Champion for Charity Deidre Hatton prepares for composed boxing beginning for MacKids
By Jeff Hicks
CAMBRIDGE —
Deidre Hatton, 36, is eager to try new things. Like getting punched in the face.
“I really value being a beginner at things,” said the strength and conditioning coach at Move Stronger KW, and one of Mandy Bujold’s 20 Champions for Charity preparing to enter the boxing ring for the first time on April 24.
“I like showing people that it’s okay to suck at first and to grow and get better.”
Rest assured, Hatton has no plans to suck or take too many wallops when she fights at Tapestry Hall in Cambridge as the 4th edition of the Champs aims to raise $1-Million for MacKids.
She’s focused on learning the Sweet Science as 16 weeks of gruelling training ends.
When she steps into the ring, she wants no visible panicked flailing. She’ll punch with purpose.
The nutrition enthusiast craves a diet anchored on structure and composure.
Just like when the Belleville native was a teenager intent on flinging eight-pound shot puts all the way to Cow Island in her Bay of Quinte track-and-field days.
“I want to put on a good show,” she said.
What else would you expect from a former rep hockey left winger, HYROX fitness racer and rock climber who has ascended onto the bodybuilding stage, all shredded and flexing for the judges?
The thought of a spotlight bout before hundreds at sold-out Tapestry Hall, plus a growing livestream audience, doesn’t rattle her.
“I’ve gotten up on stage in front of an audience and posed and things like that,” she said.”I don’t think that’s going to be a big factor for me.”
So Hatton will not be shy when she climbs between the ropes for McMaster Children’s Hospital, to fight for local families and kids who rely on their state-of-the-art health care.
But she will try and mute her trademark demonstrative demeanour.
In other words, no grunting.
“You have to stay composed and not really show it in your face,” she said.
“That was a big thing for me, trying not to grunt and show effort through my face. Stay composed and calm — to save energy.”
Still, this is not helping her coaching clients reach new bests in strength training.
Nor is it as dauntingly out of her comfort zone as her next ‘artsy’ endeavour.
That’s pottery. She wants to try a pottery class.
“I’m very curious,” Hatton said.
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