09.11.06 – In 1995 the doctors said Ann-Marie Saccurato would never walk again. In November of 2006, in front of an estimated crowd of 4,000, Ann Marie Saccurato (12-1-2) of White Plains, NY made the ultimate comback. She defeated two-time world champion Jelena Mrdjenovich in Mrdjenovich’s hometown of Edmonton, Canada to become the new WBC Lightweight championof the world! The 10 round fight was Saccurato’s first shot at a world title.
The final score were 96-94, 96-94, 94-96. Saccurato stunned Mrdjenovich in the first round but Mrdjenovich rallied andturned it on in the second. What followed was exciting back and forth action for 10 rounds with Saccurato landing the cleaner, harder blows. Saccurato states, “Jelena is a world champion boxer and I was very thankful for the opportunity to box on an all-female card that is donating money towards breast cancer research.
Even though it was her hometown, I knew it was my time. I have trained hard for this fight, and I knew in my heart I would take home the WBC green belt.”This fight was the main event of an all female card titled “A Ring of Their Own” “Border War” which also featured two other world title bouts and will be telecaston iN Demand Pay per view beginning November 17th. This fight will bepromoting breast cancer awareness as all the fighter’s donned pink gloves toenter the ring. The event was promoted by a Ring of Their Own and KO Boxing Promotions and took place at the Shaw Conference Center for an estimated crowd of 4,000. Ann-Marie was born in Eastchester, NY and trains out of New York Boxing gym and Souler in White Plains and Gleason’s in Brooklyn. Her senior trainer is the legendary Hector Roca who has trained 15 World Champions. Her other trainers include New Rochelle police sergeant Luigi Olsece and sport performance guru Juan Carlos Santana of the Institute for Human Performance in Boca Raton.
This victory symbolizes the ultimate comeback for Saccurato. Ann-Marie has overcome tremendous odds just to be walking today. In 1995 she was apassenger in a devastating car wreck returning from a volleyball competition atthe Empire State Games. The driver of the vehicle was killed and Ann-Marie suffered a punctured lung, broken pelvis, hip, 2 broken legs, a shattered arm, broken ribs, and severe nerve damage. She was not expected to live the night,let alone ever walk again. Being ever the determined athlete, she provedeveryone wrong and immediately took up an aggressive rehabilitation programknowing in her heart she would play sports again. In 1999 she entered her first boxing gym stronger than ever. Ann-Marie is known for her boxing skill, athleticism, footwork and knockoutpower. This is her first world title. Besides boxing, Ann-Marie works as a personal trainer and runs her own personal training business call Team High Perfromance.