Maiva Hamadouche Could Be The Most Dangerous Fighter in Women’s Boxing
By Phil Woolever
Present days are probably the most opportune times yet for female boxers.
In this scenario specifically, women who currently campaign around the lightweight to welterweight divisions have a promising amount of talented, marketable potential opponents and a steadily increasing chance for televised exposure.
IBF Super- featherweight Champion Maiva Hamadouche may soon be a beneficiary of that situation. The 29- year old from France is near the very top of pound for pound ratings, with good reason.
“El Veneno” (The Poison), 20-1 (16) is consistently one of the most exciting fighters and best body punchers in the game, male or female. That steamrolling power was vividly evident during her most recent battle, in Paris last December versus respectable Viviane Obenauf.
Hamadouche speared her opponent with gut shots that could probably be heard from atop the Eiffel Tower.
“I get a lot of KOs in my fights because I put constant pressure on the opponent and I have a formidable physique,” reflects Hamadouche.
“My fight against Obenauf was a big fight, intense,” Maiva told ThePrizfighters.com. “She is a very good boxer, very brave. She took her chance. She was ready physically and mentally and she was dangerous to the end. She was effective but I managed to get the upper hand by targeting her on the body. I did a sapping job and that paid off.”
It didn’t take long for Hamadouche to recognize her sporting strength and career possibilities.
“Since I was 14 years old, I did a lot of kickboxing then turned to boxing,” she said. “It turns out I had physical and technical predispositions for this sport and that this discipline was much more professionalized. I felt like I had a place to take, so at the age of twenty I really knew I’d make a career in boxing.”
“I box to hurt,” elaborated Hamadouche. “Mentally, I push my opponents as far as possible until they crack. I train a lot to have such a physique, and I am especially assiduous, very serious. I love to train and am very consistent. I often train against men who do not give me any gifts. Having hard workouts make me confident at competitions.”
One of Hamadouche’s biggest challenges is to balance training with her security job.
“My job in the police is in security and intervention, a specialized field service job in Paris against everyday crime,” she explained. “It’s very hard to combine boxing training and my work with the police. However, as a high level athlete, I have the opportunity to take days (off) to prepare myself. The most complicated part is that I must pay attention to injuries during my police interventions.”
What comes next on Hamadouche’s fistic calendar remains open to considerable opportunities.
“I do not just want to box anyone, anywhere. I have a career plan. For my next fight I’d like to box Eva Wahlstrom for a WBC- IBF unification on US soil at a famous promoter’s event.”
“I’m in talks with some US promoters for my debut there. Wahlstrom and I, we must do this fight to know who the best is. She is smart in her boxing. It will be a big fight. She’ll be ready. I’m waiting for her.”
“Then I want to pick up the other belts in the other federations. I want to make big fights and box the best, for organizations that would put my talents under the lights. I’m ready to take on any challenge. I do not fear anyone. I want to show the boxing world that I’m the number one, and that a little lady can entertain as much as the men.”
“Once I’ve unified my division, of course I really want to box Katie Taylor. I respect her, she’s a great champion, but I want to see her go ten rounds against me. It wouldn’t bother me to move up in weight or go to the United States or England. I will do it anywhere.”
Another possible match with high probability for fireworks would be a rematch with the elite Delfine Persoon, who won a unanimous decision over Hamadouche in November 2015. Considering that entering the bout Maiva was a relatively inexperienced 9-0 compared to Persoon at 34-1, there’s plenty of reason to believe it could be a different story next time.
“The fight against Persoon was a war,” Hamadouche recalled. “At the time I was at the beginning of my career and lacked experience. However, it was a close result and my effort didn’t look ridiculous, actually quite the contrary. If the fight was in France it might have been a draw or a win for me.”
“A rematch would be intense again. I think I’m above her today, and can really beat her. I’ve progressed technically and I’ve gained experience too.”
Hamadouche is excited about ongoing speculation regarding a possible, tournament type series around the lightweight and featherweight ranks.
“If I was approached to participate, of course I would do it,” she said. “I like big fights and I like challenges, and I think I could win. It’s a beautiful idea to build and show the best females. All around the world, people seem to be interested in women’s sports, and boxing needs a new audience, and also to get new girls involved.”
If she gets her wish for upcoming fights, more fans in the US will get to see why Hamadouche has such a solid reputation in France.
In the mean time, anyone who likes fighters with a non-stop attacking style should keep their eyes open for her next appearance, wherever that might be.