Author: Helene Jafine

Canadian Sports Film Festival 2024: Right to Fight Documentary Screening & Panel Discussion in Toronto

Earlier this month, the Canadian Sports Film Festival (CSFF) took place in Toronto, Ontario, at the iconic TIFF Bell Lightbox. This year’s festival kicked off with a powerful screening of the documentary Right to Fight, which was presented as the first Canadian screening of the film.

The Right to Fight documentary, directed by Georgina Cammalleri, was brought to the big screen by our Kristina Ejem, a member of the CSFF board. The film documents the incredible struggles and triumphs of a group of U.S. women boxers in the late 1970s who fought not only in the ring but also against the sexism, racism, and homophobia that permeated the sport. Through their journey, these pioneering athletes paved the way for future generations of women in boxing.

“Right to Fight” highlights the powerful stories of Marian “Lady Tyger” Trimiar, Cathy “Cat” Davis, and Pat “Pretty” Pineda, whose contributions to women’s boxing history have long been overlooked. This documentary serves as a vital reminder of their efforts and struggles, shedding light on the challenges they faced to secure a place for women in the sport.

Despite the difficult realities portrayed in the film, the screening was inspiring and motivating for attendees, including local sports fans and members of the Girls Just Wanna Box community. The story of these women demonstrates the true spirit of determination and resilience that defines a fighter.

Post-Screening Panel Discussion:

Following the film, an engaging panel discussion took place featuring some key figures connected to the history of women’s boxing. Panelists included:

• Georgina Cammalleri, the director of Right to Fight
• Lanay Browning, a trailblazer who challenged an Ontario ban on women’s boxing in the early 1980s
• Bruce Kidd, a former Olympian who chaired the committee that recommended legalizing women’s boxing in Ontario
• A surprise guest, Pat Pineda, one of the boxers featured in the film, who joined the discussion via Zoom

The panel explored important topics, such as:

• The pivotal role of Sue Fox from WBAN (Women’s Boxing Archive Network) in helping Georgina Cammalleri connect with the featured athletes and secure archival footage of their groundbreaking moments.
• The significant progress women’s boxing has made, while emphasizing that much work remains to be done to achieve full equality in the sport.
• The shared experiences of Lanay Browning and the women in the film, highlighting how the struggles faced by female boxers in the U.S. were also prevalent in Canada.

As Georgina Cammalleri shared, the film resonates deeply with women trying to break into male-dominated industries:

“Even if you’re not a boxer, as a woman—especially if you’re trying to crack a male-dominated world—it really resonated with me. This is an amazing story of women who just do it. If they want it, they go for it.”

The story of these women’s perseverance and dedication to achieving their dreams has inspired audiences around the world. Georgina’s dedication to sharing their journey was fueled by a personal passion for telling the stories of trailblazing women.

If you missed the screening of Right to Fight at the CSFF, don’t worry! Follow the film’s official Instagram page to find out where it will be shown next. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness this powerful documentary that sheds light on the incredible history of women in boxing and their ongoing fight for equality in sports.

📸: the Canadian Sports Film Festival

Last month, we hosted a highly successful online workshop for female boxing coaches from across Canada. There were current coaches and aspiring to become coaches, this workshop offered a unique, experiential-focused learning experience that left every participant with practical coaching takeaways.

The Gap in Coaching Education for Women in Boxing:

When both Kristina and I first started coaching boxing, we received the standard Level 1 coaching certification from our Provincial Sport Organization (PSO). While this gave us the basics—such as coaching stance, footwork, and the 6 key boxing punches—we quickly realized that a weekend course didn’t provide us with the depth of knowledge we needed. There simply wasn’t enough time in a two-day workshop to cover the more advanced aspects of coaching that we now know are crucial for success.

We identified a gap in the market: women coaches need specialized training that not only empowers them to coach confidently but also prepares them for the physical and mental demands of boxing coaching. Additionally, coaches self-care is often overlooked, even though it’s one of the most important aspects of maintaining long-term success!

