5'5" Sarah Pucek, born March 25, 1987, is a featherweight from Fort Langley, British Columbia, Canada. Raised on a busy hobby farm, she hails from a family of nine, and credits growing up among five older brothers for her success as a boxer. Her brother Steve is also a boxer.

An avid athlete, Pucek participated in track and field, volleyball, soccer, and high school basketball, but it wasn't until she picked up a pair of boxing gloves that she found her true calling. “I was always the instigator in sports“, says Pucek, “I was never afraid to hit the floor ... or our opponents! I hate to admit it, but I was never big on teamwork. It was always about me doing my thing. If I hustled, I wanted it to be for me. If I failed, it didn't seem right to share the blame. Boxing is an individual sport and I was born to fight. You don't get red cards for being overaggressive in boxing!”

Pucek began boxing at City Boxing in Cloverdale, BC at age 18 in October 2005 and stepped into the ring for her first fight April 2006.

"I feel it has been one of the best things I have done in my life. The self-confidence it has given me is great," Pucek said. "I stay fit and love the sport." 

Two years later, under the tutelage of trainer Dave Allison at City Boxing she had a Provincial title to her name. She also earned a bronze from the Canadian nationals at Rock River Casino Resort in Richmond, BC in November 2007, where she lost to eventual silver medalist Genevieve LaChance in the 60-kg division by a 60-26 score.

Pucek vs Doerksen in her debut
© Copyrighted photo taken by Mike Blair

On April 12, 2008 Sarah (136 lbs) fought her professional debut at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington, USA against fellow pro debuter Theresa Doerksen (139 lbs) of Abbotsford, BC, Canada. The fight lasted 2 minutes before Pucek won by TKO.  According to WBAN correspondent and photographer Mike Blair, "Pucek stepped to the middle of the ring at the opening bell, held her hands in front of her and threw straight left jabs at Doerksen. When Doerksen moved away from the jab, Pucek slid with her, keeping her in range and again throwing the jab. Doerksen tried to answer with a left of her own, but it did not carry the snap to catch the quicker Pucek. In the opening minute of the first round Pucek landed her jab seemingly at will, while Doerksen had to be content to sneak one or two punches past Pucek’s defense. At the midpoint of the first round, once Pucek had made Doerksen weary of the sting of the jab, Pucek faked a left and threw a right hand that landed flush on Doerksen’s head. Doerksen dropped to the mat as Pucek stepped to a neutral corner to reload. Doerksen stood to beat the count and the referee allowed the fight to continue. As the round drew to a close Pucek again threw a quick and powerful right hand. Again Doerksen dropped to the mat, but this time, though she would get up, the referee would wave an end to the fight. Doerksen pleaded her case, trying to convince the referee she was fine, but her wobbly legs betrayed her." 

Pucek claims it was one of the best moments of her life, saying “Everything just went perfect. You don't knock people out in the amateurs and I had no idea how exhilarating it would be. I think I might have left with a new addiction.”  (For more fight photos by Mike Blair, see Photo Gallery #466 on the WBAN Member Site).

Sarah Pucek vs Wendy Roy in July 2008
© Copyrighted photo taken by Mike Blair

On July 12, 2008 at the Silver Reef Casino in Ferndale, Washington Sarah (124½ lbs) won a unanimous (40-36,39-37,39-37) four-round decision over a very game Wendy Roy (124½ lbs) of Vancouver, BC, who fell to 0-5 with the loss. (For more fight photos by Mike Blair, see Photo Gallery #486 on the WBAN Member Site).

On October 25, 2008 Pucek (128 lbs) was back at the Emerald Queen to capture a four-round unanimous (40-36,40-36,39-37) decision over 35-year-old Clara De La Torre (128 lbs) of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pucek progressed to 3-0 while De La Torre fell to 1-6 (1 KO) with her sixth straight loss.

