Queen Underwood hasn't lost a match on US soil for more than four years.

Her strategy?

"Just don't get beat," says the Seattle native, who trains in the Central District. Using that strategy, Underwood scored her fifth consecutive US national lightweight champion title on June 26 in Colorado Springs. But this win was significant: It automatically qualified Underwood for the 2012 Olympic trials. While men's boxing has long been a staple in the Olympics, next year's London games mark the first time in over a century that women will be allowed to compete.

"I already visualize myself on the team," Underwood says. That might sound boastful coming from another athlete, but the five-foot-five boxer has the politesse of a woman who's already proven herself; she has little use for swagger. "We want USA to win gold; a lot of people feel that we're going to bring back the gold. I'd be proud to do that."

Twenty-six-year-old Underwood picked up her first pair of boxing gloves eight years ago at Cappy's Boxing Gym, and she's been fighting—and winning—ever since. "In boxing, you lose once and you're out," she says. "There's no room for mistakes."

Underwood was employed as a sprinkler fitter, quitting only last year to become a full-time boxer, and is now on a strict training regimen to prepare for the January Olympic trials. She may be the nation's best shot at bringing home gold by already defeating the best female fighters in the country—the women's bouts at the 2011 national championships were the toughest that USA Boxing, the national amateur boxing federation, had ever seen.

"All of our women converged into three weight classes to try and qualify for the Olympics," explains USA Boxing spokeswoman Julie Goldsticker. Women will compete in only three weight classes in the Olympics, compared to 10 weight classes for men. At nationals, Underwood won her title in the largest class—women's lightweight—for either men or women. "The talent we're seeing from women is unbelievable. You can't tell if you're watching men or women boxing from far away, because their skills are equal," Goldsticker says.

Want to bow to the Queen? Underwood will host a meet and greet for her fans from 8:30 to 11 pm on Sat July 9 at the Last Supper Club. Support her at www.queenteam.org.