Canadian Champion - it has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?
Sechelt's Julia "The Jewel" Budd captured the Canadian Muay Thai Kickboxing title on Saturday night at the Max Bell Centre in Calgary.
Budd defeated Keri "Crusher" Crothers from Victoria. Crothers is ranked number four in the world. Budd won the five round contest by unanimous decision.
"It was awesome. The feeling I had when they announced my name was indescribable," said Budd.
Budd had never fought Crothers before and said it was quite the battle.
"I usually fight at 145, but I came down a weight class to 142," said Budd. "I won the first two rounds, we tied the third round and I lost the fourth round. It was the first time I had to come back and win the final round to win. It was really a tough fight. She fought a different style, more of a karate style, and I had never fought anyone like her before."
Budd had several friends and family members at ringside cheering her on, including her parents Debbie Mealia and Jim Budd.
"In the fourth round, when I was struggling a bit, I heard my mom scream out my name," Budd said. "That sort of refocused me and I said to myself, I'm OK, I can do this. When I went into my corner, my coach, Lance Gibson, calmed me down and told me he needed me to give him everything I had for the next two minutes."
All the encouragement helped as Budd dominated the final round.
"When the bell sounded, Keri was jumping up on all corners of the ring. She thought she had won," Budd said. "Lance told me to put my arms up and start smiling because he knew I had won. They started to announce the winner and when they said the blue corner and Julia Budd, I started crying. It was an incredible moment."
"Your heart is in your mouth the whole fight," added Mealia. "It was incredible for us to be there and be there for Julia. She's worked so hard for this. She trains hard and is a full-time student. It's her life, and for her to attain this goal is really something."
Budd plans to take some time off to rest and recuperate. Her next fight is slated for September in Las Vegas where a re-match is planned against Gina Carano. Budd handed Carano her first professional defeat at an international tournament in March.
Following that fight, Budd hopes to fight for the North American title in November.
A replay of Budd's championship fight is slated to air on TSN July 15.
