Catching up with Suzana Griffin during her busy day as owner of SRG Boxing & Personal Training and La Jefa Promotions boxing company is inspiring. Her strong presence paired with her welcoming personality fills a room with palpable energy, and the story of how she became Indiana’s First Female Boxing Promoter leaves one feeling incredibly motivated.
Suzana didn’t consider herself an athlete as a kid – in fact, she didn’t even necessarily like exercising. The summer after her freshman year of college, Suzana felt a strong pull toward learning women’s self-defense – a means to protect herself from harmful people. When she began boxing, she fell in love with how dedication and energy yielded results. The more she trained, the stronger she became.
After three months of training, Griffin entered and won Indiana Golden Gloves, which she would go on to do twice more, as well as win a National Golden Gloves for women – all with a caveat. At the time, even though they were permitted to fight, women weren’t officially considered part of Golden Gloves. When Suzana went to Nationals, it was all on her own dollar.
“A decade ago, boxing for women was ‘bikini boxing,’” Griffin explained. “You had to try to look sexy to get on the card; it was all for show. Now, you have women who aren’t in there to look sexy. They’re not there to get winks. They’re in the ring to work, to go hard, and to fight. And by the way, it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your femininity to be strong.”
Though challenges for women in the ring have changed, they still exist.
“The challenge you see in the boxing world now is getting promoters to take the initiative to provide at least one women’s fight on a card,” Griffin said. “Women have grit, tenacity, and drive just like everyone else. If even 10% of slots on a card were given to women, the boxing culture would be so different.”
After opening SRG Boxing & Personal Training gym on Indy’s northwest side, Suzana continued to box herself, and despite her extensive training and record of achievements, it was difficult to be accepted onto a pro card. She decided to start her own promotions company that elevated women in boxing; thus, La Jefa Promotions was born. “La Jefa” is the female version of “El Jefe” or “boss” in Spanish).
“I’m here to provide a pathway for women boxers to fight at the professional level,” Griffin said. “The saying ‘empowered women empower women’ is the truth – the more you’re in front of someone’s face, the less they can deny you. You don’t know someone is there unless you see them.”
SRG Boxing has fighters from ages 8 to 52, and though La Jefa Promotions promotes both men and women, the Fall 2024 team is made up of all-women fighters.
Though “La Jefa” literally translates to “the female boss,” Suzana told of how she is often addressed as “bro,” “man,” or “dude” in emails before meeting others in the boxing community in person.
“I’m not a man,” Suzana laughed. “I’m a woman, and I’m proud to be. Not everyone in the boxing world is like this, but many times once people in this community figure out I’m a woman, they do try to approach me differently. Women in every male-dominated industry know that it’s important to stand up for yourself and teach others how to treat you. Know who you are, and know what you’re worth.”
Even with increased opportunities for women, La Jefa Promotions has high expectations and standards for its boxers.
“Even though professional fighters have a promoter, the most successful ones understand they’re their own boss,” Griffin explained. “It’s a great opportunity to start a career for yourself, but you can’t disregard basic principles of education – it applies to the business you create. You have to be well versed on how to handle yourself in the ring, on social media, and around other athletes and fans. Of course, it’s also critical to have a strong sense of self-discipline and dedication.”
Suzana urges anyone even remotely interested in boxing should give it a shot. She suggests trying out a franchise for conditioning, and if you develop a passion for the sport and desire to fight, go to an expert.
“Conditioning is the most important part of boxing to gain the benefits of the sport’s exercise,” Griffin said. “However, if you’re interested in technique – how to put your feet, hands, and head together – training to fight in the ring will take you where you want to go.”
SRG Boxing & Training and La Jefa promotions have several upcoming events, including open sparring for women on Saturdays, a La Jefa Promotions show in Indy in May 2025, and athlete participation in Indiana Silver and Golden Gloves 2025. Suzana also hopes to begin planning matches specifically for women throughout the state.
Learn more about Suzana and women on her gym & promotions websites and the SRG and La Jefa Promotions socials.
About The Author
Kylie Stine is an Indy Maven contributor who explores women’s exercise in Indianapolis. She has written about different Indy-area fitness classes and debunked myths about pole fitness.
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