Natasha Spence – WOMEN BOXING ARCHIVE NETWORK

Junior lightweight Natasha “The Nightmare” Spence was born on June 24, 1985. She lives in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada and was initially trained by former pro super middleweight contender Syd “The Jewel” Vanderpool, a 20-year veteran of the boxing and fitness industries in Canada. “I’ve loved the sport of boxing ever since I was a kid and I always wished I could be a champion, like the ones on TV or in the movies. When the opportunity came I grabbed it with both hands and never let go!”, says Spence.

Natasha earned the nickname “The Nightmare” during her fourteen-fight amateur career which included winning two Ontario Golden Gloves Championships. Spence became known for her fast hands, footwork and body punches.

She was named Best Female Novice Boxer at the Ontario Golden Gloves held in Kitchener, Ontario in April 2009. She was named Best Female Open Boxer at the April; 2010 Ontario Golden Gloves in London, Ontario. She was also named Best Overall Female Boxer for the years of 2009 and 2010.

Spence did not compete as an amateur at the national or international levels but went directly to her pro debut at age 25 on November 11, 2010 at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, at 131½ lbs, winning by a TKO at 1:07 in the second round over Bernadette Hume (133½ lbs) of Toronto, whose pro record fell to 0-4.

On April 8, 2011 at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, Natasha (131 lbs) battled unbeaten “Vicious” Vanessa Bradford (130½ lbs) of Edmonton to a four-round split (38-38,40-36,
38-39) draw (see photo at left by Guhdar Ali Photography). The Edmonton Sun’s Murray Greig wrote that “Making her first appearance in almost a year, the 24-year-old Edmontonian looked hesitant in the early going and ate a steady diet of left hands from Spence through the first two rounds. Bradford finally found her rhythm in the third, scoring with combinations and pressing the action for the full two minutes.”. Bradford, who had boxed since age 12 and had 63 amateur fights, winning three Canadian amateur titles and nine provincial championships, moved her pro record to 2-0-1 (0 KO’s) with the draw, which sparked inevitable post-fight controversy.

Before the fight Spence had told the BoxingExaminer.com: “I got to keep it under control. I thrive off of it. I love to perform, I love the cameras and I love the audience. Like I said, I’m not going to let it go to the judges.” Ten days after the draw, she stated that “Inside the ring I felt like I had it. I definitely won that fight but I came out with a draw. I think I was prepared for everything she brought. It threw me a little off guard the pace of the fight. I was expecting her to bum rush me, that is what I trained for, so it was a little slower than I expected. I’m a counter puncher by nature. I still think I did a good job picking the shots and that is what my corner wanted to do. I’m not taking anything away from Vanessa at all. She brought more than I was expecting. But I do believe that was my fight.” Bradford disagrred :” Natasha did come to win, but after the first round I realized I had misjudged her style and adjusted accordingly. I felt I won more rounds and was in control.” A rematch between the rival Canadians is clearly called for.

On August 5, 2011 at Chapiteau CCSE Maisonneuve in Montreal, Quebec, Natasha (132½ lbs) TKO’d Zsofia Bedo (134¼ lbs) of Szekesfehervar, Hungary at 0:33 of the final round of a scheduled four-rounder. Jeff Emond Jeffrey wrote for BoxingExaminer.com: “Spence spent most of her time on the attack, putting Bedo on the ropes many times over.” Bedo, a much-featured tune-up opponent in Europe fell to 3-23-1 (0 KO’s) with the loss.

Natasha Spence vs Lucia Larcinese in October 2011
© Copyrighted photo taken by Durell Wambolt

On October 22, 2011 at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Natasha (130 lbs) won a four-round unanimous decision over Lucia Larcinese (128 lbs) of Montreal. Lou Eisen wrote on FightNetwork.com that “Much talked about prospect Natasha “The Nightmare” Spence improved her record to 3-0-1 with 2 kayos by dominating Lucia Larcinese in what was essentially a schoolyard brawl as both gals flailed away, basically throwing caution to the wind along with roundhouse and windmill punches all throughout their four round tussle. In the end, Natasha Spence’s energy won her a well-deserved four round unanimous decision.”
Rick McLean wrote for BoxingExaminer.com: “The opening round saw the faster Spence land the harder punches and had Larcinese back peddling for most of the round. Spence utilized her jab well and put a solid right hand behind it. Larcinese had a much better second and third rounds however Spence was able to land the more telling blows and continued to control the fight. In an all action fourth round both fighters left it all in the ring going toe to toe until the final bell.” Larcinese fell to 4-8 (0 KO’s) with the loss.

“I love the sport and I love the performance”, says Spence. “People want to be entertained, they want to see exciting fights and exciting fighters. I work really hard in and out of the gym to give them that.” Both eloquent and congenial outside the ring, Spence has no difficulty finding razor sharp focus and ferocity inside the ropes. “ I eat, breathe and sleep boxing, and I surround myself with the right people in order to succeed. When I get into the ring, I have no doubt that I will win. I just know I’ve done everything I could have possibly done to prepare myself. I know that I have out trained and will out work my opponent. I have the speed, skill and drive that supports my confidence,” says Spence. “Winning is just putting it all together.”

On May 12, 2012 at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York, Natasha Spence (132 lbs) won by a TKO at 0:45 in the third round over Racquel Bailey (131 lbs) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in a scheduled six rounder. Bailey fell to 1-2-1 (0 KO’s) with the loss.

On August 8, 2012 at Sahlen Stadium in Rochester, New York, USA
Natasha Spence (131 lbs) won by a fourth round TKO over Lucretia Meacham (130½ lbs) of Pine Bluff, Artkansas in a scheduled six-rounder. Spence, who ended thre action with a left hook to the body, improved to 5-0-1 (4 KOs) with the win while Meacham fell to 2-9-0 (0 KOs).

On September 15, 2012 at the Sleeman Center in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, Natasha Spence won by a TKO at 0:48 in the first round over Alexandra Gorog of Dunaföldvár, Hungary. Gorog did not look eager to compete with Spence and was knocked down twice by apparently innocuous blows. Gorog stayed on one knee after her second trip to the canvas and the bout was stopped. Spence moved to 6-0-1 (5 KO’s) while Gorog fell to 2-3-0 (0 KO’s).

On February 8, 2013 at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware, USA. Melissa St Vil (136 lbs) of Brooklyn, New York, won an eight-round majority (76-76,79-73,78-74) decision over Natasha (130 lbs). St.Vil improved her record to 4-1-2 (0 KO’s).

On April 12, 2013 at Dover Downs Casino and Hotel in Dover, Delaware, USA, Ronica Jeffrey (126 lbs) of New York won an eight-round unanimous (79-73,80-72,79073) decision over Natasha (129 lbs) of for the WIBA’s Interim Junior Lightweight title. Spence fell to 6-2-1 (5 KO’s).