St. John's University Athletics
From Basketball to Boxing
3/29/2020 11:52:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Former St. John’s women’s basketball player awaits her return to the ring
Former St. John's women's basketball player turned heavyweight boxer Danielle Perkins, better known by Johnnie fans as Danielle Chambers, is one of many boxers uncertain of when she will return to the ring.
Perkins was part of the St. John's women's basketball program from 2003-06. During her time with the Red Storm, the Brooklyn native helped the Johnnies to back-to-back postseason appearances in 2005 and again in 2006. Perkins was a defensive presence for the Red Storm, leading the team with 20 blocks during the 2004-05 campaign. Perkins was the team's leading rebounder in 2005-06 NCAA Tournament season, pulling down 270 boards to rank inside the top-10 on the single-season rebounding list.
Following her time at St. John's, Perkins went oversees to play professional basketball. The former Johnnie played in numerous locations including Czechoslovakia, Austria, Italy and Puerto Rico. In 2008, Perkins returned home from Spain and was getting ready for her next basketball adventure in Turkey when a traumatic car accident temporarily paralyzed her and indefinitely put an end to her professional basketball career.
Perkins was in physical therapy for over two years, teaching herself how to walk all over again. In addition to retraining her body, Perkins also struggled psychologically.
"At first I couldn't even cross the street again," Perkins said. "I had to have a driver come and pick me up and drop me off. But then, one day, I just got over it. I did it once and I realized I was fine. It just took time."
Following years of physical therapy, Perkins embarked on her boxing career in 2014. For Perkins, it started out as just a way to keep herself active and in shape, but it quickly developed into something more.
"I always loved boxing," Perkins said. "But I just really wanted to get back in shape after everything. It started as just an interest, and never did I think about competing in the Golden Gloves. I kept going to the gym, seeing the fighters, interacting with the fighters and getting more involved. After a while the punches didn't sting as much and I learned how to not take the punches directly."
The Brooklyn native, who currently resides in Houston, is now one of the top-ranked heavyweight fighters in the U.S. In October, Perkins achieved one of the greatest accomplishments of her boxing career thus far. She won gold unanimously in Ulan Ude, Russia, defeating China's Yang Xiaoli in her first amateur world championship final, becoming the first U.S. boxer to win a world title in three years. As a result, Perkins was one of 13 finalists for the Team USA Awards Best of October, presented by Dow. This award recognizes the outstanding achievements of Team USA athletes.
Perkins was gearing up for her first professional fight in Vegas this month as part of the King's Promotions on Showtime. COVID-19, however, canceled the event. Perkins, like many other athletes in her situation, understands the reasoning behind the call and anxiously awaits her next opportunity to compete.
"At the end of the day, it is the right call," Perkins said. "You don't want to have blood on your hands and have that kind of physical contact at a time like this. The fight can take place another time."
Perkins has continued to keep herself active at home, using kettlebells, a reaction ball, yoga, and videos from her strength and conditioning coach to keep her body in shape. Despite keeping herself as active as possible during this time, Perkins knows all too well that when the time comes to fight again, it won't be as easy as riding a bike.
"When this is all over, you will realize you are in a lot worse shape than you thought," Perkins said. "Even if you look the part, you are going to find your cardio and your reaction time have both dipped."
Perkins, however, has found the silver lining in having this time off.
"Fighting is tiring," Perkins said. "Having this time to rest my body and not get physically beat up can be a good thing."
Even with a strict regimen in place to keep herself in peak physical shape, it is also important for Perkins to remain mentally locked in.
"When I started boxing, I had a hard time getting fights," Perkins said. "But you have to be both mentally and physically ready at any time. I think that mindset from when I first started rolls over to this situation and I just have to keep myself always ready."
Yoga has been Perkins' go-to workout in order to keep her mind and body active and in sync during this time.
"Basketball players score by making a basket," Perkins said. "My scoring is the condition of my body- I have to be able to move quickly. I have to make sure my body and my mind are on the same page. Yoga helps with that."
