Morelle McCane hates it when people say she doesn’t fight like a girl. As a U.S. Olympic hopeful in boxing, the 29-year-old longs for the opportunity to showcase her skills as a female martial arts athlete on a global stage.
Women’s boxing only made its Olympic debut in London 2012 and is currently in full swing for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. McCane isn’t concerned that this may be her only Olympic chance. She only concerns herself with getting into a ring and throwing hands.
“It just takes away the stereotype that women are weak and vulnerable,” McCane said at the Team USA Media Summit in New York. ‘No, we are strong. We are powerful and also cute.”
McCane’s motivation for why she is so driven in the ring is clear. The third youngest of nine siblings, her brother, Gregory, drowned when he was 15.
Gregory got to see McCane’s first amateur fight in 2013, but died shortly afterwards. When describing her journey in boxing without her brother, McCane held back tears.
McCane qualified as a finalist for the Summer Olympics at the Pan American Games last year
McCane’s younger brother, Gregory Adams, died in 2013, the year she started boxing
‘I always have a photo of my brother. He passed away, so I was always allowed to take him with me,” McCane said. “Just knowing that he was able to see me and he can’t see this moment is a little bittersweet, but I just look up like ‘remember!’
McCane’s bond with her family is clear. When asked to rattle off the names of her eight siblings, she did so without hesitation. McCane’s mother is also present at every fight of her daughters she attends, even though it has been a while since she has been in the crowd.
“My mother literally never attends my fights. She started to like the first few fights I had,” McCane said. “And she had the whole crowd praying with her and I thought, ‘That’s the adversary!’
‘Of course she doesn’t want her child to be hit. So I just have to get her out of the way,” McCane continued about her mother. “Even if I put her way back in the stands, you’ll still hear her.”
The 29-year-old has already qualified for the Paris Olympics after finishing as a finalist at the 2023 Pan American Games with 66 kilograms.
McCane defeated Canada’s Charlie Cavanagh to earn her place in Paris via unanimous decision. She lost the title fight to Brazil’s Bárbara dos Santos with the same result.
Dos Santos is also qualified for the Olympics in the same weight class and it is understood McCane would be happy to see a rematch under the Olympic banner.
McCane lost to Dos Santos in the 66kg final last year but wants a rematch in Paris
McCane also revealed that she had battled a fracture in her left non-dominant thumb during the Pan American Games.
“It was the worst injury ever because my hands are my money makers. And if they don’t work, I don’t work either,” McCane said. “And I was lucky enough to get through and get the silver, but (dos Santos) something else came up.”
‘I’m 100 percent now, I’m in therapy. I’m ready. “I’m glad that moment was that moment because now that I’m entering this moment, I’m healthier, happier and just more focused,” McCane added.
“If it’s a rematch, she better pray and she better run,” McCane said of Dos Santos.
Confidence radiates from McCane. When asked if there is one person she is looking forward to competing against, the Cleveland native said there is no specific person she is preparing for.
“Line them up and I’m going to take them down,” McCane said.
McCane has a few celebrity connections that have helped her both inside and outside the ropes.
She attended Glenville High School in Cleveland, as did Rich Paul, LeBron James’ agent. Paul also comes from the same neighborhood as McCane.
James himself is an inspiration to McCane because of the difference he has made in her community. McCane remembers James coming to her high school to speak.
Women’s boxing does not guarantee a place at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles
McCane has trained with Jake Paul and praised him for shining a light on amateur boxing
“I want to be like that or something like that!” McCane remembers thinking about being in James’ presence.
Another Cleveland native McCane has shared time with is Jake Paul, who she credits with helping bring more attention to amateur boxers.
‘He’s a great person. Despite what the media thinks of him, he’s actually very warm-hearted and really willing to learn and do this,” McCane said of Paul. “It’s no joke to train with Olympians, like we train hard. He kept going and he did it.”
McCane has not made a prediction for Paul’s upcoming fight against Mike Tyson, but believes Paul has a chance against the 57-year-old legend.
She has other things on her mind. McCane is fully focused on competing and doing everything he can to win gold in Paris and dispel some stereotypes about women along the way.
McCane takes a little inspiration from Tyson, who famously was in a fight where everyone has a game plan until they get punched in the mouth.
‘That’s true. And after that! Until you got punched in the mouth and after you got punched in the mouth he forgot that part of the sentence,” McCane said. “Because after you get hit, you gotta have a reaction.”