Montreal-area teen taking the boxing world by storm

Taking the boxing world by storm, Talia Birch, a 17-year-old Montreal-area teen, started boxing in 2021.

Now two years, five fights, and three tournaments later she’s undefeated and on her way to the Canada Games next month, something she says she never thought would happen. 

Talia Birch standing in the ring with her coach Jamaal Garner at G1 Boxing Club. (Photo credit: Felisha Adam)

“I didn’t see it going this far, but I’m really happy it is,” Birch laughed. She chanced upon the sport during a high point of COVID-19, when most places were shut down. Birch and her now coach Jamaal Garner met while he was training her neighbour, and the rest is history.

“The first time I thought, there is something there for sure,” says Garner after he saw Birch box for the first time. “[She’s] super focused. Eager to learn. Motivated. Dedicated. Every adjective you could find that’s her,” Garner says.

Undefeated, Birch has won quite a few medals in her short time in the sport. She has competed in tournaments like Bronze Gloves, Brampton Cup, and Golden Gloves, and she’s looking to add another come this February at the Canada Games in Prince Edward Island.

Talia Birch training with her coach Jamaal Garner at G1 Boxing Club. (Photo credit: Felisha Adam)

“Everything I do, just kind of revolves around boxing now,” Birch says.

Owner of G1 Boxing Club Edwin Aguilar (Photo credit: Felisha Adam)

The owner of Birch’s home gym G1 Boxing Club, Edwin Aguilar, says her success is shown in the amount of work she puts into the sport. “She shows up at the gym and waits for me from the outside to open the gym, and she’s one of the last to leave.”

For Talia and her coach, skys the limit.

“Whatever opportunities come to me, me and my coach, we strongly believe in fate. So whatever comes, we’ll take, and we’ll go as far as we can go,” says Birch.