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Caitlin Furlong just wants a fight.

Peter Assaff/Northern Light Photo

Boxer Caitlin Furlong of Bathurst has been having a tough time finding opponents since winning a Canadian title in 2007.

The 16-year-old daughter of Gabe and Michelle Furlong of Bathurst has had a tough time finding an opponent since winning a Canadian boxing title a little more than a year ago.

"Caitlin is a strong fighter and a lot of girls are backing out on her," saud coach Ken Roy of the Acadian Boxing Club in Bathurst, where Furlong trains three times a week. "She is already a Canadian champion so they are scared to lose against her."

A Grade 11 student at Ecole Secondaire Nepisiguit, Furlong won national title in the 52-kilogram cadet division when she beat Chani Dallaire of Quebec 36-29 in the gold medal bout in St. Catharines, Ont. on Feb. 17, 2007.

Furlong admits that waiting for an opponent has been very frustrating.

"I've only had four fights since the nationals, and the last time I fought was in October at the provincials," she said. "It is very frustrating, especially when they tell you they are going to fight you and then they change their mind at the last minute."

Furlong hopes that isn't the case this Saturday, when she and three other fighters from the Acadian Boxing Club head to Grand Falls Furlong is scheduled to step into the ring against a familiar opponent, Cheyenne Haevens of Saint John, in the 119-pound weight class.

"I fought Cheyenne four times," she said. "This is the fifth time, so I'm pretty sure that she is going to show up."

The pair have split their previous four meetings, including a pair of matches last fall.

"We are pretty evenly matched," admitted Furlong. "At the provincials, she beat me the first time but we had a rematch and I won the rematch.

"Last time I fought her, I knew exactly what her game plan was. But every time somebody wins, the other one switches their game plan, so I have no idea what she is going to do (this weekend). I'll have to be spontaneous."

The first match between the pair last October finished in a close decision, leading to the rematch in Saint john a week later. Furlong said the two young fighters have become pals outside of the ring, but once the gloves are on everything changes.

"We are good friends. After we fight ,we sit down together and just talk. But when we get in the ring it is a different ball game," she smiled.

The other local boxers on the Grand Falls fight card are Jonathan Plante, Shawn Christie and Lee Roy.