Bosque Farms, New Mexico, professional boxer Kat "La Guera Pistolera" Lindenmuth stands at 4 feet 11 inches tall. But she proves size is no measure of determination or strength.
The Grand Canyon University alumna, whose boxing nickname means gunfight – a nickname reflective of her sharp, fast boxing skills – has battled her way to the top of her career, fighting through the loss of her husband, longtime ring announcer James Lindenmuth. After that loss, the single mother of three boys set her sights on transforming her life, not just for herself but her children.
Lindenmuth earned her bachelor’s degree in science and sports management in spring 2020 and completed her master’s in criminal justice with an emphasis in law enforcement in fall 2024, earning those degrees as a GCU online student.
“I wanted to show my kids that no matter how late I started, and no matter all the adversity and problems we’ve seen, you can do anything if you put your mind to it,” Lindenmuth said of her educational journey.
She joined a gym and began boxing – she trained in karate as a teen – as a way to stay active, manage her grief and improve her health. But that escape soon turned into a passion.
Lindenmuth was an amateur boxer for a time then fully committed herself to the sport, dropping 37 pounds and elevating her skills to the professional level.
“I sunk myself, my heart and soul, into it,” she said. In 2022, she officially went pro and never looked back. “I may not have all the skills, but I have the heart and competitiveness."
Her grueling schedule is a testament to that.
Lindenmuth wakes up at 4 a.m., trains at the gym, takes her children to school, works, then returns to the gym. She repeats it all over again the next day.
“You can do it all if you plan it correctly,” she said.
Lindenmuth’s achievements also have been fueled by her faith and the support she found at GCU
“The counselors at GCU didn’t give up on me; they advocated for me and believed in me,” she said. “Attending a Christian university was empowering. They gave me a spiritual backup.”
GCU student services counselor Luis Rivera Sarabia said of Lindenmuth, “I do not doubt that she will continue to accomplish amazing things in the future. Throughout our time working together in her education career, she has repeatedly shown the strength to overcome setbacks."
Outside of the ring, Lindenmuth wants to build a career in law enforcement and has applied to join the FBI. She credits boxing with teaching her coachability, discipline and follow-through – qualities essential for an FBI career.
“Delay is not denial; God made me better to be where I am supposed to be,” she said, referring to her faith in God’s timing. She always has dreamed of being in the FBI but took the long route to ready herself for that role.
And she's not slowing down in any other area of her life.
Lindenmuth, who works full time as a trainer with the state of New Mexico, is ready to take on minimum weight or atom weight contenders, such as Esneidy Olmos or Yokasta Valle, with her eyes set on earning a few titles.
“I train every day like I will fight tomorrow,” she said, emphasizing her readiness. Her coach, Anthony Rosales, who she started training with in karate as a teenager, is ready to take on the challenge with her.
“We train hard to fight easy. When we get faced with a title, we step it up and ramp up fight camp. It isn't much different than normal fight camp, just more intense.”
Her journey, marked by resilience and faith, exemplifies her belief that nothing can stop you if you don’t let it.
Grand Canyon University student writer Leandra Lepp can be reached at [email protected]
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