Morelle McCane hates it when people say she doesn’t fight like a girl. As an American Olympic boxing hopeful, the 29-year-old looks forward to the opportunity to showcase her skills as a combat sports athlete on a world stage.
Women’s boxing just made its Olympic debut at London 2012 and is currently in flux for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. McCane isn’t worried that this is possibly her only Olympic chance. She only cares about getting into a ring and shaking hands.
“It just eliminates that stereotype that women are weak and fragile,” McCane said at the Team USA Media Summit in New York. ‘Of course, we are strong. We are powerful and cute too.’
McCane’s motivation to explain why she is so motivated in the ring is clear. As the third youngest of nine children, his brother Gregory drowned when he was 15 years old.
Gregory was able to watch McCane’s first amateur fight in 2013, but he died shortly after. Describing his boxing journey without his brother, McCane fought back tears.
McCane qualified for the Summer Olympics as a finalist at last year’s Pan American Games.
McCane’s younger brother, Gregory Adams, passed away in 2013, the year she started boxing.
‘I always have a photo of my little brother. He passed away, so I always carried him with me,” McCane said. “Just knowing that he was able to see me and he can’t see this moment, it’s a little bittersweet, but I just look up and say ‘remember!'”
McCane’s connection to his family is clear. When asked to recite the names of his eight siblings, he did so in order and without hesitation. McCane’s mother is also present at any of her daughters’ fights that she attends, even if it has been a while since she has been in the crowd.
‘My mom, she’s literally never in any of my fights. She liked the first few fights I had,” McCane said. And she had the whole crowd praying with her and I said, “That’s the opponent!”
Of course you don’t want your son to be hit. So I have to get her out of the way,’ McCane continued about her mother. “Even if I put it at the back of the bleachers, you’ll still hear it.”
The 29-year-old is already qualified for the Paris Olympics, after finishing as a finalist in 66 kilograms at the 2023 Pan American Games.
McCane defeated Canadian Charlie Cavanagh to earn his place in Paris by unanimous decision. He lost the title fight to Brazilian Bárbara dos Santos by the same result.
Dos Santos is also qualified for the Olympics in the same weight class and it is clear that McCane would be happy if a rematch took place under the Olympic flag.
McCane lost to Dos Santos in the 66kg final last year but wants revenge in Paris
McCane also revealed that he fought in the Pan American Games with a fracture in his left non-dominant thumb.
‘It was the worst injury of my life because my hands are my source of income. And if they’re not working, I’m not working,” McCane said. “And I was lucky enough to get ahead and get the money, but (dos Santos) had something else waiting for him.”
‘I’m 100 percent now, I’m in therapy. I’m ready. “I’m happy that moment was that moment because now, coming to this moment, I’m healthier, I’m happier and I’m more focused,” McCane added.
“If it’s a rematch, he better pray, he better run,” McCane said of Dos Santos.
Confidence oozes from McCane. When asked if there is one person she hopes to compete against, the Cleveland native said there is no particular person she is preparing for.
“Line them up and I’ll take them down,” McCane said.
McCane has some celebrity connections that have helped her inside and outside the ropes.
He 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 for the difference he has made in his community. McCane remembers when James came to his high school to speak.
Women’s boxing is not guaranteed a place in the Los Angeles Summer Olympics in 2028
McCane trained with Jake Paul and praised him for shedding light on amateur boxing.
‘I want to be like this or similar!’ McCane remembers thinking about being in James’ presence.
Another Cleveland native McCane has spent time with is Jake Paul, who he believes has helped bring more attention to amateur boxers.
‘He is a great person. Despite what the media thinks of him, he’s actually warm and very willing to learn and do this,” McCane said of Paul. ‘It’s no joke training with Olympic athletes as we train hard. He kept up the pace and I was doing it.
McCane did not provide a prediction for Paul’s next fight against Mike Tyson, but believes Paul has a chance against the 57-year-old legend.
He has other things on his mind. McCane is completely focused on squaring up and doing everything she can to win Gold in Paris and dispel some stereotypes about women along the way.
McCane takes some inspiration from Tyson, who believed in a fight where everyone has a game plan until they get punched in the mouth.
‘That’s true. And then! Until they hit you in the mouth and after they hit you in the mouth, he forgot that part of the sentence,” McCane said. “Because after you get hit, you have to have an answer.”