Most often the image of a teacher is not that of boxer, especially when the teacher is a young woman. Alisah McPhee has, in many ways, defied conventions and stereotypes all her life and has succeeded often against all odds.
Born and raised in Williams Lake, Alisah always had an interest in very competitive sports — any sport offered and she was in on it. She was involved in soccer, volleyball, basketball and gymnastics to name just a few. Her parents decided to draw the line when she wanted to play rugby. Alisah prevailed and did play rugby.
She moved to North Vancouver to attend Douglas College and get her teaching degree, in pursuit of a dream she had had since she was young. She always wanted to be a teacher. While attending Douglas College she played soccer for four years on a team that won two CCAA National Titles and in one tournament she was named tournament MVP.
She had always wanted to box because of the individual nature of the sport. She joined the Mission Boxing Club about three years back. After about a year of competing she needed to take time off to complete her teaching credentials.
She now teaches and loves it. She is teaching at Bradner Elementary School.
She also started training at Langley’s City Boxing Club to pick up her boxing career and has been training with the father-son team of Dave and Jamie Allison.
She is about to take on her toughest fight to date. Her coach James Allison has her ready to take on Sara Haghighate-Soo of Vancouver’s Action gym.
Both women are undefeated, with 3-0-0 records and will fight a four-round bout at the Clash @ The Cascades 15-event called Thunder and Lightfoot. The event is set for March 2 at the Coast Hotel and Convention Centre in downtown Langley.
"This will be a very competitive fight," says matchmaker Dave Allison.
"Both are undefeated, both fighters like to come forward, and neither fighter has tasted defeat. This is another challenge for McPhee, however, despite her small stature, about 5’1” and 120 lbs., she has a heart the size of the great outdoors."
Alisah defeated Gina Skopelitis in her last fight two years ago at the very first Clash @ The Cascades. Skopelitis had a win over Sarah Pucek when Pucek was an amateur. Pucek avenged the loss a couple of months later and was to fight Skopelitis in the pros, however, Skopelitis pulled out. Skopelitis had split two fights with Jaime Ward, perhaps B.C.'s number one woman boxer. The win against Skopelitis was an upset and McPhee’s biggest win to date.
The Allisons have become known for producing top-quality women boxers. Currently world ranked professional Sarah Pucek is being fostered to fight for the world featherweight title and is McPhee’s primary sparring partner.
Also on the show, the double main event will see two B.C. championship matches. Adam Braidwood of CFL Football fame will challenge Ryan Dallas for the vacant B.C. heavyweight title. Langley’s Mat Andreatta will challenge for a B.C. lightweight championship when he meets Akbar Qurban.
A total of 10 fights are on hand that night.