WBC Woman: Frida Wallberg

Swedish fighter Frida Wallberg, former WBC super featherweight champion, is one of the most important boxers, but also the protagonists of one of the greatest inspirational stories in our sport.

As an amateur Frida won 48 bouts before turning professional in 2004. On November 27, 2010, Frida defeated Canadian Olivia Gerula, winning the WBC Green and Gold title and successfully defended it twice, including a victory over Amanda Serrano.

Then, the opponent she was facing at the Waterfront Congress SAS Radisson, Stockholm, was Diana Prazak from Australia.

Frida was ahead on the scorecards after five rounds and was boxing well. Then, in the seventh round, a hard right hand staggered her, but she bravely defended herself and returned to her corner when the bell rang.

In the eighth Diana knocked Frida down with a left hand. Frida beat her count and got up, but moments later a short right hook from her knocked her down again.

The Referee stopped the fight and Frida staggered to her corner to be examined by ring doctor Robert Ludwig. She collapsed moments later and Diana’s trainer, former boxing champion Lucia Rijker, realized something was very wrong.

She immediately called the doctor again, they placed Frida on a stretcher, administered oxygen and rushed her to the Karolinska Institute. She had suffered a subdural hematoma, which is bleeding between the skull and the brain. The surgeons operated on her and Frida was placed in an induced coma.

They saved her life, but with an injury of this nature, her boxing career ended, and her life changed forever.

The World Boxing Council, through the José Sulaimán Fund, was in Frida’s corner from the first moment of her accident, supporting her since 2013.

In an interview  Frida commented: “The support from the José Sulaimán fund has been very helpful, without a doubt the fund is a great help for those of us who need it. I hope to continue feeling better and be able to have a good daily life, with my children and fewer headaches.

“But, the most important thing is that I don’t give up! Thank you for everything you are doing for me and for the boxers who need it. You have no idea how much of some help you have been. It means a lot.”

Our beloved champion already has permission from the Swedish government to work and is working part-time, generating income to have a good life with her beautiful family.

Frida Wallberg, an inspiration to the boxing family!

Frida Wallberg’s Interview

What happened changed your life. How have you adapted in order to build an altered and new life? 
Of course my whole life has changed. To the extent that I can I try to find new ways that work for me. I believe that I have created a new structure that works OK.

We ’ve been told you are working as a child therapist? What does this involve and how is it going?

I am working part time as a treatment assistant, which mostly goes fine, but sometimes I have to reject a work day due to acute headaches.

You were a brilliant boxer and have so much knowledge. Have you contemplated being a coach?
I have and do think about me wanting to be a source of inspiration to make people feel good. You can succeed also during setbacks.

Are you glad you did boxing and reached the highest level?
My whole life has been boxing. I am happy over what I have achieved and that I reached the top.

Are you able to exercise in the gym and how is your fitness? Do you do other sports?
To feel well I must exercise. When I have the time between work and my children, who I have full time as I live alone, I try to exercise. I am in quite good shape.