YVETTE RAPOSO - IN YOUR CORNER, ON YOUR SIDE

BUILDING BY BOXING
IN YOUR CORNER, ON YOUR SIDE
Train like a boxer, feel like a champ.
BOXING BUILDS

These are catchphrases that you are likely to hear from trainer and fellow boxing enthusiast Yvette Raposo.  I first met Yvette by attending one of her boxing classes at Kingsway on Bloor in Toronto.  There I gained all kinds of appreciation for the benefits of boxing training and for Yvette’s skill and knowledge of the sport and its health benefits.  I have always been a boxing fan, but I have to thank Yvette for moving my appreciation for boxing to the next level - both as a spectator sport and as a means to improved fitness.

So I thought it would be great to introduce more people to this inspiring person through a casual question and answer format.  I generated all questions and the responses are in Yvette’s own words.  This should give the readers of Female Boxing Now! a more detailed and unique glimpse into the life of a terrific ambassador for the sport of boxing.

Yvette helps people to shape, mold and condition not only client’s bodies but also their minds by providing a very positive and friendly atmosphere where everyone is encouraged to help each other.  But Yvette was also a very talented athlete who loved competing as an amateur boxer and nearly turned pro.  How and why did she get to where she is now?  The answers are below!

Hi Yvette.  Okay, I’m letting you have it with some questions!  :)

How long have you been involved with boxing?

1998 was the first time I stepped into the boxing club which merely sparked my curiosity at first. I had no idea my career would eventually travel this path although I am not surprised:-)

How did you get started in boxing?  What was it about boxing that drew you to the sport?

Despite achieving high marks in school, I dropped out of University, twice. What I was truly seeking could only be found in one unique place outside of myself, the gym, where I had already established many hopes and dreams as a teenager struggling with body image issues. Not only did I transform my body but I found a lifestyle that I knew I wanted part of forever. So I landed a desk job at a small privately owned gym which also happened to boast an incredible boxing program in the basement.

It was then that I set my sights on competing in my first natural bodybuilding show. My trainer Billy Martin (who later became my boxing coach) implemented boxing drills as part of our program for fat burning and cross-training. As the show approached, my skills on the heavy bag naturally developed but I didn't pay too much attention as I was busy getting stage ready. The show was a big success and my confidence was skyrocketing.

One day soon after, I was hanging out by the ring just observing and marvelling at one of the female fighters preparing for her next fight. Billy casually asked me if I'd like to step in and simply 'move around' with her. I did. After what was probably only three, two minute rounds I was hooked! It was such a euphoric experience which left me in tears of exhilaration. The extreme need for focus and acute awareness brought me to a new level of being and I wanted more.

I asked Billy about training for my first fight. Without hesitation he said "ok show up at 6am next week". It was my first test, he wanted to know how serious I was. I showed up. I was very serious.

Newspaper clipping featuring Yvette Raposo from the Brampton Guardian in 2001

You were a very successful amateur boxer.  What was your record as an amateur?

My record as an amateur was 6-0, 5 by way of RSC ( referee stops contest aka TKO) and 4 of those I won in the first round including winning the Ontario Championship. Following my fifth bout, it proved difficult to find girls who would step into the ring with me so I was upgraded to Open Class fighting which at that time was usually a minimum requirement of at least ten fights. This led me to fight the two-time Intermediate Canadian National Champion which was my biggest and toughest challenge to date. I won that fight by unanimous decision. I attribute all my success in the ring to my incredibly dedicated coach, his training techniques and our consistent hard work. Billy has since moved on to be one of the top Professional Coaches in all of Canada!

Yvette Raposo (in red) at the Brampton Cup in 2002

Did you enjoy fighting as an amateur?

The time of my life:-) Not only did I enjoy fighting but I loved everything about the process; the training, the prep, the camaraderie, life at the club...

Yvette Raposo and Coach After Winning Ontario Gold!

Did you ever consider turning pro?

I did. In Feb of 2003 after many medicals and finally an interview with the Athletics Commissioner I received my Pro License. It was an exciting time. I pursued sponsorship from the restaurant where I worked at the time and was eventually approved!  I even secured a spot on the popular show 'off the record with Michael Landsberg" where I would announce my Pro Status and start putting myself out there as a contender. And then it happened. Injury. The nature of my injury (which is what eventually ended my Pro career before it began) ended up being a blessing in disguise because it propelled me to be the entrepreneur and trainer that I am today.

