Boxer rings up big win in Tokyo

Olivia Gerula is so close she can almost taste it — the sweet flavour of winning a world title, that is.

The 29-year-old West Kildonan pro boxer is on her way to becoming a world champion in her weight class if she can maintain her recent success in the ring.

Next month, Gerula will step into the ring against Edmonton’s Jelena Mrdjenovich to compete for the World Boxing Council’s super featherweight championship. The 5-foot-7 Mrdjenovich will defend her title in her hometown against Gerula on April 9.

Earlier this month, Gerula travelled overseas to take on Japanese fighter Fujin Emiko Raika in Tokyo.

Gerula defeated the higher-ranked Raika in an eight-round split decision in the junior lightweight, non-title bout. It was the 22nd fight of Gerula’s decade-long boxing career.

“One judge actually scored in her favour, which just about gave me a heart attack. I was like, ‘No, I can’t lose this fight’ because it was a clear win on my part,” said Gerula, who grew up in North Kildonan.

The victory moved Gerula up to No. 5 in the world rankings from eighth spot.

“That’s a big deal. That was the best thing of it all,” Gerula said.

In her match against Raika, Gerula heeded the advice of her trainers, stayed calm and collected as she connected with a series of upper cuts and jabs.

“I was surprised she didn’t have more power behind her hits. I expected it to be a little harsher than what it was, but I was not surprised to get the head butts that I got,” Gerula said of several illegal blows she had to endure.

In an interview before she boarded a plane to Tokyo, Gerula said she fully intended to return looking like a boxer. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case.

“I actually thought I’d look a whole lot worse. I was kinda disappointed,” Gerula said with a laugh.

Johnny Vernaus, one of her trainers, agreed.

“She hardly had a mark on her,” he said.

While Vernaus was disappointed he couldn’t be there to witness Gerula’s win in Tokyo, he said he’ll be on-hand to witness her fight in Edmonton.

“She’s gonna win. I know (Mrdjenovich’s) trainer and I’ve seen her fight probably a dozen times. She’s an excellent fighter, but I know how to beat her,” Vernaus said.

And what kind of strategy does he have in mind for the fight?

“I won’t tell you right now,” Vernaus said. “We’ll come out with a surprise attack that will definitely give Olivia a better than fair chance at winning that fight.”

Gerula can’t wait for a rematch with Mrdjenovich. The two fought each other back in 2004 in Winnipeg, with Gerula coming out on the losing end.

This time around, Gerula is confident the outcome will be different.

“This is a fight where I have nothing to lose,” she said. “It’s a little sooner than I’d like it to be, but I’m so conditioned from the fight I just had that there’s really no reason not to take it. There’s nothing for me to lose and everything for me to gain.”