Dawn Gibson

Sooke B次元官网网址 Mirror

Next week Jill Doucet will be returning to school like any other 12-year-old girl would, but what she is getting up to the weekend before is far from typical.

The Sooke boxer is heading to fight in the Beautiful Brawlers All Female Fight in Pacifica, Calif., this weekend against a 12-year-old girl from the U.S.

Conal MacPhee, a retired professional boxer who coaches Doucet in Vancouver, said he and Doucet have been training together for the past few weeks and he believes she is very well prepared for the fight.

B次元官网网址淭he first thing Jill ever said to me was B次元官网网址楬i IB次元官网网址檓 Jill and IB次元官网网址檓 going to the OlympicsB次元官网网址�,B次元官网网址� said MacPhee. B次元官网网址淚 thought, B次元官网网址榃ow, whoB次元官网网址檚 this kid?B次元官网网址� I was very impressed by her abilities, footwork, movement and focus.B次元官网网址�

MacPhee said his predictions for this weekend are that itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a great fight, and that he and Doucet have been working on a lot of movement techniques to bring a different style of fighting to the ring.

He explained that the girl she is fighting likes to B次元官网网址渆xchange punchesB次元官网网址�, so they are working to make sure Doucet B次元官网网址済ets in and gets out,B次元官网网址� meaning she will throw punches but will dodge whatB次元官网网址檚 coming at her.

B次元官网网址淚 have a good idea of how this girl fights and weB次元官网网址檙e not going to have to find her in the ring, sheB次元官网网址檚 going to have to find Jill,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淛ill is very focused, she knows the game plan and she just has to go and execute it.B次元官网网址�

Ellen Connor, DoucetB次元官网网址檚 mother and owner of the Sooke Boxing Club, said she has no problem running Doucet to Vancouver for training because she wants to open as many doors as possible for her daughter.

B次元官网网址淚f this is truly what she wants to do then why not give her the opportunity?B次元官网网址� asked Connor. B次元官网网址淗ow many 12-year-old girls have the ability, desire and belief in themselves to get in that ring. The confidence she has from this will carry throughout her entire life.B次元官网网址�

She explained that the doors are opening for girls in boxing, and the work Doucet has been doing with MacPhee has been extremely helpful.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 incredible to see the two of them train together,B次元官网网址� said Connor. B次元官网网址淵ou can just see the level of where sheB次元官网网址檚 at.B次元官网网址�

Connor said Doucet has been learning a lot of things from MacPhee that most boxers her age wouldnB次元官网网址檛.

B次元官网网址淛ill is a phenomenal athlete. She has million dollar feet, and she moves like a gazelle,B次元官网网址� said MacPhee. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e never seen a male or female with that kind of balance and speed.B次元官网网址�

He said her goals and extreme focus is very rare to him, and that people like Doucet are much more than a typical athlete.

B次元官网网址淪he works very hard, she has all the makings to be not just a Canadian champ but a world champ and she will be one day,B次元官网网址� said MacPhee. B次元官网网址淚 honestly believe that Jill is the future of womenB次元官网网址檚 boxing in this province.B次元官网网址�

Doucet wants people to know that being a female boxer doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean they are butch, or even extremely tough; it means they are an athlete.

B次元官网网址淔or this weekend I would hopefully like to win and have fun, but my life goal is to go to the Olympics with my best friend who is also a boxer,B次元官网网址� she said.

Doucet said she is excited and grateful for her upcoming fight, but is also very nervous. She explained that she has been learning a bunch of new techniques from her coach that help her feel more confident in the ring. Adding that he is great at explaining complicated things to her.

B次元官网网址淚 am very proud to represent Sooke, B.C. and Canada,B次元官网网址� said Doucet. She and her grandmother, Jill Hummerstone, said Doucet has received a ton of support from gyms and people in both Sooke and Vancouver throughout her training.

MacPhee said his only goal for Doucet this weekend is that she fights well, and does the best that she can do.

B次元官网网址淭he boxing I teach is not your average boxing,B次元官网网址� said MacPhee. B次元官网网址淛ill is going to have more advanced moves than this girl. Jill is ready to go, and sheB次元官网网址檚 ready to execute. SheB次元官网网址檚 a born fighter.B次元官网网址