by SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
Sudbury's Isabelle Perreault loves a good
punch in the face or a fist in the ribs, and this enjoyment has
her rocketing up the senior women's boxing scene in
Canada.
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Isabelle Perreault (left) and
fellow boxer Jill Perry train hard at the Beaver Boxing
Club in Nepean. |
Perreault, 30, won the women's senior
provincial boxing gold medal in the 66-kilogram division back
in December 2004.
Perreault then won a bronze medal at the
Canadian national championships, in the same class, back in
January
The recent medal wins have Perreault in a
daze; she only has 14 bouts under her belt and just started
boxing competitively in September 2003.
"Winning provincials was unexpected," said
Perreault. "I had been training hard though, and the timing was
right. It just so happened that I was the best boxer in Ontario
then, and I won gold. I found nationals to be quick for me. I
was up against boxers with 40-plus fight experiences, and I
only had 14. I was disappointed and overwhelmed, especially
with all the media there. It's still a great accomplishment and
I really want to get to another nationals next year."
The experience at nationals opened
Perreault's eyes to what she will have to work on to win
gold.
"Now I have to perfect my skills and get
better technically," said Perreault. "Part of the reason I have
done so well recently is that I am tough-minded and I don't
like to lose, but I will have to improve my skill level."
Currently, boxing groups are lobbying to have
female boxing as an Olympic sport for the 2008 Summer Olympic
Games in Beijing, China.
In 2008, Perreault will be 34, the age limit
for Olympic boxing. The Olympics are in Perreault's mind.
"It's a possibility, but I don't even dare
entertain the idea right now," said Perreault. "I am 30, and I
want to start a family, but I don't discount it as well. If
things go well in the future, who knows?"
Perreault's coach, Joe Sandulo of the Beaver
Boxing Club in Nepean, is impressed with her desire and
dedication.
"Isabelle has been making great improvement,"
said Sandulo. "She's very dedicated to the sport and takes her
training seriously. What makes her good is her boxing ability.
She's not a knockout artist, but very intelligent in the ring.
Isabelle is also a decent young lady."
Perreault is preparing herself for life after
competition. She has her Level I National Canadian Coaching
Program certification, and is currently working on Level
II.
"I want to help young women box," said
Perreault. "It's a good way for me to continue my involvement
in the sport. I can't just walk away from it later on because
it's a big part of my life. I just want to give back to the
sport."
Perreault lives in Ottawa at works at the
University of Ottawa as an e-marketing manager. She trains out
of the Beaver Boxing Club.
Perreault got into boxing because she found
traditional sports such as volleyball and basketball
"boring."
"I actually started in Muay Thai kick boxing
six years ago," said Perreault. "It started for fitness, and I
loved the thrill of combat sports. I was bored with
recreational sports. Muay Thai was grueling. I broke my ribs
three times sparring with men because there were no women to
spar with. After four years, I switched to boxing because there
were more opportunities for me. Boxing is an uncompromising
sport. You play basketball, but you
don't play boxing."