Pucek (L) vs Johnson in April 2009
© Copyrighted photo taken by Mike Blair

On April 11 at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington, Sarah (133 lbs)  fought to a four-round majority draw with Tammie Johnson (131 lbs) of Lynwood, Washington. According to WBAN correspondent and photographer Mike Blair, "The four round fight ... was fought in a style more to the liking of Johnson, though she did not like the result. Johnson answered the opening bell showing the aggressive tendency she has in other fights. Pucek initially fought in a similar manner, standing in front of Johnson while trying to slip shots between Johnson’s arms. Then after thirty seconds of exchanging punches, Pucek stepped out, slid to her left and used her jab, trying to slow the frenetic pace. Johnson however, would not oblige, and the round ended the way it began, both women were in the middle of the ring slugging it out. In the middle of the first round Johnson was able to score when she pinned Pucek on the ropes. Pucek turned the tables in the second, and backed Johnson in to the ropes. There was plenty of action in the opening rounds as Johnson swung from the outside in, most often her target was Pucek’s chin. Pucek’s weapon of choice in the first two rounds was the right hand. She was unable to make it land effectively in the first round, but in the second she landed some big shots inside, and they caught Johnson square. In the third round both fighters appeared a bit slower, mostly due to the fast pace of the opening rounds. The round gave both of them a chance to fight a bit more defensively, a tactic rarely used prior to that. Johnson again was able to land shots when she backed Pucek to the ropes, but Pucek proved elusive, and slipped out of harm’s way keeping anything from landing solid. The fourth round was a good round for both fighters. Johnson dropped her punches down to connect with Pucek’s body. Pucek used the round to land solid shots to Johnson’s chin. Like the third round, this one was close. Before the fight results were announced, the Emerald Queen crowd rose to their feet to cheer the two women. After the standing ovation the crowd heard that one judge scored the fight 39-37 for Pucek, the other two scored the fight even at 38. The majority draw means Pucek remains unbeaten, while Johnson notched her second draw in the last two fights."  Pucek moved her pro record to 3-0-1 while Johnson's progressed to 3-2-2 (0 KOs).

On November 7, 2009 at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington, Sarah won a five-round split (50-45,49-46,46-49) decision in a rematch with Tammie Johnson. According to WBAN correspondent and photographer Mike Blair, "The fight plan for Johnson was to attack Pucek’s body. Pucek’s plan was to stay on the outside and jab, aiming at Johnson’s head when it came in range. In the first round Pucek’s jab was efficient and her footwork kept her out of range of Johnson’s power. Johnson tried to work the body, but it was just out of reach. In the second round Johnson closed the distance and looked to land those shots to Pucek’s body, and she found her target. Both woman stepped up the tempo in the round as they stood toe to toe and threw punches. That style did not suit Pucek as well as Johnson and at the end of the round, Pucek had felt the sting of Johnson’s body punches. Pucek’s corner made a few adjustments between rounds, the primary one being to stay on the outside and use her footwork to keep Johnson from getting close. She did, so Johnson had a tougher time scoring inside while Pucek fired her jab targeting Johnson’s head. The fourth round provided each fighter a chance to offer a clinic in style. Pucek moved about the ring, stepping in to fire a left, followed by a right to the body. Johnson waited patiently for Pucek to get close, then countered to the inside. The difference in the round was Pucek’s quickness. Johnson went back to the body in earnest in the final round. She pursued Pucek around the ring, and when she could pin her on the ropes, she was able to land. However, Pucek again showed her quickness and agility and slipped out of trouble."  Johnson fell to 4-3-2 with the loss.

On September 17, 2010 at the Subway Soccer Centre in Calgary, Alberta, AYana Pelletier of Edmonton won a hard-fought ten-round unanimous (97-93,97-92,95-94) decision over Sarah Pucek for the vacant NABA Lightweight title.  Darren Hauck reported for the web site BoxingExaminer: "The fight was a great battle with both Pucek and Pelletier showing what it takes to be a champion caliber boxer.  In the opening round Pelletier backed up Pucek, landing a hard right that dropped her midway through the round.  Pucek recovered well and landed some shots of her own and tried to finish the round strong. Pelletier pressured Pucek throughout the fight putting Pucek against the ropes many times where she was able to land effective combinations.  However, great movement and excellent counter punching by Pucek kept her in the match.  Pelletier was on a mission and never swayed from her game plan.  The taller Pelletier used her height and size to her advantage throughout most of the fight.  Pelletier was dominant throughout many of the rounds.  On the other hand Pucek landed some great body shots but Pelletier seemed unfazed.  This was an excellent fight by both and would be a great rematch."  Pelletier improved to 7-2-1 (4 KO's) while Pucek fell to 4-1-1 (1 KO).

Sarah';s next fight is set for December 9, 2011, when she will take on Jelena Mrdjenovich of Edmonton, Alberta.

As far as boxing goes, Sarah Pucek has her heart set on two things: to someday become a world champion, and to introduce other girls to the sport she fell in love with. “If women, especially teenage girls, really knew how much you can get out of boxing, they would be lining up to join. It's more then just beating each other up. It's about a healthy body image, building self esteem, and achieving goals. It gives you a positive identity. Boxing came along at one of the toughest points in my life and built me back up. Boxing gave me the confidence to carry on, the drive to succeed, and a place to slug out every trouble on my mind. I often think boxing saved my life. I can truly say that I am a fighter.”