Yokasta Valle is a five-time World Boxing Champion in both in both the International Boxing Federation and the World Boxing Organization—but the fight she is most passionate about takes place beyond the ropes where she uses the power of her punch to knock out hate.
Born in Nicaragua before migrating to Costa Rica, Yokasta has suffered of discrimination both as a migrant and as a woman in a sport dominated by men. “There were always people who told me, ‘You’re never going to make it.’ But those words just served as fuel for me to say, ‘Okay, I’m going to show you otherwise.’”
Yokasta recently signed on to be a United Nations Costa Rica champion and met with the UN’s Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide. “Yokasta Valle is not only a boxer in the ring but also a fighter for human rights,” said Special Advisor Alice Nderitu.
