Elite Boxing Sisters Abiola and Alesha Jackman are making history and proving that strength knows no gender.

IN a sport long dominated by men and characterised by raw dedication and strength, sisters Abiola and Alesha Jackman have carved their names into Guyana’s boxing history. Growing up in East Ruimveldt, their journey was anything but easy, yet their unwavering grit and passion for the sport have propelled them onto the world stage, earning them the title of Guyana’s first IBA-ranked female boxers. With strength, discipline, and ambition, the sisters continue to overcome the odds in and out of the ring. As they dominate in the heavyweight division both regionally and internationally, the sisters represent more than just boxing—they defy expectations and prove that, with dedication and drive, some barriers can be knocked out.

From Humble Beginnings to the Boxing Ring
Abiola and Alesha Jackman, in many ways, represent the unique fighting spirit of Guyana. Born and raised in East Ruimveldt, the duo faced numerous challenges growing up. Recounting their early years, younger sister Alesha shared, “Growing up for us wasn’t anything easy or nice. We grew up in a place called East Ruimveldt. It was not easy if you didn’t have your head on or proper parenting,” she told Pepperpot Magazine.

Boxing, however, was not something they initially sought out, but it became their avenue for growth and resilience. Twenty-year-old Alesha was the first of the sisters to take the step into Boxing, gaining an interest in the sport when she was just 11 years old. As she explained, her love for Boxing was sparked by seeing her older cousin in the ring.

“I was a sports person. I was in football growing up. And I had a cousin that used to box. Seeing him come into the gym, I told the coach, ‘I want to join the boxing gym after I finish writing my examinations.’ It was my cousin that motivated me to start Boxing. Then my sister came along a year or two later after,” she stated.

Now 22 years old, Abiola followed in her sister’s footsteps, driven by curiosity and the competitive spirit that runs in their family. As she shared, “Well, my sister started boxing first, and one afternoon, I left school and went to the gym to see what my sister was doing. When I saw the coach, I told him I would be coming to train the next day. And the next day I put on my gear and started Boxing.”

Although Boxing seemed to run in the family, not all of their relatives were keen on them taking up the sport. Older sister Abiola shared that her uncle initially did not want her to box and tried very hard to stop her from attending the gym. But remaining true to herself, she defied her family and would later defy expectations.

“Well, I have an uncle. When I first started in the gym, he didn’t want me to go. I got licks to stay away from the gym, but I was so determined, I kept going to the gym and took my licks—and look where I am today,” she stated.

You Can’t Play Boxing: Challenges and Triumphs in the Ring
Although the sisters have been Boxing since childhood, they explain that the work that goes into Boxing never gets easier and requires great dedication. As Alesha put it, “Boxing, in general, is a really difficult sport. You can play every other sport, but you don’t play Boxing.”

She further added, “You’ve got to stick to your diet, stick to training, and enter the competition at the right weight—neither under nor over.” This dedication has allowed Alesha to compete and represent Guyana in various regional and international competitions.

Abiola shared that preparing for a fight is more than just sparring at the gym a few times a week. It involves hours of perfecting technique, maintaining a diet, a specific weight, and even mental preparation. As a heavyweight boxer, Abiola has worked hard to perfect her technique, working with lighter boxers to develop her speed and agility in the ring.

“My coach gave me a lot of light boxers to work with, so they can touch me and make me move a lot. That’s where I gained my skills and technique—from the light boxers in the gym. I have to move from those punches,” she shared.

The sisters’ devoted training paid off, and they became Guyana’s first IBA-ranked international boxers. In 2023, the pair competed in the International Boxing Association (IBA) Women’s World Boxing Championships in India, a major milestone for both the sisters and Boxing in Guyana.

Although they didn’t win in India, it was a big step. Most recently, Abiola represented Guyana at the Caribbean Championships in St. Lucia, where she dominated the competition and earned Guyana the Best Female Boxer title.

This, she says, was among her proudest and most memorable moments in her career.
“It was a great tournament for me because the girl I fought, Angel George, I fought her last month in Trinidad and Tobago. She’s a great fighter. I can’t take that away from her. When I fought her in Trinidad, I wasn’t prepared, so I didn’t get the competition I was looking for. I went back to the drawing board, trained hard, and dominated her at the Caribbean Championships 2025,” she stated.

The Bond Between Sisters and the Weight of Their Legacy
Throughout their vibrant careers, the Jackman sisters have competed in countless exhibitions to raise support and awareness for the sport. In their interview with Pepperpot Magazine, Alesha shared that going head-to-head with her sister is all part of the sport, and although they may be sisters, they don’t always pull punches.

“Everything is not always bright and beautiful between us when we’re in the ring. Your sister outside the ring is one thing, but in the ring, it’s a different thing,” she said.

Despite this fierce competition, they constantly push each other to be better. “So when we enter the ring, it’s a different atmosphere. We have to motivate each other. If we want to be safe, we’ve got to do it at our absolute best,” she shared.

Both fighters credit their late mother as their inspiration. Raised by a single mother, the sisters say that although she was not a fighter in the ring, she was one outside and the strongest person they knew.

As Alesha shared, “We lost our mom in 2021 June. And when she was around, I really know she was proud of us. She supported us right through.”

Abiola echoed the sentiment, adding, “Our mother was both our mom and dad. That’s the strength and energy she gave us. With her around, she built the foundation for our boxing careers, keeping us strong and moving forward.”

Inspiring the Next Generation
The Jackman sisters see their story as more than just personal triumph—it’s an opportunity to inspire the next generation of athletes. Alesha expresses, “Being a role model to other females in the country is a great feeling. When young females walk up to me and say, ‘Hey, I really admire you. I want to be like you when I grow up,’ it’s a great feeling.”

Similarly, Abiola offers her advice to young fighters aspiring to follow in their footsteps:
“My advice is to be disciplined and consistent in what you’re doing. Discipline takes you far in life. With discipline, you can go anywhere. Just keep pushing. Many obstacles will come your way, but stay focused. The sky is the limit, and, with hard work, you can become what you want to be,” she shared.

As we continue to celebrate International Women’s Day, the Jackman sisters’ journey reminds us of the fight that every woman faces in every field against expectations, limitations, and barriers. Their story is a reminder that every woman, no matter the arena, is fighting her own fight. And with grit, resilience, and unwavering determination, we can all knock down the barriers in our way.