What was it that turned your career path from competitive boxing to boxing instruction?

 My initial aspiration to be a fitness leader and entrepreneur. During those four years I was training in boxing, I had maintained my waitressing job on the side in order to live, to pay the bills. Once I decided to exit the ring for good I knew it was time to share this sport that I loved so much. I literally pounded the streets that very next week to find any gym that would take me in and provide space for I what I had vision to do: run the best boxing classes in the city!  The manager at one gym finally said I had a deal if I could show up with six committed people ready to join and paid up front. So I did it old skool style: flyer up in the staff room where I worked. The next week I showed up with twelve of my coworkers, all paid up and ready to rock. That was in 2003. I am forever grateful to those who stepped up for me along the way and I have since introduced and instructed boxing to hundreds of people.

I know you are making a difference in people’s lives with your boxing classes.  What is most rewarding part of teaching boxing to your students?

 My biggest reward is the honour to witness how boxing training directly contributes to my students' physical and personal development. Besides the obvious fitness benefits, I am just as impressed by the relationships which have blossomed from this community we have created simply by having this shared interest and by gathering together each week. This camaraderie has evolved outside of the boxing room where we happily support each other at family events and such milestones as weddings, baby showers, retirement parties, fundraisers, you name it, boxing builds this!!

Boxing Clinics - Bringing Boxing Back! Picture taken at Clancy's Boxing Academy 

More recently, I am finding extra satisfaction in teaching my students’ children. People I have been training for ten years are now bringing in their 10 yr olds who are enthralled by what mom and dad are doing in the gym. (Yes, I have trained women at different stages of their pregnancy and end up teaching that same baby - a very cool experience!)

Have you had any students progress to competitive boxing?

It was never my interest to coach fighters although I have passed on a few students over the years who wanted to pursue competition. I saw a huge need for fitness purposes, building self confidence and teaching people a new sport which remains my niche today.

You use boxing training to improve fitness (obviously!).  What other benefits does your training and instruction provide?  What feedback do your students give you?

Boxing attracts a huge variety of people. I think that's ultimately what makes it so interesting, that it's universal. In all my years being involved with the sport and as a teacher, I have noticed a common pattern in people who want to try out the sport: curiosity. This is what gets them through the door. Once they put the gloves on suddenly it becomes a feeling. And that feeling is personal. Some people start out afraid of their own power, some are enticed by it. Whatever happens on the heavy bag is exactly what needs to happen and this is what I encourage from my students: to have their own experience. This sweet science seems complicated and controversial but really it provides an important outlet for so many people.

I see a huge opportunity to introduce the positive aspects of boxing training to a population who are over-stressed, super stimulated and spiritually bankrupt. Want to meditate but can't sit sill like a yogi? Try hitting the heavy bag even if just for one minute, and then you'll find out what it's like to escape the usual chatter of your mind.

Feedback I receive from my students:

• a mental break from their day
• immediate stress relief
• a general sense of empowerment, accomplishment and calm that didn’t exist before
• fat loss! Lots of it!!

What other services do you provide to groups or individuals?

I provide one on one instruction which encompasses all of the elements of the sport including footwork, heavy bag drills, shadow boxing, technique and conditioning.

I teach five classes every week which I max at eight people per class to provide a comfortable learning environment. I also offer specialty classes for corporate team building, couples classes, bachelorette parties; basically any group looking for a bonding experience and to try something new together.

I do public speaking seminars and workshops on the benefits of boxing training and how it relates to life’s challenges. I also volunteer and have organized my own fundraising efforts where all proceeds from my classes go towards a specific cause.

I joke that Boxing is my Boss. But it’s real, it has provided me with a vocation and a platform from where I can contribute to society and help people feel good about themselves everyday.


You have been doing some ring announcing for local boxing shows.  How did you get involved with this?  Do you enjoy it?

Yes, I have happily stepped back in the ring recently, this time wearing a different outfit:-) Two years ago I attended a fundraiser called the Night of Champions where the panel of speakers included Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Larry Holmes and George Chuvalo. What a line-up! It was that evening when I bumped into Everton McEwan, a coach (now Promoter) from my fighting days who I highly respected and hadn’t seen in almost ten years! We started updating each other on what we’ve been doing and chatting some more until he stopped me mid sentence at some point and exclaimed  ‘girl you need a mic in your hand’.  And so it went from there.

