Marblehead native Kara Smith raised $12,539.63 for cancer research through her first amateur bout at Haymakers for Hope’s 2024 Belles of the Brawl.
A first fight for a personal cause
Smith had been boxing for fitness since 2018 and taught cardio-boxing classes in the Boston area. Before the fight, she described training five to six days each week, including sparring, as she prepared to enter the ring. Her story connected a familiar fitness practice with an unusually demanding goal: taking part in a sanctioned amateur bout while raising funds for cancer research and care.
Smith competed at Belles of the Brawl XI, Haymakers for Hope’s Boston charity boxing event, held October 10, 2024, at MGM Music Hall. The organization’s event page identifies the card as sanctioned by USA Boxing. The bouts were planned for three two-minute rounds, according to the local report.
Fundraising beyond the ring
Haymakers for Hope turns amateur boxing events into fundraisers for cancer research and care. Its page for Smith’s campaign lists $12,539.63 raised against a $10,000 goal. The event page lists more than $631,000 raised against a $600,000 target, reflecting contributions from the full group of participants.
The fight itself was one evening; the reason Smith entered the ring reaches beyond a result. Her preparation and fundraising gave the event a local connection for Marblehead while supporting Haymakers’ work. Smith told the Current that boxing had become part of her life and that she hoped to encourage other women to try the sport.
This retrospective keeps the focus on what is documented: Smith’s first bout, the personal loss that motivated her, and the amount raised through her campaign. The linked event and fundraising pages provide the clearest record of when Belles of the Brawl XI took place and how the campaign performed.
Sources
Tags: Boxing, Combat Sports
