Mary Spencer

Mary Elizabeth Spencer (born December 12, 1984) is a Canadian professional boxer and one of the country’s most decorated fighters. Known by her nickname “Amazing,” Spencer currently holds the WBA female super-welterweight title, a championship she has defended since September 2024. Before turning professional, she was an elite amateur competitor, capturing three World Championships and a Pan American Games gold medal, making her one of the most successful female boxers in Canadian history.

Born in Wiarton, Ontario, Spencer is a proud member of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation. She began boxing in 2002 under the guidance of coach Charlie Stewart at the Windsor Amateur Boxing Club. Her natural athleticism and determination led her to rapid success on the international stage. She claimed World Championship gold medals in 2005 and 2008 at welterweight and again in 2010 at middleweight, along with a Pan American Games gold in 2011. Spencer also represented Canada at the London 2012 Olympics, where she was considered a strong medal favorite before being eliminated in the quarter-finals.

After the Olympics, Spencer transitioned to the professional ranks, debuting with a series of knockout victories that showcased her signature power and technical poise. In September 2022, she won both the WBA International and WBC Silver super-welterweight titles with a first-round stoppage of Cynthia Lozano in Montreal. Despite back-to-back losses to Femke Hermans in 2022 and 2023 for the IBO and IBF titles, Spencer rebounded impressively, scoring a stoppage victory over Sonya Dreiling in early 2024 to reignite her championship ambitions.

Her persistence paid off when, on September 5, 2024, she defeated Naomi Mannes to win the interim WBA super-welterweight title, later elevated to full champion after Terri Harper vacated the belt. Spencer made a successful defense of her crown on April 10, 2025, outpointing former world champion Ogleidis Suárez in Montreal. She is next scheduled to defend her title against American challenger Mikaela Mayer on October 30, 2025.

Outside the ring, Spencer is a respected advocate for Indigenous representation and women’s empowerment in sport. She has received multiple honors for her contributions to Canadian athletics, including the 2014 Indspire Award for Sports and the 2019 Randy Starkman Award from the Canadian Olympic Committee. In 2024, she was appointed to the Boxing Ontario Board of Directors, continuing to inspire future generations both as an athlete and as a leader in her sport.