Rival Boxing Gym Cochrane delivered some good news to the Big Hill Haven board last evening (May 9).

Anne Garrido, Owner and Head Coach of Rival Boxing Gym shares although the Boxing Beauties event was not completely sold out, this was the largest donation cheque she has cut from a boxing fundraising event. Presenting a cheque for 12,330 dollars, Garrido says the only thing she would have loved to see is a packed venue. "Everything was amazing; the only thing down from the previous event was a sellout. I don't know if it was because it was women's' boxing or that we only had ten fights, but we made up the difference with the online auction."

Right around 500 people came out to show the Boxing Beauties their support on April 27th, and if Mother Nature had cooperated, Garrido believes that number would have been much higher. "If we didn't have a snow storm, we would have at least another hundred from Calgary, but they never made it."

Valerie Gilmore, Secretary for Big Hill Haven shares, that with all the attention the boxing fundraiser drew, she anticipates the next one would be a total sell out. "It was such a success that I think next year you will just bring more people in; it was unreal."

When it comes to murmurs in the community about boxing and domestic violence being an odd pairing, the ladies of the Big Hill Haven board broke the silence. 

"Boxing was one thing that helped me when I went through my divorce; it was my relief. It was really great to get rid of all the stress and tension, plus all the discipline you needed."

"It is also important that we recognize that there is a big difference between violence and boxing; they are not the same thing. Boxing is a sport, it's controlled, it was embraced, it was empowering; it is completely different from what we are standing up against. It wasn't a conflict for us."

Board member and Boxing Beauty, Robin McIntyre, faced many emotions throughout her journey. "It was a lot of fun, but then it got serious and emotional. Then it got scary, and then it was fun again. I had to deal with emotions I never had to deal with before, but it was such a great group of supportive women to train with."

Whether or not Garrido hosts another all-female boxing card in the future has yet to be decided. "I would do it again, but I would want to find more fighters to have a bigger card, at least 15 or 16 bouts. But to try even to gather twenty women to box was tough."