Woman boxer is “ready to rumble” in London

Mary Spencer eventually wants to return to her university studies, but that’s probably at least a couple of more years away as she focuses on another goal she’s had since last year.

The 25-year-old Aboriginal boxer, who won her third world championship in Barbados in September, is hoping to represent Canada at the 2012 London Olympics. Women’s boxing will make its Olympic debut at those Games.

Spencer has been yearning to become an Olympian since August 2009 when it was announced that women’s boxing was being added to the Olympic lineup.
Upon hearing this news, Spencer, who was halfway to earning a psychology degree from the University of Windsor, decided to put her schooling on hold. But Spencer, whose father Clifford is Chippewa, said the announcement about the games resulted in mixed emotions.

Though officials with the International Olympic Committee opted to add female pugilists, they only decided to include three weight categories—a 51-kilogram category, 60 kilograms and 75 kilograms.
“I expected them to be going,” Spencer said of female boxers. “But I wasn’t expecting them to say it would only be in three weight categories.”

The announcement forced Spencer to put on some weight and move up to the 75-kilogram division. She won her first two world titles, in Russia in 2005 and in China in ’08, while participating in the 66-kilogram category.

Spencer, who is about half-an-inch under six feet, said she was able to put on additional weight by making minimal changes to her diet. She said her training has also not been altered that much. A key difference though is she cut down on long-distance runs and added more short explosive runs.

Spencer is considered a favorite to make the 2012 Canadian Olympic squad.

“My chances are looking good, especially after this year’s worlds,” she said.

Spencer was one of 28 competitors in the 75-kilo class at the International Amateur Boxing Association’s world women’s championships, which concluded on Sept. 18 in Barbados.

She won the world title by winning all four of her bouts at the tournament. She defeated rivals from Sweden, Spain, Ukraine and China. Her Chinese opponent, Jinzi Li, had been the reigning world champ.

For Spencer, it was actually the second time she had faced and defeated Li. Her first victory was at a tournament in Turkey last year.

Spencer is from the Cape Croker First Nation near Wiarton, Ont., but at the age of seven she moved with her family to the Windsor area and settled in the suburb of Tecumseh.

Spencer spent her high school days suiting up for soccer, basketball and volleyball teams. Eight years ago she decided to take up boxing, in part because she was joining a friend who started the sport in order to lose weight.

”Being in shape for basketball is a lot different than being in shape for boxing though,” said Spencer, who has been a member of the Windsor Amateur Boxing Club for eight years.

Spencer has compiled an impressive record since she started competing in the ring. As of late October, her record was 107 wins and just seven losses. Spencer had already fought 16 times this year alone, losing just twice.
“It’s not my goal to have as many fights as possible,” she said. “Definitely staying active is important, but a lot of them come from tournaments that I go to. When I do have tournaments, I have 3-4 fights there.”

Though she is a world champion now, Spencer still has to earn her way to the London Olympics. Only 12 boxers will compete in the women’s 75-kilo division in London.

In order to make it there, Spencer must first win the Canadian national title, which will be held in early 2012. And then to guarantee herself a spot, she would require a Top 8 finish at the 2012 world tournament.

The remaining four spots will be chosen by officials from the sport’s world governing body.

Spencer is unsure how much longer she will continue to box.

“Right now I just have one goal which I can make within two years, and that’s to win the gold medal (at the London Olympics),” she said.

Photos: supplied

Mary Spencer (left) has to bulk up to be eligible to compete in the 2012 London Olympics where women’s boxing will make its debut.

Boxer Mary Spencer won her third world championship in Barbados in September.