Serendipity is defined as the faculty of good things happening, unexpectedly. It's not a word often associated with the sport of boxing, which Jimmy Cannon once termed "the red light district of sports." Rather, more often than not, in boxing, the opposite is the norm: when something unexpected happens, it's seldom good. But every once in a while, a good thing happens, quite unexpectedly, to exactly the right fighter. Ann Marie Saccurato is the latest example such serendipity.

On Saturday evening, Saccurato will step into the ring in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada against Jelena Mrdjenovich in a ten round bout for the WBC lightweight title. It is the main event on the latest edition of the acclaimed "A Ring of Their Own" boxing series. The unexpected element of this bout, for Saccurato, comes as a result of a training injury to Eliza Olson. Olson was Mrdjenovich's original opponent and when the bout was announced, "Experts" speculated that this would be Mrdjenovich's toughest bout to date. This reasoning came about, in large part, due the fact that, Mrdjenovich, while compiling a gaudy 18-1 record, has not ventured, competitively, outside western Canada, with the vast majority of her bouts staged in her hometown of Edmonton. It's not an overstatement to say that her opponents have been, at least, as carefully selected as the locations of her fights. Her last win came in September, a six round decision against Olga Heron who sported a 4-6 won-loss record. When Olson suffered her injury, the self same "Experts" were quick to offer the opinion that Mrdjenovich might have "caught a break" and ended up with an easier night against the lesser known Saccurato. When I mentioned this to Ann Marie, on the phone this weekend, she took it in stride and, in fact, noted that it might even be an advantage: "I enjoy being considered the underdog, in fact, in a way, it helps get me 'up' for the fight. When the crowd is strong and vocal in support of the other fighter, it encourages me to dig a little deeper."

An example of that attitude occurred In March 2003. In her fourth fight, Saccurato was matched up with a more experienced opponent in a four round bout in the Bronx, NY. The other fighter had seven fights and was being touted as a "big talent" in the sport. After four very tough rounds, Saccurato came away with a draw. The opponent that night was Eliza Olson. "My skills are much better developed, now, " Saccurato said, "of course, I would venture to say, so are Eliza's. She's certainly gone on to fight better competition, but I'd like nothing better than to give her a rematch when I come back from Edmonton with the WBC belt."

Since the Olson bout, Ann Marie Saccurato has won eight of nine decisions, the lone loss an eight round, split decision to Belinda Laracuente in June 2005. Saccurato has not had the big name opponents, nor the big name visibility of an Eliza Olson, but has, instead, labored in the mid-pack ranks of the sport. However, that circumstance is not a result of a lack of ring skills. Saccurato is a former New York and national Golden Gloves winner and is one more example of the growing number of female boxers who have honed their skills in the amateur ranks, prior to turning professional. She has, in the parlance of the sport, "paid her dues." When I asked her if not having a fight in eight months (a February eight round unanimous decision over Victoria Cisneros) had any effect on her ring sharpness, Ann Marie quickly replied, "Just because I haven't had a bout, definitely doesn't mean I took the time off. I've worked on a steady basis and I'm rounding into great shape for the fight in Edmonton. I'll be ready."

That essentially epitomizes Ann Marie Saccurato and her approach to her sport. Between bouts, no matter the time frame, she doesn't do "time off." And, if you've seen her in the ring, you can attest that during a bout, she certainly doesn't take any rounds off. She goes day to day, round to round, splitting her training between the Souler gym in White Plains and Gleasons in Brooklyn and she works at boxing as hard as any fighter in the sport.

She's competed professionally for five and a half years and has done so at a level just beneath the surface of national recognition. Fans who follow Women's boxing closely know her, but, thus far, she has lacked the support of any major boxing organization and the attendant publicity that comes with such support. Saccurato has never had the benefit that accrues to the daughters of famous fighters and she's missed the cover of national magazines, but watch her for a round or two and one thought comes to your mind: boxer. So, when Eliza Olson was forced to drop off the card in Edmonton and the opportunity was presented to Ann Marie Saccurato, another thought might well have come to an observer: sometimes the right thing happens to the right person, even in boxing.

Bernie McCoy