Born in Saskatchewan, Canada, Jaime took to sports at a young age, a not surprising development, given her father’s career as a professional hockey player and her mother’s years on the ice as a professional figure skater and instructor. Jaime, initially, spent eight years training as a gymnast before switching to boxing, when she was 16.

There followed an eight year amateur career during which, in addition to winning numerous local and regional titles, Jaime was chosen for the Canadian National team, gaining valuable experience against strong International competition.

She turned professional in 2000 and her career record, 22-5-1, was highlighted by a 2007 win over tough Englishwoman, Jane Couch for the IWBF Jr. welterweight title. Clampitt commenced her pro career in Canada, however in mid 2001, Jimmy Burchfield, the renowned Providence boxing manager and promoter, impressed with Clampitt’s early skills, took over her mentorship, a union that remained intact until Clampitt’s retirement.

And that retirement did come. And because this is boxing, it wasn’t as planned, it wasn’t fairy tale cute, it was sudden and savage. The opening bell rang in Albuquerque on August 6, 2010, Holm and Clampitt cautiously circled the other and during an early exchange, Clampitt suddenly hit the canvas, writhing in pain. She had suffered a spinal nerve injury, an injury that left her face paralyzed for two weeks and, for all intent and purpose, tolled ten over her professional boxing career.

Professional is the term ascribed to athletes who perform their sport for money. For some, it is the most important aspect.

Jaime Clampitt is not one of those. And so, on November 22, 2013, three years, three months and sixteen days after Albuquerque, Jaime Clampitt once more came out of a ring corner at the Twin Rivers Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island and won a six round decision over Dominga Olivio.

It wasn’t the ending she wanted, but it said everything you need to know about Jaime Clampitt and her deep feeling and love for her sport. It also indelibly stamped her right to be called a professional boxer in every sense of the term and why she richly deserves her upcoming induction into the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame.