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Punching For The Olympic Dream

By Raquel Ruiz

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In the year of the Olympic Games, sports competitions have all eyes on them, and Boxing Canada is no exception.

This week, from the 10th to the 14th of January, in the Isle of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, during the amateur National Championships, over 150 fighters, including 21 female boxers, will battle for the right to earn gold and it becomes the first step in officially forming the country’s Olympic team.

After 116 years of Olympic competition, this sport’s unprecedented highlight at the Summer Games in London 2012, will be the participation of female boxers in three categories, 51, 60 and 75 kg.

In the next few days, Canada will prepare to choose three boxers who will have the opportunity to earn the right to compete against the boxers of the rest of the planet at the China World Championships this coming May.

After China, eight boxers from the Americas and the Caribbean will be chosen. They will have a ticket to London, and thus a page with their name inscribed will be added to the books of the Goddes of Olympus. A total of 36 women boxers from the five continentes will compete in the Olympic games.

In the Americas, Canadian boxers are great favorites after their masterful performance this past October during the last Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Mary Spencer, and Mandy Bujold, both from Ontario, each brought home a gold medal and Sandra Bizier, Quebec, brought home a bronze.

For the internationally recognized Spencer, in 75 Kg, Bujold, in 51 Kg, and Bizier in 60 kg, things will not be as easy this week. Since the inclusion of female boxing in the Olympics, the boxing fever has grown and as they punch closer to London, the level of competitors gets better and tougher.

So this week in Cape Breton, the bouts of female boxers will be the main dish for the boxing aficionados. It is anticipated that the best championship encounter will be in the hands of World and Pan Am champion, Spencer when she meets in the ring her ethernal rival, former World champion Ariane Fortin from Quebec. Last year, Spencer took the Gold.

“I know that I’m as ready as I’ll ever be to take on the challenge. I have the best team in the world – I’ve put in the work and we are ready.” Said the 27 year-old Spencer.

Of the others, Kitchener native, Bujold may have her toughest fight against Amanda Galle, from Ontario. But she says, she doesn’t under estimate anyone of the seven boxers in her weight class.

“It will be the first year with a lot of new girls I have never competed against. I am not going to under estimate anyone but I came here to win Gold and nothing less. I know this is a big step towards Qualifying for London 2012 and I am ready.” Said the 24 year-old Bujold going for her seven national championship crown.

Sandra Bizier difficult bouts will be, when faced Stephanie Walker, Nova Scotia, and/or Susan Haas, Alberta. The 31 year-old and 2011 national champion Bizier, will have this year her last chance to become and Olympian.

Pat Fiacco, Boxing Canada President said that this year Nationals is history in the making.

“Imagine every possible emotion that is going through the female boxers who will have a chance to finally represent Canada at the London Olympic Games.” Said Fiacco, former Canadian national champion and AIBA’s secretary of the Refereeing & Judging commission.

This Saturday in Cape Breton the new 10 female weigh divisions, only three to the Olympics, and the 10 male weigh divisions, will have their new national champions.

The male Canadian team is a young team, so this year the hopes of medals are beign put in the fist of the female boxers.

“Our Canadian women boxers are ready. ” Said Fiacco, who is known for beign a big supporter of the female sport.

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