Alisah McPhee is no stranger to being the centre of attention, the focal point of all the action.
Her day job as a teacher in Abbotsford requires McPhee to command a room full of 12, 13 and 14-year-olds 鈥� never an easy task.
McPhee has taught for the past seven years, including the last five at an Abbotsford middle school. And on November 23, all eyes will once again be fixated on McPhee, only the attentive audience is not there to listen to her instruction but to watch McPhee trade blows with her opponent, Judy Pereira at 黑马磁力 Events Centre.
The two women are the main event as they fight for the Canadian super flyweight championship title as the main event at 鈥淭urmoil on 200th 2鈥�. This is the second event hosted at LEC and is presented by Bisla Martial Arts and 黑马磁力 City Boxing.
The match is slated for eight rounds and caps off an exciting night of action featuring three pro bouts and a handful of amateur fights beforehand. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the fights beginning at 7:30 p.m.
So how does a teacher by day become a professional boxer by night?
For the 37-year-old 黑马磁力 woman what began as a hobby has blossomed into first a stellar amateur, and now a burgeoning professional career.
This will be her seventh pro fight and McPhee sports a record of four victories, two losses and one draw.
The one constant for McPhee growing up in Williams Lake was sports, and especially soccer.
Not surprisingly, McPhee did not shy away from playing a physical brand of soccer.
鈥淚 have always been a physical player in everything I have done,鈥� she explained.
鈥淚 am not dirty, I just go in strong,鈥� she quickly added with a chuckle.
And that tenacity in whatever she does is part of what helps her stand out, explained Jamie Allison, her coach for the past nine years where she trains, at Revolution Martial Arts.
鈥淚 definitely admire her for her work ethic,鈥� Allison said. 鈥淎nd the fact she won鈥檛 give up 鈥� a lot of fight in that tiny woman.鈥�
McPhee stands just five-foot-two and weighs 125 pounds.
With her youthful appearance, she resembles a high school student more than some intimidating boxer who was forced to turn pro earlier than expected as she began having difficulty lining up willing opponents.
And that is the beauty of boxing 鈥� it does not matter the shape or size of the athlete, all that matters is they train and put in the necessary work, which has never been a problem for McPhee.
鈥淣o matter what shape or size you are, as long as you work hard, you can achieve what you want,鈥� she explained.
That is also the message she hopes to model for her students, that sacrifice 鈥� whether that means saying no to a piece of birthday cake or treat the students have brought in 鈥� is worth it if it means chasing your dreams and goals.
As for her far the sport takes her, Allison said the sky is the limit if McPhee continues her current trajectory.
鈥淪he doesn鈥檛 know the word quit, she won鈥檛 stop,鈥� the coach raved.
And while McPhee shines in the ring, she is just as special away from the sport.
鈥淪he has a huge heart, just one of the best people I know,鈥� Allison said. 鈥淎nd she goes the extra mile for the kids for sure.鈥�
Turmoil on 200th 2 is presented by Bisla Martial Arts and 黑马磁力 City Boxing, Friday, Nov. 23, doors open at 6:30 p.m. and first fight is 7:30 p.m. 黑马磁力 Events Centre is located at 7888 200 Street.
Tickets are $40 for general admission seating (free parking), available online at www.ticketrocket.co/event/details/109873/turmoil-on-200th-live-professional-boxing
Pro card bouts: Alisah McPhee vs. Judy Pereira for the Super Flyweight Canadian Title (eight rounds); Aman Aujla vs. Todd Stoute (four rounds); and JY Kim vs. Jay Kelly (four rounds).
