Peachland May 20, 2011 Peachland, BC Volume 07 | Number 20
More girls are jumping into the boxing ring Jessie Johnson, 14, left, and Kate Irwin, 17, are not afraid to spar with the boys at the Peachland Boxing Club.
By Cindy Fortin While it may traditionally be thought of as a male dominated sport, boxing isn’t just for boys anymore. These days more girls are jumping into the ring. Peachland boxers, Jessie Johnson, 14, and Kate Irwin, 17, enjoy getting in a good spar or two and are part of the Peachland Boxing Club at Fourth Street Place, under the guidance of coach John Wardley. But it’s not just about throwing punches, says Johnson, who has been in the sport for about three years. “It’s fun, you get a good workout, and you learn how to defend yourself.” Boxing is a different sport than most, she says. “You get pushed to your limits and learn what a real sport is. It takes a lot of heart and determination to stick with it.” Johnson grew up with three brothers who boxed. One of her brothers went onto the nationals to claim golden gloves. The other two brothers won bronze gloves. Does being a female in boxing mean you are treated
Photo by Constance Roth
differently? “When you box with guys you feel like one of the boys. Gender doesn’t change the way you box or the way you are treated,” says Johnson. Trainer John Wardley, agrees, and doesn’t treat either sex differently. “I treat them all the same. I think when the girls first come they expect to be treated different. And I can’t have that. So the girls probably have to work twice as hard to prove themselves.” Irwin, who has been boxing for about six months, also likes to throw a punch or two, but she has her own reasons for taking up the sport. “I want to be able to defend myself. I think this is something that every woman should know how to do. Gender divides and stereotypes won’t stop me, ever, from achieving my goals.” She adds: “This is absolutely, by far, the most physically demanding sport out there. Aside from the obvious physical benefits, I feel more confident about myself.” Despite there being more girls in boxing than in previous years, they still number in the minority, and
while both Johnson and Irwin do spar with the boys, they are only permitted to enter competitions with other females, within a seven pound weight difference. This greatly limits the competitions the girls can enter. Johnson will be in a Club Card competition in Salmon Arm this June, however, against a female boxer from Alberta. Wardley hopes to see more women join the local Peachland Boxing Club, and encourages those who are interested to give it a try. “Come on down. You don’t have to be competitive, but it is a great way to stay in shape, and what I like about the girls is that you have a little bit of knowledge on how to protect yourself, because there will be a time when you will have to use it. And it gives you a lot of self-confidence.” The Peachland Boxing Club meets two nights a week, Mondays and Wednesday, at Fourth Street Place, 6 to 8 pm. No need to register. Just show up, and come to work out, said Wardley. “We don’t have spectators, come there to work out.” The first night is free to give it a try.
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