Pat Manuel, the first openly transgender male to compete professionally in American boxing, has officially announced his retirement after a 24-year career in the sport. The California-based athlete closed the chapter on a remarkable life in the ring this July, leaving behind a professional record of three wins and one loss.
“It’s strange to write these words: I’m officially retiring from boxing after 24 years. My competitive career is ending, but boxing never really left me. The lessons this sport gave me became the foundation for the work I do today and the life I continue to build,” Manuel said in his retirement statement.
His final professional bout took place on April 4, 2024, against Joshua Reyes, ending in a technical knockout loss at the 21-second mark of the first round. Though the result was difficult, Manuel refused to retreat from it.
“I’m not one to hide my face, no matter the outcome. I lost last night. I trained my a*s off, had great sparring, and cut no corners. But sometimes it doesn’t go your way. It’s a risk we all take when we step in the ring. It’s what is exciting about boxing, and also the most heartbreaking,” he said following the bout.
Manuel’s path to that moment spanned decades and crossed boundaries few athletes have navigated. Born on July 22, 1985, he began his boxing journey competing as Patricia Manuel in the women’s division, eventually earning five national amateur championships. He also reached the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials, though a shoulder injury forced his withdrawal from competition.
In his own words, boxing was more than a sport. It was a lifeline during a formative and deeply personal period of his life.
“I originally started boxing as a female athlete as a way to cope with the gender dysphoria I was feeling. It was actually boxing that kept me from transitioning because I didn’t know if I would be able to continue competing if I decided to medically transition.”
The decision to transition came after his Olympic dreams were cut short. Freed from the tunnel vision of athletic ambition, Manuel turned inward.
“Once I lost the Olympic boxing trials and didn’t have boxing as a distraction, it made me really examine what I wanted as a person, not just as an athlete. My decision to medically transition has probably been the best decision I’ve ever made. It’s obvious I was meant to transition.”
Following his transition, Manuel made history on December 8, 2018, becoming the first openly transgender man to box professionally in the United States. The move came with its own set of adjustments, both physical and competitive.
“Boxing as a man and a woman, they’re different. I don’t feel that it’s easier boxing as a woman than boxing as a man. My body’s changed and I also was competing at such an elite level against female athletes that it wasn’t easy.”
He went on to build a 3-1 professional record, each bout carrying a significance that extended well beyond the scorecard.
As Manuel reflects on his career, gratitude stands out as the defining note.
“I leave with national titles, international victories, a unique professional career, and, more importantly, deep gratitude for the coaches, teammates, and gym rats who helped shape the man I am today.”
That resilience, built through decades of competition and personal transformation, may be the most lasting part of what he leaves behind.
“Boxing gave me confidence, not because I won titles, but because it taught me I could get hurt, get knocked down, and still find my way back to my feet.”
Despite the losses and the weight of pioneering a path no one had walked before him, Manuel remained unbowed.
“I refuse to bow my head in shame. I’ve never been one to play it safe, and sometimes that means I fail. And life has taught me over and over again that failure will not break me.”
Now 40 years old, Manuel steps away from professional competition. In his own words, the journey is far from over.
“Ultimately, this is for me. I’m going to be who I am and I’m going to be who I am. I’m going to continue competing.”
