When one door closes…

…well, we all know how that saying goes right?  In my case though, two opened and boy did I step inside!

A follow up from my last post – take a read if you have the time.  The 2nd Annual West Coast Wonder Women tournament was not in the cards for me in 2019 and when it fell through almost at the 11^th hour I believed it was for a very good reason.

My coach didn’t want the hard training camp to be in vain, so he found a fight which was about two weeks out from the initial date!  June 2nd, 2019 in Oshawa against a girl who has wanted to fight me for a while.  For those in the know, June 1st, 2019 was the 8th Annual Fight to End Cancer which was founded and is hosted annually by Kingsway Boxing Club which benefits The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.   A night of fundraising, socializing and of course the entertainment which is ten action packed bouts followed by an almost all-night celebration.

I thought it would be hard to get out of fight mode on the night before a fight and one so important to me.  You know, get all gussied up and go out and socialize all night.  A dry night of course and after the last bout I bow out.  The cool thing is that a few days before a fight I like to watch a lot of boxing.  Amateur and Pro.  Getting to watch ten live bouts the night before, pretty dope and the event was without a doubt a phenomenal success!

Who doesn’t flex in a dress!

This was my tenth fight and going into double digits was a big deal to me on a personal level and I think that was the reason I didn’t go get to do it on the west coast.  I needed to be with my people.  I needed my own coach in my corner vs going to BC alone and so many other reasons but yes, a big achievement and I didn’t get there alone.  I can’t and will never forget that.

I’ll skip over some filler details of the morning of June 2^nd because despite being hungry AF I was as ready so let’s fast forward to stepping into the ring.  When you’re introduced as Shireen “The Beast” Fabing you better show up.  Bell goes and she comes guns blazing.  A brawler and I figured out fast that her game plan was to keep me on the ropes.  I can feel I’m fighting her fight the first 30 to 45 seconds in though.  I’m moving back too much vs around and not pushing forward enough but, halfway through the round I settle down.  I can also hear my corner crispy clear through all the cheering – I didn’t mention that we were in her hood, so most of the cheers were for her.

When you’re hungry but feel like #1!

The minute I started pivoting around I see she’s thrown off.  She’s also already tired.  I see her punches clearly and notice her left hand down with a shoulder roll vibe happening and take advantage.  I land a couple of good clean ones.  Bell goes.  In my mind it was close.  Coach tells me she came to fight but we dominated second half.  Make sure to answer each shot and stick to our game plan.  Use our speed, right hand is the money and fight our fight.  Bell goes.  Round two I’m in my zone!  Combinations are landing.  I’m answering and seeing the punches coming at me. Now we’re trading.  I land a good combo something like body-jab-hook-cross and the ref jumps in with an eight count for her.  I remember thinking shit, she’s got time to rest lol.  We go back in, and about 15 seconds in I work my way up from the body with the power increasing with each clean shot landed.  Ref jumps in, another eight count.

And with that, my first stoppage.  It was a good fight.  I could not have prepared better or have a better corner of course – duh.  My physical and mental state – impeccable!  This was not an easy camp when I looked back.  The camp itself was great but the outside factors a.k.a. life presented many challenges and obstacles but I believe my mental strength overtook everything else.

Team Machine! Best team I could ask for.

Just to sidestep from boxing for a minute.  My celebration dinner with hubs and the mini was at a spot in our hood.  Not only that, it was a South African owned spot with authentic eats.  The owners are just lovely, and we hit it off right away.  Food is beyond delicious and the chef sends out extra braai’d lamb chops (a.k.a. bbq’d chops) for the winner and this is now our “thing”.  You all should try it out at least once.  Plan B – Burgers, Boerewors & Braai will not disappoint.

Plan B – Burgers, Boerewors & Braai

And just like that, the victory celebration was short lived.  After a few days off, we got news that the same opponent was game to enter a tournament a couple of weeks later.  The annual Bronze Gloves, June 21-23 and I’m pumped!  Back at it to tune up after just a few days “off”.

My fight day comes.  I get to the weigh in – this time not a raging & starving woman ha!  There was a little nostalgia because last time I fought at this venue the decision didn’t go my way.  I thought I won but that’s neither here nor there.  This venue holds two rings for the duration of the tournament and there I was – same venue, same ring and same corner (blue).  I laughed inside while waiting to get weighed but when I left, I told the husband “no repeats, not today – nobody will question my performance today”.  That was my morning pep talk or self-coaching if uou will and I believed it 100%.

Back home it’s eat and chill until it’s time to head out.  Acacia went to a party but gave pretty clear instructions about bringing home another trophy.  And that, was all the fuel I needed.  There’s always some nerves and excitement with each fight but despite that, I was feeling calm and relaxed.

Head back to the venue, get dressed and start warming up right away.  A few rounds of touches on the pads and we’re up.  Bell goes and this time I start off fast right out the gates.  Took me less time this fight to settle in and fight my fight.  I’m totally vibing in there.  I’m fast and sharp I can feel the round is mine.  I will say very proudly that I trust my conditioning.  Getting gassed is THE last thing on my mind.

Felt so good!

Between the round Virgil is saying “easy work right, easy work” and tells me all the combos and punches are there but I’m in too long.  Land and get out.  Back in and both round two and three go as planned.  Levels are back.  Feints.  In and out.  My punches are clean and sharp – even as I watch it after.  Final bell goes and I remember being and feeling so proud of that fight.  The ref did call us both on small things but from executing the plan, I got the job done.

The other half of Team Machine!

This was also my first time fighting this close back to back.  I liked it.  The momentum wasn’t lost.

Now with fight number 11 in the books I am considered an open class boxer.  A much bigger deal than number 10 so what next?  I don’t quite have the answer yet, but I got quite bit left in me!