Introducing Olivia Fonseca

Introducing Olivia Fonseca

By Rick Scharmberg

There are fight cards nearly every week within driving distance of Philadelphia, but there have been surprisingly few female fighters featured on them. Enter twenty-year-old Olivia "The Great" Fonseca, from the Tacony section of Northeast Philadelphia. Although she is new to the pro game, Olivia is not new to the sport. "I was 11 years old when I started. My sister Christina started before me, and my father brought me to the Jack Costello Boxing Club with her," she remembers. "I fell in love with the sport and stuck with it."

From there, Olivia began having some amateur fights, and eventually compiled a 22-2 amateur record while winning four national titles. Now training at the Front Street Gym and still with her original trainer, Olivia turned pro on March 30 th of this year. Fighting at Phoenixville High School in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, she drew with Melissa St. Vil, of Brooklyn, New York.

Fonseca was eager to get back in the ring. After having several bouts fall out, fans at the famous Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City had a chance to check out the tall, 5'10" welterweight. That night, five months after her pro debut, Fonseca dispatched her more experienced opponent, southpaw Yolanda Blackmer, in just 38 seconds of the opening round.

This Friday, Olivia will have her third bout, at the legendary Blue Horizon in Philadelphia. She will face Roxanne Ward, of Parkersburg, West Virginia in a four round bout. "I know she is 2-1, and I know that she last fought on March 30 th, which was my pro debut," said Olivia. "Other than that, I don't know too much about her. You have to be prepared for anybody."

Olivia truly loves the sport, and can be considered a student of the game. She can be seen at many local events, mingling with the fighters, fans, and talking up her next fight. She says that Laila Ali is her favorite fighter, but she also appreciates the male side of the sport. "I love watching the tapes of Meldrick Taylor, especially the Chavez fight. I like Floyd [Mayweather], and of course Bernard Hopkins, who is from Philly," she said.

Being from Philadelphia, home of that world famous left hooker and Hall of Famer, Smokin' Joe Frazier, it should come as no surprise that Fonseca can hit with her left hand, as well. She describes her style in the ring as such, "I box on my toes, and I am not a brawler. I have a good left hook, and a lot of people know me for that punch."

World famous matchmaker Don Elbaum feels that Olivia can transcend the sport soon enough. Being of Puerto Rican and Columbian descent, she is blessed with exotic looks. "Olivia is only my third female boxer. We are already talking to modeling agencies up in New York. With her personality and looks, she has a shot to make some decent money. And, she really wants to fight. It is the most important thing to her. She is a plus to women's boxing," said Elbaum.

Olivia describes a typical training day as, "Going to Bensalem at 11am to shadow box, work on cardio, and do endurance and speed drills. We finish off with a long run. We work out for a good two hours. I spar at least once a week at the Front Street Gym and Joe Hand's in South Philly."

Discipline runs in the Fonseca family. "My dad is a narcotics investigator in the K-9 unit with our dog Sam, and my mom is a corrections officer at the Philadelphia PIC," she said.

Olivia is realistic and direct when asked about her goals in boxing. "I'd like to fight for a belt. I'd like to get a title shot in a year or two, since there are not many girls in my division. I will get out early, not from the sport though. I'd like to be a trainer at my own gym. I will always stay in the sport," said Olivia.

She has her priorities straight outside the ring as well. "I'm a mother," she said. "My son is two years old. I graduated from beauty school, and I do hair on the side, and I bartend on the weekends."

The future looks bright for Olivia Fonseca. She is surrounded by the right people, and comes from a strong family. Her amateur background and enthusiasm for the sport should carry her to a successful professional career.



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