Key Areas We Learned as Coaches:

When Kristina and I began coaching, there were several areas we had to learn on our own, such as:

1. How to structure a 45- vs 60-minute boxing class for different levels.
2. How to coach a mixed-level boxing class, balancing the needs of beginners with those of more advanced boxers.
3. How to communicate effectively with different learning styles and explain techniques in various ways to ensure all participants understand.
4. How to mentally and physically prepare ourselves as coaches, while also preparing our athletes for competition in the ring.

The Need for Female Coaches in Boxing:

As we’ve grown in our coaching careers, we’ve learned that women and girls feel more comfortable training with female coaches. However, there’s a significant lack of female coaches in boxing, which is why we’re so passionate about helping other women step into these roles.

Unfortunately, our organization, Girls Just Wanna Box (GJWB), can’t be everywhere. That’s why we’re dedicated to helping other female coaches—whether you’re currently coaching or aspiring to be one—start your own boxing classes, programs, and gyms. Our mission is to create safe spaces for women and girls in the boxing world!

Introducing the Girls Just Wanna Box & Coach Membership:

We are beyond excited to announce the launch of our new Girls Just Wanna Box & Coach Membership on December 1st! This membership is designed specifically for female boxing coaches and those interested in becoming coaches.

Here’s what members will gain access to:

• Monthly Pre-Recorded Coaching Videos: These will cover essential coaching topics (like the ones mentioned above), helping you improve your coaching skills, confidence, and knowledge.
• Group Chat for Community Connection: A private space for members to network, share experiences, and get support from fellow female coaches.
• Monthly Q&A with Helene & Kristina: Ask us anything! We’ll be answering your coaching questions and offering personalized advice to help you grow.

Get on the Waitlist for the Girls Just Wanna Box & Coach Membership:

Are you ready to empower yourself as a female boxing coach? The Girls Just Wanna Box & Coach Membership isn’t live yet, but you can get on the wait-list now. Send us an email at info@girlsjustwannabox.com to secure your spot.

We can’t wait to support you on your coaching journey and help you create safe spaces for female boxers around the world.

Join the Movement: Empower Female Coaches, Empower Athletes

Together, we can prove the power of #GirlsJustWannaBox—and we hope you’ll be part of that movement. Whether you’re just starting out or already coaching, we’re here to guide and empower you.

Let’s inspire more women to take on the challenge of coaching boxing and help shape the next generation of female athletes.

This past weekend Helene & Kristina headed to Tampa, Florida to cover the MVP: Jake Paul vs Mike Perry fight card.

Although yes we did have one of our ambassadors (Natasha Spence) on the card, we were invited to go as press on behalf of Sue Fox and the WBAN.

This event featured 2 female fights including the co-main event: Amanda Serrano vs Stevie Morgan & the headline of the preliminary card: Shadasia Green vs Natasha Spence.

Both opponents of the MVP signed athletes (Serrano & Green) had some obstacles in their way. Morgan (14-1) faced Serrano, a veteran of the sport with a record of 46-2-1 and deemed the most decorated female boxer. Spence went up a weight class to face off against Green who is currently ranked #2 in the world (super middleweight division).

Photo credit: Lia Brady

Friday night we attended the public weigh-ins featuring all of the fighters and the first face-offs before fight night! The fighters were ready to go and some got a little heated including the headliner- Paul vs Perry. The one very unique experience was when a crowd from Canada flew in for the Lucas Bahdi’s fight and were chanting his name from when he came out to when the weigh-ins ended – true Canadian pride!! 🇨🇦

Photo credit: Esther Lin/MVP

Watch our interview with Stevie Morgan HERE!

We were also lucky to run into Christy Martin (one of the pioneers of women’s boxing) and her wife Lisa as her promotional company had a fighter on the card: Tony Aguilar.

Saturday night was fight night! There were a total of 9 bouts on the card ranging in weight from Super Bantamweight (122lbs) to Cruiserweight (200lbs).

Green (14-1) vs Spence (8-4-2) was the first of the two female fights that evening. It was an exciting 8 round fight with the two exchanging back and forth each round. With 11KO’s for Green; her team was expecting another to add to her record, but Spence’s chin was strong enough to withstand her punches and her power.

