PROVIDENCE, RI – Reigning IWBF world lightweight champion was given clearance at the beginning of February to begin use of her surgically repaired left hand, however the use was limited to light hitting only. Now, a month later Clampitt is hoping to take it to the next level.
 

"I have the greatest doctor in the world in Dr. Steven Margles," said Clampitt, who has suffered with the injured left hand for almost two years. "No one, including myself

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thought I could come back as quick as I have, and that is a testament to the team I have. I was operated on in the beginning of December and at the beginning of February, with only 1 or 2 days of physical therapy, it was feeling good enough to hit the double end bag."

While it was great news to her, Jaime knew that she had to heed the doctor's orders and not over-do it.

"Of course you want to push the envelope as far as you can," said Clampitt. "There was one day where I was just messing around and hit the heavy bag and the hand started to hurt, so I stopped. I tried doing pads last week and while my timing was off a bit, the hand felt pretty good. The heavy bag though, may be in the past. All the doctors I spoke with said it would not be a good idea, so I will have to adjust my training a bit and come up with some alternatives to hitting the heavy bag that's all."

In the time spent out of the ring, Clampitt has worked on building a large client base of students which range from 10 years old to over 60 and includes doctors, lawyers and students. She now runs classes five days a week and has clients for personal training six days a week. It's become somewhat hectic, but Clampitt knows when it's time to cut back.

"Once I have a fight scheduled I will obviously have to cut back a bit, maybe consolidate a few classes, but I cannot neglect the classes or my gym because when I am all done boxing that is what I will have and I need to make sure that is on solid ground," said Clampitt, who besides being a world champion boxer is a USA Boxing certified coach.

According to Clampitt, there is also the possibility that she may take a new avenue in boxing, and start working with some professional fighters. In fact, she has been in contact with reigning WIBF world female super bantamweight champion Esther Schouten, who lost a hotly contested decision to Missy Fiorentino this past November in a bout for the IWBF world featherweight crown.

"I kept in touch with her after the fight as she had asked me about helping her get some nice trunks made, I guess she has had some trouble with that in the past," said Clampitt. "In the course of our emails she made me aware that she is interested in training in the U.S., so that is a possibility. I would love to work with her and train with her. She has some very solid skills, so the base is really there already. There are some spots where she could improve and get better and I think I could help her in that respect."

As for Jaime's next fight, she is hoping for a return to the ring in May, but nothing is set yet.

"It's all up to my promoter Jimmy Burchfield, who has been great to me and really the whole sport of female boxing," said Jaime. "I am confident I can be ready for any time in May. I have not started sparring yet but hope to by the end of this week. I am going to work on getting some good pad work in to sharpen up and continue to test my hands. Even though the surgery was on my left hand, people forget that the right hand was the one that has given me the most trouble. The left hand has been perpetually sore for like two years, while the right hand was first injured in my rematch with Eliza Olson and than in training for the fight in November. While no surgery was required, just some cortisone shots, that injury has hampered me more than any other I think."

In addition to teaching her classes, Jaime has been free with her time, and in helping out. Late last year she auctioned off a pair of trunks and a pair of gloves to raise over $1200 for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. In February she helped raise over $200 for the R.I. Special Olympics and participated, for the fourth straight year, in their Sports Celebrity Carnival. Most recently she was seen speaking at a special fundraiser dinner for the North Providence Jets football team, as well as teaching a special "Wellness Day" class at Smithfield High School. On Friday, Jaime was a special guest at a a special fundraiser for South Boston's Gavin House. It was hosted by Teddy Atlas and amongst those honored were "Marvelous" Marvin Hagler and Vinny Paz.

More information on Jaime is available on her newly redesigned website at www.jaimeclampitt.com.