Boxing Canada confirmed this morning that the Women’s World Championships, scheduled to run September 18-29, have been canceled. The decision by the Russian Federation and St. Petersburg hosting committee was a financial one, with the group deciding it could not afford to run the event.
This is devastating news for the national team athletes, coaches, and support staff who have been preparing for the event all year long. Many individuals have sacrificed their work holiday hours and other obligations to attend the tournament. Not to mention the mental and physical training that the boxers have endured in preparation for the championships.
The future of women’s boxing at the 2008 Olympics now hangs in the balance. Katie Dunn and Mary Spencer of Windsor were both good favourites to win gold at the World Championships and now it remains unclear as to whether they will get their Olympic shot in Beijing.
