(FEB 26) Women’s boxing
often doesn’t get the credit it deserves. It does not,
unfortunately, get the best press and is often ignored or
sidelined when compared to men's boxing. The majority of people
couldn’t tell you more than maybe one or two women’s boxers,
even those with a big interest in men's boxing. In contrast,
mens boxing stars are lauded. They are brought onto chat shows,
they are given awards and they are asked to speak at events.
Their female counterparts, as in other sectors of life, have to
achieve far more to get less recognition.
You only need to look at how much things go into hyperdrive in
the sporting press when a fight between two men in announced.
Just look at how many column inches has been given to Anthony
Joshua’s upcoming fight with Joseph Parker in Cardiff. You are lucky
if you get one betting preview for women’s boxing even if it is
often easier and more profitable to bet on women’s boxing than
men's.
There are so many great fights coming up in women’s boxing and
it is a real shame that they won’t get the spotlight that they
richly deserve. In order to try and help shine a light on these
bouts, we thought we would explore some of the best fighters
around in women’s boxing. These are the women you should be
showing you men’s boxing fan friends who dismiss women’s boxing.
These are women you should be watching on pay per view, the ones
that should be your heros and the ones that are very important
and exciting. So have your notebooks at the ready as we explore
some of the best fighters in women’s boxing.
Aleksandra Magdziak
Born in Poland but now lives in the United States, she fought
out an excellent match with Natasha Spence that ended in a draw
and will see a rematch happening very soon. Magdziak is quick
and clever, she is a boxer who can draw her opponents in before
pouncing and making mincemeat out of them. She has won eighteen
matches in her career establishing herself as one of the
strongest and most exciting fighters in women’s boxing. At 37,
she is coming towards the end of her career, but she still has
enough left in the tank to get people excited and will relish
trying to beat Spence when they meet.
Natasha Spence
It would be unfair to mention Magdziak without also considering
her rival, Spence. The Canadian does not quite have the same sterling
record as her opponent having only won eight fights, but she
is five years her junior and will be hoping to beat Magdziak and
then kick on to dominate the women’s super lightweight division.
She is similar to her opponent, very quick, not that powerful,
but with a boxing brain and a tactical nous that means that
means her lack of power is not too big of a worry. Their bout is
likely to be one of the best this year.
Nicola Adams
Only just really embarking on a professional career after
retaining the Olympic title in Rio, which she first won in
London 2012,
Adams has only had three fights but has won them all
comfortably, including inflicting the only defeat on Maryan
Salazar, one of the best young fighters in women’s boxing. Adams
is 35 so is unlikely to have too many fights left but she will
continue to get into the ring with her fast and brave style. She
is the star of British women’s boxing and a real darling of the
press, it will be exciting to see who she fights next.
Anne Sophie Da Costa
Da Costa has a record that many women, and men, would envy,
having picked up 24 wins in her 27 fights. That is a
professional record that sets her apart and she has been a real
pioneer in women’s boxing, fighting the good fight to get
recognition and praise for her skill and ability. She is a light
flyweight who hopes to continue boxing for a while, and with her
skill and determination, it is hard to bet against her.