While Perkins is doing all she can to preserve her body and mind during this pandemic – this is longest she has been away from the ring since joining Team USA – she, like so many others around the sporting world, can do nothing but wait.
Perkins was part of the St. John's women's basketball program from 2003-06. During her time with the Red Storm, the Brooklyn native helped the Johnnies to back-to-back postseason appearances in 2005 and again in 2006. Perkins was a defensive presence for the Red Storm, leading the team with 20 blocks during the 2004-05 campaign. Perkins was the team's leading rebounder in 2005-06 NCAA Tournament season, pulling down 270 boards to rank inside the top-10 on the single-season rebounding list.
Following her time at St. John's, Perkins went oversees to play professional basketball. The former Johnnie played in numerous locations including Czechoslovakia, Austria, Italy and Puerto Rico. In 2008, Perkins returned home from Spain and was getting ready for her next basketball adventure in Turkey when a traumatic car accident temporarily paralyzed her and indefinitely put an end to her professional basketball career.
Perkins was in physical therapy for over two years, teaching herself how to walk all over again. In addition to retraining her body, Perkins also struggled psychologically.
"At first I couldn't even cross the street again," Perkins said. "I had to have a driver come and pick me up and drop me off. But then, one day, I just got over it. I did it once and I realized I was fine. It just took time."
Following years of physical therapy, Perkins embarked on her boxing career in 2014. For Perkins, it started out as just a way to keep herself active and in shape, but it quickly developed into something more.
"I always loved boxing," Perkins said. "But I just really wanted to get back in shape after everything. It started as just an interest, and never did I think about competing in the Golden Gloves. I kept going to the gym, seeing the fighters, interacting with the fighters and getting more involved. After a while the punches didn't sting as much and I learned how to not take the punches directly."
The Brooklyn native, who currently resides in Houston, is now one of the top-ranked heavyweight fighters in the U.S. In October, Perkins achieved one of the greatest accomplishments of her boxing career thus far. She won gold unanimously in Ulan Ude, Russia, defeating China's Yang Xiaoli in her first amateur world championship final, becoming the first U.S. boxer to win a world title in three years. As a result, Perkins was one of 13 finalists for the Team USA Awards Best of October, presented by Dow. This award recognizes the outstanding achievements of Team USA athletes.
Perkins was gearing up for her first professional fight in Vegas this month as part of the King's Promotions on Showtime. COVID-19, however, canceled the event. Perkins, like many other athletes in her situation, understands the reasoning behind the call and anxiously awaits her next opportunity to compete.
"At the end of the day, it is the right call," Perkins said. "You don't want to have blood on your hands and have that kind of physical contact at a time like this. The fight can take place another time."
Perkins has continued to keep herself active at home, using kettlebells, a reaction ball, yoga, and videos from her strength and conditioning coach to keep her body in shape. Despite keeping herself as active as possible during this time, Perkins knows all too well that when the time comes to fight again, it won't be as easy as riding a bike.
"When this is all over, you will realize you are in a lot worse shape than you thought," Perkins said. "Even if you look the part, you are going to find your cardio and your reaction time have both dipped."
Perkins, however, has found the silver lining in having this time off.
"Fighting is tiring," Perkins said. "Having this time to rest my body and not get physically beat up can be a good thing."
Even with a strict regimen in place to keep herself in peak physical shape, it is also important for Perkins to remain mentally locked in.
"When I started boxing, I had a hard time getting fights," Perkins said. "But you have to be both mentally and physically ready at any time. I think that mindset from when I first started rolls over to this situation and I just have to keep myself always ready."
Yoga has been Perkins' go-to workout in order to keep her mind and body active and in sync during this time.
"Basketball players score by making a basket," Perkins said. "My scoring is the condition of my body- I have to be able to move quickly. I have to make sure my body and my mind are on the same page. Yoga helps with that."
While Perkins is doing all she can to preserve her body and mind during this pandemic – this is longest she has been away from the ring since joining Team USA – she, like so many others around the sporting world, can do nothing but wait.
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