What changes have you seen in the sport of boxing since you first got involved?

It was a great time to be a fan in the late 90’s early 2000’s when I was just starting to dig into boxing. Exciting fighters, big personalities, great match-ups, rivalries and rematches.

With the rising popularity of UFC and MMA some people would argue that this took the fans away from boxing. This was timed with what seemed like a lull on the boxing scene with some key fighters starting to retire. In my opinion, it was unfair to state that it was dying although it did put a lot of pressure on boxing promotors to start taking their fan base seriously, which is a good thing. In fact, boxing remained quite alive on the amateur scene and in the clubs where the fighters are born.

Over the last few years we’ve also seen a wave of white collar events mostly across Canada and the U.S. which successfully raise a lot of money and awareness for the chosen cause.

I’ve also witnessed women fighters receive a lot more attention and credit for contributing to the sport as they have. Think Christy Martin, Lucia Rijker, Anne Wolfe and locally Sandy Tsagouris just to name a few very very talented tough fighters who put on a great show and lit up that ring. They have paved the way for other female fighters who really just want to display their talent and hard work to be respected for the athletes which they are.

Women’s Boxing was (finally) recognized as an Olympic sport in 2012.

Kitchener's Mandy Bujold, right, and Colombia's Ingrit Valencia fight during a women's 51 kg final boxing bout at the Pan American Games 

Boxing remains one of the most controversial and debated sports in my opinion. Is it remarkable for its beauty or because of its brutal nature? Brutally beautiful? Love it or hate it, boxing has been around for a long time and it’s here to stay.

Are you a supporter of female boxing?  Do you think opportunities for women who want to box have improved in recent years?  How do you see the future for women in boxing?

Yes, I absolutely support female boxing. I continue to attend local amateur and professional shows where I can personally cheer them on and show my love. Opportunities have certainly improved in recent years, especially now with the addition of women’s boxing as an Olympic sport since London 2012.

Lightweight Jelena Mrdjenovich boxes out of the Panther Gym in Edmonton, Alberta.

For the future, we are already seeing more international coverage of female interest and participation in parts of the world where young girls are traditionally not encouraged to display acts of aggression or extreme physicality. A common misconception of the sport refers to its apparent promotion of violence.  But more people, male and female, young and old are realizing the benefits of its training as it has become more mainstream in the fitness industry for the incredible workout that it proves to be. One might not agree with the sport but one cannot deny the many amazing benefits of its training.

Featherweight Professional Boxer Sandy 'Lil Tyson' Tsagouris from Mississauga, Ontario (right)

I see more women getting involved as they are not only now welcome in the gyms but also respected for their dedication to the growth of the sport. We are seeing women in positions that have traditionally been held by men such as: officials, referees, coaches, promoters, managers, business owners and negotiators, association executives and yes, even ring announcer:-)

Jennifer Huggins owns and operates Kingsway Boxing Club in Toronto

Together we are better and I am so blessed to be mentored and continuously inspired by fellow female ambassadors such as Jennifer Huggins of Fight To End Cancer and Kristina Ejem of Agency Wars who are doing ground breaking work with the sport.

You promote boxing through your classes but also through organizing groups to attend local shows.  You have also organized some boxing clinics in the Toronto area.  How did these come about and were they a success?  Will you be organizing any more in future?

The shows, clinics and fundraisers that I have hosted over the years have been a great success! It’s always exciting to receive the positive feedback on how a particular event has inspired people to appreciate boxing from a different angle. I’m always brainstorming new ways to share the benefits of boxing training and I am open to collaborating with like-minded people who also see the need to improve the dialogue around this sport that can do so much for so many people. Boxing builds the whole person, one punch at a time and I plan to continue contributing every punch of the way.

Boxing Clinics - Brining Boxing Back to the Community.  Picture taken at United Athletics

My next Ring Announcing event is Feb 12 at the Oasis Convention Centre in Mississauga with Everton McEwan and W.B.W. Events, sanctioned by Ontario Boxing Association. As always, this will be a great evening of quality boxing!

For advance tickets you can reach me at yvetteraposo@hotmail.com

For more information on what I do visit www.yvetteraposo.com