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Bringing Women’s Boxing to the Fore in Canada

All over the world, boxing is increasing in popularity once again, returning to its proper place of headlining the sports news section. This time around, however, boxing is seeing its women’s divisions rightfully draw more attention and more fans.

In Europe, Cecilia Braekhus has forged a stranglehold on the welterweight division by owning all four of the major belts, and Katie Taylor has shot up from her Olympic gold medals to become a world champion in the lightweight division after just seven fights. Then, of course, there is a plethora of South American boxers littered around the top five rankings in almost every women’s division.

Now it is Canada’s turn to give more attention to women’s boxing and give it the fandom that it deserves.

The current star of the sport

Source: Champs Boxing Studio, via Twitter

Right now, Jelena Mrdjenovich is the biggest name in Canadian women’s boxing. Over her storied career, the Hay River, Northwest Territories native has been the super featherweight world champion, the lightweight world champion, and is currently the three-time reigning featherweight world champion. In 2016, the unified world champion was honored by the Edmonton Combative Sports Commission as the International Boxer of the Year and has since continued to defend her WBC and WBA world titles.

Still only 35-years-old, Mrdjenovich stands as the best boxer in the featherweight division, with her last two fights coming down to intense split decisions. Training out of Edmonton, Alberta she could be the star that invigorates Canadian boxing fans to turn more of their attention to the female stars. With American upstart Heather Hardy surging to a 20-0-0 record over the last five years, a tantalizing Canada vs. USA clash could be in the works soon.
Garnering interest out of the ring

Source: Steven Katz, via Twitter

One way which can get fans more involved is through sports betting. It sounds odd, but you only need to look at the rising popularity of eSports and what the betting sites have set up for their markets to see that a sport’s popularity and sports betting go hand in hand. People feel much more strongly towards an outcome if they have money on it, so offering more women’s boxing markets may help.

This is an area that the up and coming and established betting sites will be looking into as women’s boxing increases with popularity around superstars like Braekhus, Taylor, Mrdjenovich, and other rising Canadian stars like Marie Eve Dicaire. In fact, at some of the best integrated sportsbooks on Canada’s leading online casinos, you can find women’s boxing betting markets, such as the hot talent Jessica McCaskill at +1600.00 to defeat title holder Katie Taylor on December 13.

At 31-years-old and boasting a 9-0-0 record since debuting in late 2015, Marie Eve Dicaire is a rising star in the welterweight division. The crafty southpaw most recently overcame Yamila Esther Reynoso by unanimous decision at one of Quebec’s best casinos, the Casino du Lac-Leamy. While fighting at a major venue is important, its garnering interest in the online casinos which could really help to boost the popularity of the sport as everyone loves someone who wins them some cash.

With Jelena Mrdjenovich at the helm and Marie Eve Dicaire making her way up, there’s a lot to be excited for as Canadian boxing fans. The women’s game is rightfully growing, with more and more people turning up to and tuning in to their fights, which is hopefully a trend that will continue.

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