Born: 1978 (Duncan, British Columbia, Canada)
Biography:
Jeannine Garside (born April 14, 1978) is a Canadian former professional boxer who competed from 2004 to 2010. She made a remarkable impact in the sport, becoming a two-weight world champion and leaving a lasting legacy.
Garside’s journey in boxing began as an amateur in Duncan, British Columbia, Canada after witnessing Christy Martin’s captivating fight against Deirdre Gogarty on a Mike Tyson undercard in March 1996. Inspired by the display of skill and determination, Garside was motivated to pursue boxing herself. She quickly rose through the ranks, establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with.
In 1998 and 1999, Garside claimed the title of British Columbia champion and was recognized as the British Columbia Boxer of the Year in 1998. Her achievements led her to the 1999 Canadian National Championships held in Sudbury, Ontario, where she secured her first national title by defeating Danielle Bouchard of Quebec with a score of 5-3. This victory paved the way for Garside to join the Canadian National Women’s Boxing team, enabling her to compete against some of the world’s best female fighters in her weight class.
She continued to flourish in her amateur career, triumphing in the 57 kg final of the 2000 Canadian National Championships by defeating Michelle Collins of Alberta with an impressive score of 11-1. However, adversity struck in 2000 when Garside tore her ACL during a touch football game, requiring reconstructive surgery. Undeterred, she displayed incredible resilience and determination, bouncing back from the injury and returning to the ring.
Garside’s perseverance paid off when she emerged victorious once again, this time at the 2001 Canadian National Championships in Cap-de-la-Madelaine, Quebec. Garside defeated Wendy Broad of Quebec with a score of 11-4, earning the prestigious title of the tournament’s Best Boxer. Her success continued at the Canadian National Senior Championships in St. Catharines, Ontario in January 2002, where she secured her fourth consecutive 57 kg national title with an RSC-2 win over Angie Collins of Ontario.
The pinnacle of Garside’s amateur career came on August 29, 2002, in Kansas City, Missouri when she defeated USA Champion Jennifer Han of El Paso, Texas in the Women’s 126 lb division. This notable victory showcased Garside’s skills and affirmed her place amongst the best in the sport. On September 2, 2002, in the 126-lb final of the Ringside National Tournament, Garside showcased her striking power by knocking out Sharon Gaines of Seattle, Washington, USA in the third round. With a remarkable amateur boxing record of 40-5, Garside left an indelible mark in the sport.
Garside’s professional career commenced on December 4, 2004, at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington. In her pro debut, she defeated Heather Percival of Fontana, California, with a unanimous 40-36 margin. This triumph set the stage for her subsequent accomplishments.
On August 26, 2005, at the Renaissance Worthington Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas, Garside continued her undefeated professional streak with a four-round unanimous decision victory over her opponent. As Garside’s career progressed, her resilience and skill allowed her to capture the WIBA super bantamweight title from 2005 to 2006 and the WIBA featherweight title twice between 2006 and 2010.
In 2010, Garside achieved the pinnacle of her professional career by unifying the WBC and WBO female featherweight titles, solidifying her status as one of the best female boxers in the world. Her contributions to the sport elevated women’s boxing, inspiring countless aspiring athletes to pursue their dreams.
Awards:
– WIBA super bantamweight title (2005-2006)
– WIBA featherweight title (2006-2010)
– Unified WBC and WBO female featherweight titles (2010)