Picked on at school as she was small for her age, Antonia turned to martial arts as a means to improve her self-esteem and beat the bullies. She learned the ‘sweet science’ of boxing at her father Antonio’s gym in their hometown of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, and never looked back. After an amateur career that saw twenty wins with no losses, she was scouted by a promoter for her big break; an exhibition match in Las Vegas. An outbreak of the plague occurred mid bout, with almost a quarter of the audience turning into ghouls in round three. Antonia fought her way out of the arena, beating down cannibalistic terrors with her fists and leading dozens to safety. Every moment of her actions was caught on camera, leading to her becoming an instant celebrity and icon.