Even though we were covering the 2 female fights of the night, we must mention the other Canadian fight that evening: Lucas Bahdi (Niagara Falls) vs Ashton Sylve. The fight was scheduled for 10 rounds, but Bahdi finished the fight in round 6 and so far deemed KO of the year!!

The co-main event was Serrano vs Morgan with cheering fans in the crowd split between local talent: Morgan and MVPs very own: Serrano. Morgan taking on her toughest opponent to date and Serrano competing in her 50th professional fight. On paper it seemed like a mismatched fight, but with Morgan newer to the professional world, her confidence at the press conference, and not much footage on her it was unknown – we eagerly anticipated what would happen!

The fight lasted only 38 seconds into the second round of a scheduled ten round fight, proving the fight was just that and Serrano’s experience clearly gave her the upperhand. We have to give credit where credit is due as Morgan took a chance on herself and tested her abilities, unfortunately it came up short in this fight but women in boxing have a harder time refusing fights by fear of not getting asked in the future. Additionally their careers (especially as Morgan started later in life) are/can be shorter and if you want those big fights and big achievements, you have to take them when the opportunities are given. She stepped up to the plate, but unfortunately it wasn’t her time.

We can’t finish by noting the main event of the evening: Jake Paul vs Mike Perry in a 8 round fight that ended in 6 rounds with a TKO by Paul. Although the card was put on by Paul’s very own MVP – the crowd favoured Mike Perry as he is a local (Orlando, Florida) – which made for a very interesting atmosphere and ending when Paul took home the W.

We attended the post-fight press conference featuring: Corey Marksman, Lucas Bahdi, Mike Perry, Amanda Serrano, and Jake Paul. The one thing that bothered both of us was the lack of questions for Amanda when it was her turn with Jake Paul. The percentage of female press was minimal, but the men still could have asked the most decorated female boxer more than two questions. This really showcased why we need more females in the sport in all areas to help elevate it.

After this dominant performance – we look forward to watching Amanda Serrano vs Katie Taylor 2 👊

*cover image above photo credit: Esther Lin/MVP

When do you need a mouth guard?

If you are doing any partner work we always encourage our participants to use a mouth guard because things happen! Even if the goal of the drill is to not touch – it doesn’t hurt to have extra safety, but it is not required for basic partner drills with no contact.

If you are sparring and/or competing you will be required to wear a mouth guard. Rules have recently changed, but you can wear any colour mouth guard in competition (at least locally – ON/Canada – you were not allowed to wear a red or red adjacent colour mouth guard as it resembles the colour of blood).

*Please check with your national sport organization to confirm if the same also applies where you are living/competing.

Most local sport stores will sell mouth guards and/or any shop that sells hockey equipment will definitely have mouth guards for sale – that you can just mold at home with hot water. Although these are the most cost efficient, I would say if you do have the funds to do so – ask your dentist and or find a local custom mouth guard supplier. One that we have seen at locally is: Smartguards (*not affiliated, we have just been introduced to them at local boxing events). The at home molds will work, but these tend to fit tighter and closer to your mouth and also make it feel like they aren’t even there!

A few things you don’t want in a mouth guard:

1) Too lose/ too easy to take in and out

2) Hard to talk

3) Hard to breathe

Regardless of the mouth guard you do get – at home or custom-made – we highly suggest you start using it on the heavy bag and/or shadowboxing so you get used to wearing one before you start using it with any partner/sparring work. It can be an adjustment to using it so it’ll be easier for your session and one less thing to focus on if you have already gotten used to wearing one and breathing with it.

As you know your breath is very important in boxing and at first it can be hard/feel difficult to breathe with a mouth guard in especially if this is your first time ever using one. So by starting to wear it during a regular training session and/or during a run can help you get used to the feeling of having it in, breathing through/with it, and just getting comfortable training with that extra piece of equipment. Hopefully once you have practiced with it a few times it should feel like it is not even there.

Last suggestion we will share is: do not use a new mouth guard for competition! Use it at least a few times before. Like anything else with competition, try not to wear anything new as this will help to mitigate any discomfort.

