While an Olympic medal next year could be within her grasp, boxer Alex Love is very much the underdog.

From moving across the country to train at the boxing hubs in Colorado, to putting her all into daily training sessions, the Interlake High School graduate has worked hard to overcome being a 22-year-old boxing newcomer.

The sweat and all-day training sessions have paid off for the scrappy athlete, who fights in the 122-pound weight class. But it hasn’t been without setbacks and loses.

Love originally surprised everyone in the sport last year, by placing second at the Golden Gloves and fourth in the U.S. nationals with only 10 fights under her belt. This past summer, she lost at the U.S. nationals and the Golden Gloves before finally snagging her spot on the 2012 Olympic Trials at the National Police Athletic League championships earlier this month.

Along the way, the underdog has garnered national attention. In a good way.

Christy Halbert, arguably the most powerful voice in the movement to make women’s boxing an Olympic sport, has taken Love under wing and will train her until the February trials. That’s where Love will battle tough odds and fierce competition from athletes such as 2011 national champion, Marlen Esparza, for a spot on Team USA.

The Bellevue Reporter spoke with Love to discuss her amateur boxing career and aspirations of an Olympic medal.

REPORTER: What challenges have you faced this summer?

AL: At nationals, I fought the number-one girl the first day, [Esparza], who is so amazing. I lost by one point. At the Golden Gloves, I was smashing everybody. The judges ended up taking the win from me. It was controversial. My opponent, Rosalinda Rodriguez, came up to me and said I should have won. Also, at the Police Athletic League championships, my coach was supposed to go with me. That was my last shot, the last qualifier for the Olympic trials, but he didn’t come. That was heartbreaking. However, there, I beat one of the girls who was in the top four, so that’s how I got my spot in the trials.

REPORTER: The fact that Halbert will be training you is a huge deal. How does it feel that she chose to work with you?

AL: I’m thankful. She’s so cool, nice and smart. Plus, she’s a female coach; I think I’m done with guy coaches.

REPORTER: Aside from training with Halbert, What are your plans from now until the trials in February?

AL: I’m going back to Washington to pull some fundraisers, which pay for my travel, living and training expenses. I really want to see my mom, recharge my batteries, hang out with my llamas and my weenier dog.

REPORTER: Tell me about breaking into the boxing world.

AL: People say, ‘She’ll never make it. She’s really talented, but she’s so young and inexperienced.’ But once they see me fight, it’s a different story. It’s been rough, but nothing seems unattainable to me, for some reason.

REPORTER: How do you deal with other boxers being rude to you?

AL: It bothers me a lot. There was a whole month I cried every day because I didn’t think I was going to be able to pull it off. People have supported me, but no one has ever really followed through with me. I have ended up doing everything by myself. At the end of the day, you just have to stop worrying about what everyone thinks of you. My confidence is sometimes a mask.

REPORTER: Is there any camaraderie between you and the other boxers?

AL: Yeah, female boxers are the nicest people. It’s rare when you find a girl who’s a bitch. Most of the time, we’re a big family. Right now in the boxing world is kind of like when women were breaking onto the workforce. We’re getting more skill and technical ability.

REPORTER: Tell me about the February trials; these determine who will go to the 2012 London Games.

AL: We don’t know where they are going to be held yet, but it will double elimination: if you lose twice, you’re out. If you win that, you will go on to the world games in China, where you have to place in the top eight in order to get on the USA team. There will be three girls on the team in three different weight classes.

REPORTER: Anything else you’d like to add?

AL: I just want to say, I wouldn’t be able to do it without the wonderful emails from people and support I’ve gotten in Bellevue.