tiny space. I am, yeah. She works out of her garage. I feel like a lot of people don't see that, like the hard work being put in because like even for December Nationals, it was snowing outside every day, like raining, all kinds of stuff. And I was still outside working out. I just bundled up, went outside, worked out in any condition, rain, snow, ⁓ it was. Sarah: you've really, really signed up for this and all in with it. ⁓ I love to it. And you know, ⁓ I'm here for chapter of your journey in boxing. So I thank you for joining me today. So this is exactly why I started Between the Rounds. It's the stuff between the rounds, the grinds that nobody claps for, the things that people don't see. ⁓ And I'm so of you. And thank you so much for this and thank you for joining and sharing your story. So everybody go follow Jasia's supporter journey. Jaysha: Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Sarah: LA is coming and her future in the pros will be electric. So we'll see you on the next episode.