A double end bag, at the Gleason's Gym. Photo: Mo Riza.

Of all the various career paths a young middle class Jewish girl would choose to pursue, it can be safely assumed that professional boxing would most likely not rank high up on that list of callings.

The same cannot be said however for Argentinean native Carolina Raquel Duer, a perennial star in the South American boxing scene who recently – for the third time – successfully defended her World Boxing Organization (WBO) Super Flyweight championship title in a bout with Uruguayan boxer Maria Nunez in a three round knockout fight in Buenos Aires. The fight took place at the Club Atletico Lanus in front of a large crowd. It was also televised nationally.

Carolina 33, grew up in the conservative Jewish community of Buenos Aires where she attended a Jewish day school, went to services at the synagogue, had a bat mitzvah, and visited Israel, where she spent time working and traveling.

Her boxing career began back in 2002 when she met well-known trainer Antonio Zacarias at a Buenos Aires gym and decided to start training as a boxer.

As an amateur she won 19 of 20 fights. In 2007, she turned pro. Three years later she won the WBO title, defeating Lorena Pedazza by decision. She has a professional record of nine wins and three losses.

Duer is ambitious and has future plans to move to Brooklyn, NY, where she hopes to train at the renowned Gleason’s Gym joining the highly celebrated Jewish fighter from Brooklyn, Yuri Foreman,  a move that is sure to continue to bolster the ever growing revival of the Jewish boxing presence.