Monique Bovino: Behind The Microphone
Our initials are the same. Our alarm clocks both go off at the same unearthly and unhealthy hour. An early morning start for the day job, before we both begin the media obligations in the world of combat sports.
We are, in truth, 10,000 miles away, residing on different corners of the world. The day job of Monique Bovino is a little more glamorous than mine. The 26-year-old Australian flies around in a helicopter reporting on the weather conditions.
But once the jet-set early hours grind is over, a new day begins. A different life. Bovino, who once played soccer before boxing engulfed her life, has a thriving sporting presenting presence, including working for Wanderer Promotions and Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships. Bovino was once an amateur boxer; there are plans to pick up the pieces of her fighting career and turn professional at some point in the near future. Another little chapter in the life of someone who has an unwavering and impressive work ethic.
Behind the microphone and indeed the gloves, there is an undoubted passion for the world of combat sports. Bovino has seen many great fights, both from ringside and at home. A select few stand out to her.
“I have a few,” Bovino told FightPost. “I really like the first fight between Chris Eubank and Conor Benn. I also remember the first fight between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury. That was just incredible. For Tyson to get up in that final round was just crazy. I can’t leave out the female fights. Shannon Courtenay against Ebanie Bridges, and also Mai Soliman vs. Jasmine Parr. Not many people would have seen that fight, but both girls were standing in the ring just bashing the crap out of each other. Mai was being clipped with punches until she knocked Jasmine out. That was special.
Before the gloves are laced back on, the Sydney-born Bovino is developing a career behind the microphone that is only going from strength to strength. It’s a life that is still in the embryonic stages, but she is already building up a career of special memories.
I did the very first BKFC event that came to Australia,” Bovino says when I asked what her career highlights are to date. “I was so pumped to be a part of that. It was a last-minute call-up. I also did sit-down interviews with Terence Crawford and Jai Opetaia. It was about a year ago, and I remember thinking I don’t know how many opportunities I will get like this again.”
Boxing is undoubtedly a passion. “I love to hit people in the face,” Bovino told me. “Fighters put so much into this sport. All the training. The way they have to live day-to-day.
“I seriously don’t know,” Bovino added when I asked where she would be without boxing. “I wouldn’t be in media because boxing got me into the media world. I am a much more confident and strong person because of boxing. Without stepping into that ring or interviewing all those fighters, I would be such a shy person. When I was young, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. You don’t have that sense of belonging to anything. I was very confused. I didn’t know where I fit in. As soon as I started boxing, I knew this was where I belonged.”
It’s a sport that is in her blood. Her peers inspire her. “Every athlete who is around me is an inspiration,” the 26-year-old says. “When I look at fighters, they inspire me to keep pushing.”
Despite the obvious passion and her involvement in the media landscape, there are things that she would change. “The media coverage. Fighters are not covered by mainstream media enough in Australia. It breaks my heart because these guys work so hard. They are literally putting their lives on the line. When did boxing become so niche? It makes me so angry.”
Monique Bovino is only 26, but she already has a wealth of life experience gathered in a sport that tests you in so many ways. Bovino says the best way to navigate your way through it is, “Do what you want. Don’t listen to anyone pulling you down. If it feels right, just do it.”
Those words of advice come from the heart. And from her own regrets. “I have said no to some overseas opportunities,” Bovino admits. “I said no because I was thinking about what my family would think of it. My goal now is to pick up and go. My biggest regret is not getting up and just doing my own thing.”
It does seem that Bovino will not have any more regrets going forward. That desire to fight again still lingers. That particular itch should be scratched within the next year or so. There is also an ambition to continue to keep moving forward in her already successful broadcasting career. The regrets and missed opportunities are seemingly in the past.
“I want to turn pro eventually,” Bovino reiterates. “A goal of mine is to travel with sports presenting full-time and be considered one of the best combat sports presenters in the world as a female.”
