A woman wearing boxing gloves and glasses, with her face partially obscured by her gloves, looking intently at the camera. The image promotes Underdogs Boxing, with captions about boxing therapy and a headline that reads "UNDERDOGS BOXING: a real contender."

Laura Ip (she/her)
Founder, President, Head Coach

A certificate awarded by the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) to Laura Ip for completing the Certified Exercise Recovery Specialist program. The certificate includes ISSA’s logo, a gold and brown emblem, a QR code, signatures, and dates of issue and expiration.
Certificate from the International Sports Sciences Association for Laura Ip, certifying her as a Corrective Exercise Specialist, signed by Andrew Wyant, with an issue date of September 6, 2024, and expiration date of August 22, 2026. The certificate features the ISA logo, gold laurel wreaths, and a QR code.
Certificate from the International Sports Sciences Association awarding Laura Ip the Certified Glute Specialist certification, dated September 8, 2024, with a gold seal, QR code, and signatures.
Certified Yoga Instructor certificate from the International Sports Sciences Association, awarded to Laura Ip on December 27, 2024, with certification valid until August 22, 2026, signed by Andrew Wyant, including a QR code and a gold-embossed ISSA emblem.
Certificate from the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) awarded to Laura Ip for passing the exam, certifying her as a group exercise instructor, dated December 28, 2024, with a gold seal and ISSA badge.
Certificate of achievement from the International Sports Sciences Association for Laura Ip, a nutritionist, awarded on August 30, 2024, with a gold and black ISSA certified seal, signed by Andrew Wyant, the president.
International Sports Sciences Association certification awarded to Laura Ip for the Transformation Specialist with an expiration date of August 22, 2026.
International Sports Sciences Association certificate awarded to Laura Ip for specialization in strength and conditioning, signed by Andrew Wyant, with certification date of September 21, 2024, and expiration date of August 22, 2026.
Certificate from the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) awarded to Laura Ip for passing the exam in Specialist in Exercise Therapy, dated December 27, 2024, with an expiration date of August 22, 2026. The certificate features ISSA logo, gold seal, and signatures, with a QR code for verification.
Certificate of achievement for Laura Ip for passing the TrainFitness exam, issued by the International Sports Sciences Association, dated December 30, 2024, with a gold seal and QR code.

Laura is an anti-racist, intersectional feminist; the proudest mom of two (now) adult children; and a coach/trainer, boxer, volunteer, educator, and advocate. She did not grow up thinking she would one day step into the ring, never mind run a boxing club.

Laura discovered boxing at the beginning of 2010…on a dare. She fell in love with the sport and, at the end of 2013, asked the founder of Pearl Gloves if she could be on the fight card for the annual charity boxing event.

In November 2014, Laura had her first fight and gave her friend and opponent, Brie Maheu, a hard fight. Had a winner been called (it was an exhibition), Laura knows Brie would have been declared the victor. The real victory for Laura was getting into the ring and giving it her all. On October 8, 2016, Laura fought at Irwin’s Boxing Club for her then-coach Billy Irwin. It was, again, an exhibition, and Laura dominated the fight.

When training for her first fight, Laura learned about the Shape Your Life program that had been running in Toronto for several years already. Upon learning about Shape Your Life from Cathy van Ingen in 2014, Laura wanted to bring the program to Niagara. Shape Your Life is a social and recreational boxing program for women-identified and non-binary individuals who are survivors of violence. Now, in addition to running the Shape Your Life program from time to time, all programming at Underdogs runs on the same trauma-informed principles.

Laura knows the benefits of boxing for healing from physical and emotional trauma.

In addition to an honours degree in Sociology, with a concentration in Social Justice & Equity Studies, Laura also hold all of the following certifications, specific to her work at Underdogs Boxing Club & Personal Training:

  • International Sports Sciences Association Certified Personal Trainer (along with several other ISSA certifications)

  • Coaching - Level 1 (Boxing Ontario)

  • Certified Women’s Coaching Specialist (GGS)

  • Certified Pre- and Post-Natal Coach (GGS)

  • Certified Menopause Coaching Specialist (GGS)

  • Introduction to Competition - Making Ethical Decisions, Planning a Practice, Nutrition (National Coaching Certification Program, NCCP# 6081415)

  • Making Ethical Decisions - On-line Evaluation (NCCP# 6081415)

  • Making Head Way in Sport - Concussion Prevention, Recognition, Recovery (NCCP# 6081415)

  • Developing Athletic Abilities - pre-workshop (NCCP# 6081415)

  • Standard First Aid CPR/AED Level C

An ISO-certified badge for the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) since 1988, along with the Boxing Ontario logo featuring the word 'BOXING' in black outline with a red curved line and the word 'ONTARIO' in red.
Three certification badges for women coaching specialists. The first badge is GGS-1, Certified Women's Coaching Specialist. The second badge is CPPC, Certified Pre- & Postnatal Coach. The third badge is CSMC, Certified Menopause Coaching Specialist.
Certification diploma from the International Sports Sciences Association awarded to Laura Ip for passing the exam, dated August 22, 2024, valid until August 22, 2026, with a signature, a QR code, and a gold badge.