Olivia Gerula
Name: Olivia Gerula
Alias: The Predator
Birth Name: Olivia Alyssis Pereira Gerula
Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 165cm
Reach: 168cm
Pro Boxer: Record
Name: Olivia Gerula
Birth Name: Olivia Alyssis Pereira Gerula
Alias: The Predator
Born: May 1, 1979
Nationality: Canadian
Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada, as listed by BoxRec
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 165 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Reach: 168 cm (66 in)
Professional Debut: October 4, 1997
BoxRec ID: 18509
Pro Boxer: Record
Olivia "The Predator" Gerula is a Canadian professional boxer and former WBC super featherweight world champion, WIBA featherweight world champion and UBF Inter-Continental champion. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, she began her professional boxing career in 1997 after competing in martial arts and kickboxing.
Early Life and Combat Sports Background
Gerula grew up in Winnipeg after her family moved to Manitoba in 1980. Before entering combat sports, she participated in soccer, track and gymnastics. A wrist operation interrupted her gymnastics career.
She subsequently trained in martial arts and kickboxing at Sik-Tai. Gerula began kickboxing in 1994 and turned professional in that sport in 1996 before moving into professional boxing.
Published biographies identify Brampton, Ontario, as her birthplace, while BoxRec lists Toronto, Ontario.
Professional Boxing Career
Professional Debut and Early Career
Gerula made her professional boxing debut on October 4, 1997, defeating Christina Berry over four rounds in Rochester, Minnesota.
During the early stages of her career, she faced opponents including Sarah Schmedling, Diana Dutra, Kathy Collins, Fredia Gibbs, Melissa Del Valle and Dakota Stone.
She later fought Mia St. John to a majority draw and faced Jessica Rakoczy and Jelena Mrdjenovich. Her first meeting with Mrdjenovich, in Winnipeg in September 2004, ended in a fourth-round knockout defeat.
Progress Toward a World Championship
Gerula returned to winning form with victories over Amanda Carriere, Olga Heron and Sosadea Razo. She also faced Maureen Shea and Sandy Tsagouris during this period.
On March 3, 2009, Gerula defeated former world champion Emiko Raika, also known as Fujin Raika, by an eight-round split decision at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. The victory preceded her successful challenge for the WBC super featherweight championship.
WBC Super Featherweight World Championship
On April 9, 2009, Gerula defeated Jelena Mrdjenovich by unanimous decision over ten rounds at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, to win the WBC female super featherweight world title.
The victory reversed the result of their first meeting and established Gerula as a Canadian world champion.
On December 17, 2009, she successfully defended the championship against Myriam Chomaz at Halle Georges Carpentier in Paris, France. Gerula won a ten-round majority decision over Chomaz, who held the WBC interim title.
On July 8, 2010, Gerula made another successful defense, defeating Brooke Dierdorff by unanimous decision over ten rounds at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.
Gerula lost the championship to Frida Wallberg by unanimous decision over eight rounds on November 27, 2010, in Stockholm, Sweden. The shorter championship distance reflected the restrictions then applicable to professional boxing in Sweden.
She challenged Wallberg in a ten-round rematch on September 3, 2011, in Karlstad, Sweden, but again lost by unanimous decision.
Additional World Title Opportunities
On December 9, 2011, Gerula met Mrdjenovich for a third time, contesting the vacant WIBA featherweight world title in Edmonton. Mrdjenovich won by knockout in the ninth round.
On May 24, 2013, Gerula challenged Ronica Jeffrey for the vacant IWBF super featherweight world championship at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York. Jeffrey won by unanimous decision over ten rounds.
Gerula subsequently rebuilt her momentum, including an eight-round unanimous-decision victory over former world champion Kaliesha West on August 15, 2014, in Gatineau, Quebec.
WIBA Featherweight World Championship
On April 30, 2015, Gerula defeated Simone Aparecida da Silva, also reported as Simone da Silva Duarte, at the Club Regent Casino & Event Centre in Winnipeg to win the vacant WIBA featherweight world championship.
Gerula won the ten-round contest by majority decision. The judges scored the bout 98-92 and 97-93 in her favor, with the remaining judge scoring it 95-95.
On October 22, 2015, she lost a ten-round unanimous decision to Carla Torres in Winnipeg.
WBO Featherweight Title Challenge
After defeating Lucia Larcinese in January 2016, Gerula faced Amanda Serrano for the vacant WBO featherweight world championship on February 17, 2016, at BB King Blues Club & Grill in New York City.
Serrano won by technical knockout in the first round.
UBF Inter-Continental Championship
On October 20, 2016, Gerula defeated Nydia Feliciano by split decision over eight rounds at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Contemporary Women's Boxing Archive Network reports identified the contest as being for the UBF Inter-Continental featherweight title. Gerula's BoxRec biography also includes her among UBF Inter-Continental champions.
The victory improved her professional record to 18-16-2.
Jennifer Han and Elena Gradinar Bouts
On February 17, 2017, Gerula faced IBF featherweight world champion Jennifer Han at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas.
Han won by unanimous decision over ten rounds. Gerula had missed weight, meaning the IBF championship was not available for her to win.
On March 24, 2018, Gerula faced Elena Gradinar in Narva, Estonia, for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental featherweight championship. Gradinar won by unanimous decision over ten rounds.
Later Career
Gerula continued competing into the 2020s. She lost an eight-round unanimous decision to Melissa St. Vil on May 14, 2021, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
On June 19, 2021, she fought former world champion Jaime Clampitt to a six-round draw at Cranston Stadium in Cranston, Rhode Island.
On September 17, 2022, Gerula defeated Logan Holler by unanimous decision over four rounds at Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, Delaware.
She lost an eight-round unanimous decision to Olivia Curry on April 8, 2023, in Rosemont, Illinois.
On March 30, 2024, Gerula challenged Mary Casamassa for the vacant WIBA super middleweight world championship at Steamfitters 449 Union Hall in Harmony, Pennsylvania. Casamassa won by unanimous decision over ten rounds.
Championships
- WBC Female Super Featherweight World Champion
- Won against Jelena Mrdjenovich on April 9, 2009, in Edmonton, Alberta.
- Successfully defended against Myriam Chomaz on December 17, 2009, in Paris, France.
- Successfully defended against Brooke Dierdorff on July 8, 2010, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
- Lost the championship to Frida Wallberg on November 27, 2010, in Stockholm, Sweden.
- WIBA Featherweight World Champion
- Won the vacant championship against Simone Aparecida da Silva on April 30, 2015, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
- UBF Inter-Continental Champion
- Defeated Nydia Feliciano on October 20, 2016, in Washington, D.C.
- Contemporary WBAN coverage described the championship as the UBF Inter-Continental featherweight title.
Recognition
- Named the Women's Boxing Archive Network Fighter of the Year for 2009 following victories over Emiko Raika, Jelena Mrdjenovich and Myriam Chomaz.
- Named the Women's Boxing Archive Network Fighter of the Month for January 2010 following her successful WBC championship defense against Chomaz.