Punching her way to the top

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/10/2020 (2031 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Grace Fahnbulleh is a remarkable young woman pursuing a fantastic dream.

Grace was born in Liberia, and arrived in Canada on Nov. 8, 2006. Her mother, Gowah, brought Grace

and her six brothers and sisters to Canada with great hope for the future.
“I was a basketball player,” she says of her first foray into sports. “I started playing in Grade 7 and played all the way through (high school, and then) two seasons at the University of Winnipeg.

“During this time my mom was diagnosed with cancer (and) she ultimately passed away,”  Grace says.

“She was a strong, brave, and beautiful woman. I was going through stuff when (she) was really ill. Soon after my mom was diagnosed, I got into MMA and boxing. Boxing helped to keep me grounded and keep me focused.”

Combat sports such as mixed martial arts or boxing takes a great deal of commitment, otherwise participants just don’t cut it.

“I first started with MMA at Dragon’s Den (but) I really didn’t like the grappling part of MMA,” she explains.

“I then moved to the Orioles Boxing Club for what was essentially casual training. I had my first exhibition match and my first two real fights at the United Boxing Club, and then I met Kent Brown at Stinger’s Boxing Academy and everything changed,” she says.

“I sometimes have trouble believing in myself. Kent’s approach, the things he shows me … he is able to apply all of that to my fighting style. Kent and coach Jim have done so much to help make me a more relaxed and more patient fighter.”

Grace hopes to one day fight in the Olympic Games for Liberia, her home country.

“Liberia has never had a female boxer in the Olympics,” she adds.
Her coach, Kent, is firmly in her corner.

“Grace is a very talented fighter. Her commitment and dedication to the sport is unwavering. She is one of the hardest working athletes I have. She is a role model to our athletes, always showing them what it takes to get to the top.”

Grace wanted to share this very important message with others:

 “To all young, immigrant women — dreams are unlimited here. Keep following any dream you want to achieve. You can create and pursue all your dreams in this beautiful country.”

Former Winnipeg Blue Bombers kicker Troy Westwood is co-host of The Big Show, every weekday morning from 6 to 10 a.m. on TSN 1290 radio. He writes about Winnipeg’s unsung sports heroes every other week in the Canstar Community News weeklies. If you know of an athlete whose story Troy should tell, contact him at: troy.westwood@bellmedia.ca