Kara Ro enjoyed success in any number of sports before landing a knockout punch in the boxing ring.

Her length and power carried her to two Women’s International Boxing Association titles and in April 2025, her undefeated career was recognized with induction into the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame.

Growing up in Sudbury, Ont., Ro excelled in basketball, volleyball, track and field, tennis and badminton, earning MVP status in several and city championships in track and tennis.

She chose volleyball as a post-secondary pursuit and that’s what drew her to southern Ontario where she captained the University of Windsor Lancers in Ontario University Athletics league play.

Fate intervened in her sophomore year when she shared a boyfriend’s interest in learning how to box. A quick study at the Windsor Boxing Club, the then 26-year-old Ro turned professional in 2002 and won her lightweight debut that September at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

She moved on to train at the legendary Kronk Boxing Club in Detroit and in February 2005, she won the Women’s International Boxing Association’s Inter-continental lightweight title with an eight-round unanimous decision against Detroit’s own Tracy Byrd.

In June 2005, Ro won the vacant WIBA lightweight title in a fight against Puerto Rico’s Belinda Laracuente at the Michigan State Fairgrounds. She used a punishing combination of body blows and left hooks to take a 10-round unanimous decision from Laracuente who’s own decorated career was recognized by the International Hall of Fame in 2018.

Back injuries forced Ro to retire in 2011 with a 17-0 record including seven wins by knock out.

She has since stayed involved as a boxing and MMA trainer as well as a ring announcer and expert commentator.

She has also been a radio host on AM800. Now, Ro takes her place as a 2025 inductee into the athlete’s category of the Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame.