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Inside a Saskatoon boxing gym, Havanna Demers moves across the floor quickly, throwing punches with intent, control and precision.
The 16-year-old regularly trains in her hometown of Rapid View, Sask., a small community west of Meadow Lake, or about 260 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon. But her hard work and dedication is taking her places on the national and international stages.
A two-time national medallist and four-time Saskatchewan provincial champion, Havanna has been selected to represent Canada at the World Boxing Futures Cup in March in Bangkok — a key qualifying event for the Youth Olympic Games later this year in Dakar, Senegal.
The Youth Olympic Games is an international multi-sport event for athletes aged 15 to 18 years old, organized by the International Olympic Committee.
“It’s amazing,” Havanna said in an interview with CBC Radio’s Saskatoon Morning. “I’m proud of myself for getting this far. It’s exciting — but it’s going to be a lot of work, though it’s going to be high level.”
Havanna first laced up her gloves at seven years old, after following her sister into martial arts. What started as curiosity quickly turned into passion.
“You’re not just going in there and fighting,” she said. “Boxing is a science: different strategies for different opponents, different styles. That’s what I like most about it — how technical it is.”
Earlier this year, Havanna spent six days at Boxing Canada’s national training centre in Montreal, sparring against national champions and medallists from across the country.
One coach described her style as “awkward” — but as an advantage rather than a flaw.
Havanna Demers, 16, is getting attention at the national level for her skills in the ring, thanks in part to coaching by her father, Quenten Demers.
“She wasn’t sure if she wanted to fix it or enhance it. And she was leaning towards enhancing it. And that felt really awesome,” Havanna said.
Her father, Quenten Demers, runs Demers Boxing in Rapid View. He is her head coach, manager and biggest supporter.
“I’m there for every round, every drop of sweat,” he said. “We’re on this journey together.”
Quenten boxed at a high level himself, but said watching his daughters’ achievements (Havanna’s sister Isabella also boxes) has been emotional.
“To see them achieve things that I couldn’t — it’s an absolute dream come true,” he said.
“[Havanna’s] six feet tall. Most girls in her division are 5-4, 5-5,” he said. “She has reach. But more than that, she has grit. You can’t train that.”
Havanna’s rise hasn’t come without challenges.
Finding competition in Saskatchewan can be difficult, often forcing her to travel to Alberta or B.C. for fights. Most of her sparring partners are male.
But her father said that’s changing.
“Things are changing in Western Canada,” he said. “Saskatchewan promotes and endorses, so if there’s any girls who want to achieve what Havanna is doing, they have every opportunity.”
Havanna is already passing that momentum forward, coaching younger boxers in her community.
This year, she made the decision to skip the national championships in Calgary — and thus potentially the world championships in China — to fully focus on qualifying for the Youth Olympics.
World championships happen every year. The Youth Olympics are just every four years.
“It’s once in a lifetime,” Quenten said. “So we’re rolling the dice and going for the Olympics.”
“Thailand is the first step,” Havanna said. “I’m going to train really hard, fight hard — and hopefully get there.”
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