What a year 2009 was for Winnipeg's Olivia Gerula! She travelled to Tokyo, Japan to take on multi divisional titlist and hometown fighter Fujin Raika over 10 rounds. Gerula pulled off the upset in collecting the split decision victory. One month later, Gerula travelled to Jelena Mrdjenovich's adopted hometown of Edmonton, Alberta to battle for the WBC Super Featherweight title. Gerula, who had been stopped by Mrdjenovich 5 years earlier, scored another upset in taking a 10 round unanimous decision as well as Jelena's WBC strap. To round out the year, Gerula travelled to France to take on WBC interim champ Myriam Chomaz, a hard punching title owner with only 1 defeat in 13 pro bouts. Good things come in three's as again, Gerula collected another victory when he wasn't expected to, defeating Chomaz by majority decision to retain her WBC title for the very first time. Three bouts, Three upset victories, and a world title. What a year indeed!

While Garbatt managed only 2 bouts over the past year, she did collect 2 victories over fighters she was not expected to beat. First came the highly touted Maureen "The Real Million Dollar Baby" Shea last August. Shea was 13-1 with 7 KOs while Garbatt entered the contest at an even 2-2. Over the course of 7 rounds, the pride of Oshawa, Ontario dominated her more experienced opponent, scoring a stoppage victory over the former world title challenger. Garbatt followed that victory with a date with fellow Canadian prospect Ayana Pelletier (6-1, 4 KOs) in Edmonton 3 months later. Garbatt dominated the hard punching Pelletier over 6 rounds to collect the unanimous decision.