After making a successful step up in opponents on her last outing by beating 2-time world title challenger Natasha Spence, Toronto’s Mel Watpool is looking forward to another test this weekend in Adriana Dos Santos Araújo, whose only loss is to Chantelle Cameron.
SHE BOXES caught up with the 34-year-old to discuss her upcoming fight against Araújo, running a hardware store, and her goal to draw more international attention to Canadian women’s boxing.
Fast Facts
NAME: Melinda Watpool
ALIAS: The Whip
NATIONALITY: Canadian
WALK OUT SONG: Varies
PRE-FIGHT SUPERSTITIONS: None
POST-FIGHT MEAL: Pizza, burger, or hearty foods like beef brisket and macaroni salad.
Drawn to Boxing
Watpool has always been athletic. Growing up, she enjoyed playing a multitude of sports including soccer, ringette, basketball, volleyball, track and field, and swimming.
But, despite not knowing anyone who followed boxing, Watpool developed an early fascination with the sweet science.
“I knew once I started that this was the sport for me.”
“Ever since I was a little kid, I just enjoyed boxing. I watched it on TV, I watched movies, and documentaries. I watched old fights with Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Rocky Marciano…It was just something that I was drawn to.
“My soccer coach’s brother ran a boxing workout class and I started with that and realised this is something I would want to compete it in.
“I knew once I started that this was the sport for me. So, after high school, I stopped playing all my other sports and just stuck with boxing.
“I think because I had a good sport background that it kind of helped me to transition. It’s nice to see nowadays girls and boys starting younger, but I do think it’s important to have a variety of sports to play when you’re young.
“I don’t think it benefits you to just play one sport because you can get sick of it, but also playing different sports builds different muscles and different reactions…So I think it makes you a better athlete later on in your career when you do specialise in one sport.”
5-Time National Amateur Champion
Less than two years after she began training to compete, Watpool won her first national title, which then led to four consecutive national titles. This got her an invitation to join the Canadian national team and represent her country on the international stage.
“We did lots of travelling, lots of international competitions, including the World Championships. I went to China, Barbados, Brazil, all over, so that was a really good opportunity for me to travel and get that experience competing against other countries’ national team members.”
After 5 years competing at the highest level, including trying to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games, Watpool took a step back to obtain a Sports Management degree. She continued to box while studying, but only at club level.
Upon graduating, Watpool set herself the goal of winning one more national title.
“I put a lot of time and energy into preparing for that and won. And then, I went to Hungary for an international tournament with the national team and then Covid hit. So that was the end of my amateur career.”
Turning Professional
In 2021, Watpool’s friend Bonnie Hunter turned professional and Watpool supported her career as a regular sparring partner, coach, and cornerwoman.
“I’d always thought about [turning professional]. I was kind of on the fence for a long time whether that was something I wanted to do. I knew if I decided, I’d have to be 100% in.
“Working a lot in [Bonnie’s] corner and seeing it up close and personal, and talking with my coach, he’s very supportive and knowledgeable, I just felt if I was going to do this, this was the time.”
However, two/three years of inactivity due to Covid had left Watpool doubting her capability ahead of her professional debut in 2022.
“It inspires me to even train harder knowing that [my friends and family] are there and they’re behind me, supporting me.”
“I was worried you know, Can I even still fight? So, my first fight was very nerve-wrecking but then once I did that, I was like, Yes, this is for sure what I want to do!
“I love the no headgear. The gloves they feel like they form to your hand a lot better than the amateur gloves. Yes, you feel the punches more, so you have to be a little bit more cautious defensive-wise, but I like the more rounds and I like the whole atmosphere of it.
“You get to pick your walk-out song, pick your outfits and it’s been interesting…to promote yourself and have your friends and family coming. It inspires me to even train harder knowing that they’re there and they’re behind me, supporting me.
“They supported me [before], but I’d be fighting across the world, and they wouldn’t be able to come and watch so that’s been really nice to have my people there with me.”
Alongside her professional career, Watpool lends a hand on her family’s farm and is the co-owner of a hardware store.
“It’s been working really well because yes, we’re busy and it’s a lot of work, but I’m also able to get some time for my training as well. They’re very flexible in my boxing and if I need to take a week off or 2 weeks off, for the most part I’m able to do that. So, it’s been helpful for training and for my boxing career.”
Watpool vs Araújo
Over 5 fights, Watpool has carefully built her resume up against opponents who come to win, including 2-time world title challenger Natasha Spence.
On Saturday 13th April at the Pickering Casino Resort, The Whip’s next test is Brazil’s Adriana Dos Santos Araújo.
Although this will be Araújo’s first outing since October 2020, the Brazilian poses a very real threat to Watpool. Araújo is the former WBC Silver Super Lightweight champion and has only suffered one loss during a world title contest against former Undisputed Super Lightweight champion Chantelle Cameron.
Quietly confident, Watpool welcomes the tougher competition as she believes it will bring out the best in her ability.
“I’ve still been winning decisively but I definitely notice the movements of the boxers are a little bit different, they’re harder to read.
“But it’s exciting to kind of get that better competition now because I’ll just step up to that next level as well.”
Professional Career Goals
Should Watpool prove once again that she sits comfortably amongst women who have challenged for and won major titles, picking up her own strap would be the natural next step. And the middleweight confirmed that this is ‘definitely’ the goal for this year.
But Watpool has ambitions beyond the traditional accolades. The 5-time national amateur champion aspires to join the likes of Marie-Eve Dicaire and Kim Clavel in growing international interest in Canadian women’s boxing.
“I’ve seen some Canadians be on [the big] stage, so it would be nice to follow in their footsteps.”
“I would like some bigger fights, maybe some in the States or the UK. There’s lots of opportunity right now and women’s boxing has been on the bigger stage for the last little bit. So, I would look forward to doing that as well.
“I’ve seen some Canadians be on that stage, so it would be nice to follow in their footsteps.”
Looking up to Katie Taylor and Claressa Shields, Watpool is pleased to see how far women’s boxing has progressed since she started 19 years ago and is excited to see where it’s headed.
“In the pros, we’re seeing the skill level increase because those amateurs that were going through the Olympics have now turned pro for a few years. The skill level is at an all-time high and I think it’s just going to increase the more women choose boxing.
“It’s exciting to see women in boxing. The fights are so exciting, and people come out. I went to New York City to watch Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano fight and it was sold out…like full! It was just such an amazing energy and experience, so I hope other people can experience that as well.”