History-making amateur champion makes her professional debut on October 10

Introducing Hawaiian boxing star Azariah Cottrell

From making boxing history as a young girl in Hawaii to becoming a national champion and establishing herself against experienced competition, Azariah Cottrell has spent much of her life preparing for this moment.

On Saturday, October 10, 2026, Cottrell will officially begin the next chapter of her boxing journey when she makes her professional debut at BiYu Promotions’ “Heart of America Pro + Am Boxing Invitational” at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas.

Cottrell, who will compete at lightweight for this bout, will face Karla Valenzuela (3-41-3, 1 KO), a seasoned veteran with more than 45 professional fights, in a scheduled four-round contest. Cottrell enters her traditional professional debut with years of high-level amateur experience, as well as valuable competition in Team Boxing League (TBL), formerly known as Team Combat League (TCL).

For Cottrell, how was born in Hawaii but now training out of Las Vegas, turning professional represents much more than another fight. It is the continuation of a journey that began in Hawaii when she was a child and has already included national championships, recognition from her home state and success against seasoned opposition.

Cottrell's talent became apparent remarkably early.

In 2018, when she was only 10 years old, the National Silver Gloves final rankings placed Cottrell No. 1 in the nation at 75 pounds in the 9-10 girls’ division.

She also became the first girl from Hawaii to win the Silver Gloves Tournament, helping open doors and inspire other young female fighters from the islands.

Together with her siblings, Cottrell, who is of African American, Filipino and Hawaiian decent, became part of Hawaii amateur boxing history, and her accomplishments in the sport earned recognition from the State of Hawaii.

Her rise continued as a teenager. At only 14, Cottrell captured the 2021 USA Boxing National Championship, further establishing herself among the country's elite young female boxers.

Through every stage of that journey, her Hawaiian roots have remained an important source of pride.

“Being Hawaiian means everything to me,” said Cottrell. “No matter where I fight or where boxing takes me, Hawaii is always going to be a part of who I am. I started boxing when I was very young, and I've been blessed to experience things through this sport that I never could have imagined when I first walked into a gym.”

“To be the first girl from Hawaii to win the Silver Gloves and to be recognized by my home state are things I'll always be proud of. But what means even more is knowing that maybe another young girl back home can see what I'm doing and believe she can do it too. I want to represent Hawaii the right way every time I step into the ring.”

Although October 10 will officially be recorded as Cottrell's professional debut, she will enter the ring with considerably more experience than a typical first-time professional.

Years of amateur competition were followed by a successful run in Team Boxing League, where Cottrell competed for the San Antonio Snipers and compiled an impressive 16-2 record.

Among her notable performances were two victories over 2020 USA Olympian Shakilya Ellis, giving Cottrell valuable experience competing against established opposition under pressure.

Now, all of that experience will be put to use as she starts over in her pro debut in professional boxing.

“I've been waiting for this moment for a long time,” said Cottrell. “When you've been boxing since you were a little girl, turning professional is something you think about, but when it actually gets here, it feels different. I'm excited, I'm grateful, and I'm ready.”

“I've won national tournaments and I've competed in Team Boxing League, and all of those experiences helped prepare me for this, stated Cottrell. "Competing in TBL gave me confidence because I was competing regularly and facing good fighters. Beating Shakilya Ellis twice showed me that I can perform against the best in the world, but professional boxing is a new chapter. Everything I've accomplished before this helped build me, but I know I have to prove myself all over again. That's what makes me hungry.”

Cottrell's résumé has already given her years of championship experience, but she understands that professional boxing presents an entirely different challenge. Instead of looking too far ahead, Cottrell wants to build on the foundation she has established and develop into a complete professional fighter.

“Of course, every fighter wants to become a world champion, and that's my dream too,” she added. “I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't believe I could reach that level one day. But I know you don't become a world champion in your first professional fight.”

“Right now, I'm focused on October 10. It will all be new to me, going 4-rounds, fighting on a national stage. I want to go in there, listen to my corner, stay composed and show people what I've been working on. After that, I want to stay active and keep improving every time I fight.”

“I'm still young, and that's exciting because I know there's so much more for me to learn. I don't feel like I'm anywhere close to the fighter I'm eventually going to become. I'm hungry to get better, and I want to see how far I can take this. My motto is "Stay Violent”, and thats how I'm going to approach every fight of my career."

Bobby Harrison, CEO of BiYu Promotions, believes Cottrell’s extensive amateur background and success in Team Boxing League make her professional debut one of the more intriguing moments on the “Heart of America Pro + Am Boxing Invitational.” Harrison is particularly excited that boxing fans beyond Kansas City and Hawaii will have an opportunity to watch the beginning of Cottrell’s professional journey, as her October 10 debut will be broadcast live worldwide on CombatVisionTV.

“Azariah has been competing at a high level since she was a kid, and you can see that experience when she fights,” said Harrison. “She had a great amateur career and was a standout in the Team Boxing League, so she’s coming into the pros with a strong foundation. What I like most is that she’s young, hungry and still wants to learn. We’re excited to have her make her pro debut on the Heart of America card. Having it live on CombatVisionTV makes it even more special because her people back home in Hawaii and fans around the world can watch the beginning of her professional journey. I think she has a bright future, and I’m excited to see what she does with this opportunity.”

For a fighter who has competed since childhood, October 10 represents both a beginning and a continuation. The trophies, national championships and recognition Cottrell accumulated as an amateur helped establish her reputation. Her 16-2 run in Team Boxing League demonstrated that she could carry those skills into another competitive environment.

Now comes professional boxing.

“I want people watching me for the first time to see somebody who loves to compete,” continued Cottrell. “I want them to see my skills, my heart and the work I've put into boxing since I was a kid. I’m very happy that everyone back home in Hawaii and those around the world will be able to watch me fight on CombatVisionTV, just download the app. I'm not putting pressure on myself to make everything perfect. I just want to be myself, trust my training and enjoy the moment. I've worked too hard to get here not to enjoy it.”

“When that bell rings, though, I'm coming to fight. I want to put on a performance that makes people remember my name and want to watch me again. This is only the beginning.”

Ticket information for the “HEART OF AMERICA PRO + AM BOXING INVITATIONAL” is available at BiYuPromotions.com.