(NOV 7) Sarah Pucek is stepping back in to the ring a year after dropping a decision in a title fight in September 2010. That fight, in Calgary will not define Pucek. She is fighting in the main event in Edmonton on December 9th against veteran Jelena Mrdjenovich. Pucek sees the WIBA title bout as a chance to “redeem myself from the last fight.” Pucek knows Mrdjenovich is a formidable opponent.

She has twenty eight more fights than Pucek, and while for some that may seem daunting, Pucek says, “As the fight gets closer, I gain confidence.” The source of Pucek’s confidence comes from a new training regime and her coach. She is training differently than she did in the past. She is fighting better while honing the assets she brings to the ring, her footwork and speed. Pucek acknowledges that Mrdjenovich has experience on her side. “She might have a slight edge in size and maybe strength,” says Pucek, “but speed is on my side.” Pucek has fought bigger girls, in fact, Pucek’s last fight was at 135. This title fight will be a featherweight bout, and Pucek is much more comfortable at 126.

There should be little doubt about Pucek’s confidence. She does not duck fights. She is taking this shot at a title because “in women’s boxing, you have to take the tough fights.” She is right. There are not necessarily equal opportunities for all women fighters. The top echelon fighters do not always fight each other, and that leaves opportunities for those early in their career, like Pucek, to have a shot at a title. “Matches like this are good for the sport,” says Pucek. Her loss in the last fight has certainly not hurt Pucek. She was called and offered another opportunity for a title. She knows she is “the underdog,” but says, “ I am a boxer. She’s (Mrdjenovich) a fighter; I box, that is my advantage.”

Outside of the ring, Pucek is a landscape gardener for the Thunderbird Show Park in Langley. The slow pace of gardening work in the fall and winter has allowed Pucek to extend her time in the gym. There she has been working hard to sharpen the speed and power in her right hand. As a weapon, Pucek says, “My right hand is good. If I hit her with a hard right, I’m not expecting her to go down, but she will feel it.” Pucek says that Mrdjenovich “may be more dangerous as a puncher; she’s stopped people.” This is one reason that Pucek, in her training, is focusing on the fundamentals. “I will,” she says, “be quick and use good footwork to my advantage.” Nonetheless, Pucek expects the fight to go all ten rounds.

“The fight is winnable,” says Pucek. “I’ve been training since May. I have a lot of support at home, and my confidence is growing,” she said. On December 10th, those supporters in Langley plan to be celebrating with a world champion boxer.