A boxer who has qualified for the Olympics is facing charges for allegedly knocking out her aunt during a family gathering on the Fourth of July. This incident occurred just days after the aunt’s professional boxing debut.
Kayla Gomez, 22, reportedly got into a disagreement with a relative concerning decorations for her baby daughter’s birthday party, as detailed in a criminal complaint.
Authorities noted that Gomez, an 18-time amateur national champion who recently debuted as a professional boxer in California on June 19, physically assaulted her relative during the dispute, leading to “visible injuries.”
The aunt was knocked unconscious and was unable to recall the number of times she was hit, according to the affidavit.
Officers responded to a call at a home in Anthony, Texas, near El Paso, around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. Upon arrival, they found the aunt with a bloody lip and pain on both sides of her face. She declined hospital transport but expressed her intent to file charges.
Despite witness accounts identifying her as the attacker, Gomez denied any wrongdoing. “There are two sides to every story. I didn’t hit anyone,” she stated, according to a post by local news station KFOX14.
She characterized the aunt somewhat differently: “And she wasn’t family. She was a crazy step-aunt who attacked me on my birthday with a baby in her arms,” she claimed.
Following the incident, Gomez was arrested on suspicion of assault and taken to the El Paso County Jail. She was later released on a $2,500 bail。
On Monday, she shared a post on Instagram, showing her back at the gym, building her strength, with nearly 55,000 followers looking on.
Recognized as one of the top young boxers in El Paso, Gomez has secured a position on the 2021 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team, as reported by KFOX14.
In her honor, the City of El Paso declared May 24, 2022, as Kayla Gomez Day. Interestingly, she had taken a break from boxing to have a child before successfully winning her first professional match in California.
