BUTTE — Inside the Pink Gloves boxing gym in Butte, you’ll find some of the toughest women around the Mining City. It’s here where they train for the upcoming “Saints We Ain’t,” an all-female boxing ticket on St. Patrick’s Day weekend. It’s a special opportunity for everyone who steps into the ring.
“(It’s) such an honor, I think, with seeing boxing coming back into this town. We’ve already been excited. And it’s been a slow momentum that’s rising and rising and this female card adds to that,” said Amanda Guidoni, a boxer set to fight in the ring Friday night.
But for some of the pugilists in this weekend’s fight, it goes beyond seeing their name on that all-female ticket.
For Guidoni who will box against Ashlee Mussard, will be played in by the Bagpipers, an Edmonton Police drum and pipe band that comes to Butte each year for St. Patrick’s Day. Her father loved the group, and making this dream come true, makes the event even more special.
“While my dad won’t be here to see it, I hope he has the best seat in the house and he will be looking down,” Guidoni said of her late father.
Ronnie Walker will step into the ring after recently being diagnosed with Lupus. After processing the diagnosis, she decided that it was her time to fight back.
“I texted Leigh-Ann (Whitworth), like I cried the whole day. And then I texted her and said, ‘It turns out I am a fighter, it’s in my blood.’ And she goes, ‘What does that mean?’ and I said, ‘I think I want to do this, I want to fight,'” said Walker.
Rayelynn Brandl isn’t scared to show off some shiners she has received from her time in the ring. As the director of the Clark Fork Watershed Education Program, she’s no stranger to some sharp looks at the many presentations she gives, but she wouldn’t trade it for the world.
“Every single time I come in here something gets let go and my mental health is better, I’m more creative, I’m more present with my family,” said Brandl. “I’m a happier person.”
Felicia Brazier also found her release inside the walls of this historic gym.
“My husband and I were blessed with three wonderful children. My last child, I was suffering with some postpartum depression and anxiety,” said Brazier. “I just fell in love with boxing and the sport, and it’s made me stronger physically, mentally and emotionally.”
Guidoni, Walker, Brandl and Brazier will join the rest of the all-female card Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Pink Gloves boxing gym. Tickets to the event are $20 each or $300 for a table. For more information, call (406) 310-0185.
Fight Ticket:
Brook Tobacco (Great Falls) v Felicia Brazier (Butte)
Ashlee Mussard (Dillon) v Amanda “Guido” Guidoni (Butte) *Main Event
Justine Beltran (Anaconda) v Ronnie Walker (Butte)
Chavalah Madonna Tannel (Kalispell) v Rayelynn Brandl (Butte)
