Kathy “Shake ’em Down” Williams, a 5’5″ policewoman from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada is a fine example of the new breed of women boxers who step into the professional boxing ring after first getting a thorough schooling in the fundamentals as amateurs. Kathy is a two-time Canadian national amateur champion who also represented her country in international tournaments in Sweden and Finland.
Kathy was born on 8 September 1967 and grew up in Montreal, Quebec. She attended Bishop’s University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (double major in Business and Psychology and a minor in French).
She began her boxing training at age 11, at a sports camp, when she was living in Montreal. She discovered that she really enjoyed it and continued for three years, but she quit because “there wasn’t much women’s boxing happening at that time”. Her interest in competing was rekindled in 1993 while she was attending police college and saw a boxing and kickboxing show that included two women. “I was watching them thinking I could beat them” she says.
source: womenboxing.com
When she returned to Thunder Bay, she called up Tony Pimentel, the trainer she has been with ever since. At that time there was only one other female at his Doggs Gym, so she sparred mostly with men. Kathy says they were very supportive when she started, and were always giving her tips and pointers.
She had her first amateur bout in Cambridge, Minnesota in May 1994. She went on to win Ontario Provincial titles in 1994, 1995 and 1996 and Canadian national titles in 1995 and 1996. Her winning performance in the first women’s nationals in Canada got her into the Canadian edition of Sports Illustrated, and won her an award for best prospect at the tournament.
She fought as an amateur in Minnesota again in May 1996. In May 1997 she was on the Canadian national women’s team that competed in Sweden and Finland. The Canadian boxers won both of these dual meets and Kathy won both of her bouts. She defeated Erika Långström of Sweden 8-6, and also won an award for best Canadian boxer.
Kathy was joined at Doggs Gym in Thunder Bay by Tracey Stevens, who also competed as an amateur before turning to professional boxing. Kathy told me they were the only girls in the gym for three years but were joined in 1997 by Katie Burton and two other female amateurs. Kathy says the gym is a close knit club who do lots of activities together, which makes it easier in the gym where they all spar together. Trainer Tony Pimentel is also the Canadian national team coach.