Let us know what mouth guard brand (store bought or custom made) you use below!

There are other names that other companies have used including: female groin protector, jill, groin guard, or no-foul protector – that you may be more familiar with.

Other brands have not included and designed them for a woman – WILD WE KNOW…. For example pictured below is a Ringside one – PLEASE TELL US, WHAT IS THAT PROTECTING?!!!!

The Venus Belt was designed with a woman’s body in mind and therefore contours to the figure of a female boxer for the ultimate fit with boxers saying “I don’t even feel it there!” So we collaborated with VB to make special ones for YOU, OUR community!

The guard is made with vegan pineapple leather and other locally sourced material to make it durable & lightweight for both sparring and in competition.

The belt protects the pelvis, uterus and reproductive organs. It also protects the hips, the liver and the kidneys.

Coaches Kristina and Helene believe all girls and women should be wearing a Venus Belt to #protectthepretty while sparring and competing. Boxing is a safe sport when practiced appropriately and with the right gear. Other brands are too big, bulky, and VERY unflattering – we only collaborate with products we love and the Venus Belt is one of them! ⁠

** The trainer can be worn in competition, but the competitor has a more flush front to hide better under competitive shorts.

To view our collection of Venus Belts – click HERE.

On Sunday April 21st 2024, GJWB made one of its long-term goals/dreams come true! We hosted our first GJWB all-women’s amateur boxing card called Sunday Funday Fights!!

Sunday Funday Fights was the evolution of Sunday Funday sparring offered on the last Sunday of the month at our gym. We started these a few years ago to help girls find new sparring partners, create a safe place to learn and grow, network with other athletes/coaches/gyms, and create opportunities for girls and women in the sport. GJWB has always been about community and this event was no different! We are here to bring together the community of girls and women of all ages to step into their power (both inner and outer) through the sport of boxing. We also encourage girls to box for real (competitively), but continue to have fun!

Myself and Kristina are no strangers to the boxing event world and putting on shows, but this was different and special. I remember when I joined GJWB back in 2018 – Kristina and I spoke about eventually doing an event like this, but with ALL the other tasks we wanted to complete (and still want to accomplish) – this event had taken a seat on the back burner.

Women’s boxing is definitely gaining more momentum now than it ever has, but the issue of getting females on amateur cards still seems to be a struggle. Some shows may have one female fight on the card, but lots are still not. Over the years we have supported and sponsored other all-female cards and we made a quick decision in February to put our own on in April. Instead of giving these girls & women 1 or 2 opportunities, let’s make another! Because as we all know #girlsjustwannabox.

We were able to have 11 bouts with ages ranging from 8 years old (funbox) to 46 years old (masters); we had experience levels ranging from first fights to nine fights; weight ranges from 29 kg to 81+kg; and boxers from 12 different clubs across Ontario & 1 from British Columbia. Our event showcased what makes boxing so special – it is for all ages, experience levels, and weight classes.

In addition to having all female athletes participating, we were lucky to have 6 female coaches in the corner, an all female officials crew from Boxing Ontario [as the show was sanction by them], female physician, female DJ, female photographers, our very own TEAM GJWB ambassador Yvette Raposo as our ring announcer, and professional boxer Natasha ‘Nightmare’ Spence as our medal deliverer.

The energy from the SOLD OUT audience was ELECTRIC! So thank you to all that attended and cheered these athletes on. From DJ Miss Kitte sharing the dancing vibes, Curbside Foods feeding the fighters/coaches and spectators, and our two very special booth sponsors Beck’s Broth and Pure Vita Labs (PVL) providing samples to everyone to both fuel, hydrate, and replenish!

We would also like to give a BIG special thanks to our fighter bag sponsors: Henrys, Knix, Guru, Curly Prints, Organika. Lastly, to the volunteer team at LoveShack Toronto, and Oakville Boxing Academy for letting us rent your space.

There’s a saying by Maya Angelou: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I believe we made people feel accepted, special, supported, and for the girls/women that fought – welcomed in that ring!