Alejandra Oliveras


Alejandra Marina Oliveras, known as "La Locomotora", was an Argentine professional boxer who competed from 2006 to 2015. She won world championships in four weight classes including the World Boxing Council female super-bantamweight title from 2006 to 2008, the World Boxing Association female lightweight title from 2011 to 2012, the World Boxing Organization female featherweight title from 2012 to 2013, and WBC female super-lightweight title from 2013 to 2014.
Oliveras was also an activist for gender equality and promoted women's boxing. She was inducted into the Latin American Boxing Hall of Fame in 2024. Oliveras is also a member of the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame.

Biography

Oliveras was born on 20 March 1978 in El Carmen, Jujuy, Argentina, and was raised in Alejandro Roca, Juárez Celman Department, in a humble family. She was the fourth of seven siblings and after finishing primary school she began working as a farm labourer. A victim of gender violence since becoming a mother at the age of 14 until she separated from her husband, she took up boxing as a form of self-defense.
After holding several jobs, Oliveras began working at a local radio station reading the news. After reading a news story about Mike Tyson, a boxer she admired, she commented on live radio, saying, "I wish I could be a boxer". Soon, a former boxer who was in town called the radio station and asked about her. The following month, they organised a boxing festival with a girl from the town.

Professional boxing

Oliveras made her professional boxing debut on 12 August 2005 in General Levalle, Córdoba, with a knockout victory over María del Carmen Potenza. On 20 May 2006, she won her first international title by becoming the World Boxing Council super bantamweight world champion against Jackie Nava in Mexico.
On 13 October of that year, she successfully defended her title in Rosario against Anays Gutiérrez Carrillo, "La Dama del Ring", in a hard-fought bout. Oliveras suffered her first defeat on 4 December 2008, when Marcela ‘La Tigresa’ Acuña took her title on 4 December 2008 at Luna Park Stadium.
On 5 January 2012, Oliveras won against Jessica Villafranca by a knockout. The two were fighting for the vacant WBO featherweight world title.
On 19 April 2013, on her 5th defense of the featherweight title, Oliveras defeated Calixta Silgado in the fifth round by knockout. On 11 October 2013, she won the WBC Superkigero title against Lely Luz Flórez.
Oliveras lost her WBC light welterweight title on 15 November 2014, after being defeated by Erica Farias in a split decision. After this defeat, she ended her career with two victories, in 2015 and 2017. She finished with a record of 33 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses, and her style was defined as aggressive and forceful when attacking.
She was inducted into the Latin American Boxing Hall of Fame in 2024. In October 2025, she was posthumously named among the inductees for the 2026 International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame class.

Community work

Oliveras stood out for her activism in favour of women's boxing and against gender inequality, especially in terms of remuneration in sport.
She founded Team Locomotora, a gym that offered free classes to low-income youth in Santó Tomé, Santa Fe, and participated in campaigns against gender violence. Oliveras also organised motivational talks for young people.

Political

Ahead of the 2021 legislative elections, Oliveras announced her intention to run for a seat in the lower house of Congress as part of the right-wing Unite Santa Fe party. With 3.91% of the votes, Oliveras's candidacy did not receive enough votes to get her elected. Oliveras supported Patricia Bullrich's presidential run in the 2023 general election. Following Bullrich's appointment as security minister in the government of Javier Milei, she appointed Oliveras to oversee the country's sports security agency.
In 2025, Oliveras ran for a seat in the Constitutional Convention tasked with writing a new constitution for Santa Fe Province. She won her seat with 78,471 votes, the sixth-most among all candidates in the province.

Personal life and death

Oliveras had two sons, Alejandro and Alexis, both also gym instructors who worked with her.
On 14 July 2025, Oliveras suffered a stroke, leaving her hospitalized in Santa Fe, Argentina, in serious condition. That day, she was to be sworn in as a member of the Santa Fe Constitutional Convention, which was beginning its sessions. She died 14 days later from a pulmonary embolism on 28 July, at the age of 47.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
38Win33–3–2Lesly MoralesUD108 Apr 2017Gimnasio Municipal Enrique Mosconi, Cutral Có, Neuquén, Argentina
37Win32–3–2Natalia del Valle AguirreUD617 Jul 2015Club Racing, Teodolina, Santa Fe, Argentina
36Loss31–3–2Érica FaríasSD1015 Nov 2014Plaza de Toros, Cancun, Quintana Roo, MexicoLost WBC super-lightweight title
35Win31–2–2Lely Luz FlorezTKO7 11 Oct 2013Club Atletico Union, Santo Tome, Santa Fe, ArgentinaWon vacant WBC super-lightweight title
34Win30–2–2Calixta SilgadoKO5 19 Apr 2013Federación Jujeña de Básquetbol, San Salvador de Jujuy, Jujuy, ArgentinaRetained WBO featherweight title
33Win29–2–2Dayana CorderoUD1023 Feb 2013Club Olimpo, Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaRetained WBO featherweight title
32Win28–2–2Paulina CardonaTKO4 22 Dec 2012Club Sportivo America, Rosario, Santa Fe, ArgentinaRetained WBO featherweight title
31Win27–2–2Migdalia AsprillaTKO5 14 Jul 2012Salón Bomberos Voluntarios, General Villegas, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaRetained WBO featherweight title
30Win26–2–2Diana AyalaRTD6 9 Jun 2012Estadio Pedro Estremador, San Carlos de Bariloche, Rio Negro, ArgentinaRetained WBO featherweight title
29Win25–2–2Simone Da Silva DuarteKO5 13 Apr 2012Polideportivo Municipal, Necochea, Buenos Aires, Argentina
28Win24–2–2Jessica VillafrancaKO5 5 Jan 2012Gimnasio Santiago Saigós, San Antonio de Areco, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaWon vacant WBO featherweight title
27Win23–2–2Roxana Beatriz LabordeUD611 Nov 2011Club Atletico Lanus, Lanus, Buenos Aires, Argentina
26Win22–2–2Liliana PalmeraRTD5 12 Aug 2011Asociación Deportiva Estudiantes, Rio Cuarto, Cordoba, ArgentinaWon vacant WBA lightweight title
25Win21–2–2Alicia Susana AlegreTKO6 13 May 2011Club Estudiantes, Rio Cuarto, Cordoba, Argentina
24Win20–2–2Pamela Elizabeth BenavidezUD69 Apr 2011Estadio Cubierto Municipal, Dean Funes, Cordoba, Argentina
23Loss19–2–2Mónica AcostaUD1018 Feb 2011Club Estudiantes, Santa Rosa, La Pampa, ArgentinaFor WBC and vacant WBA female super-lightweight titles
22Win19–1–2Silvia Fernanda ZacariasKO5 12 Nov 2010Club Atletico Union, Santa Fe, Santa Fe, Argentina
21Win18–1–2Sonia Edith PaladinoUD824 Sep 2010Salón Municipal, Villa del Dique, Cordoba, Argentina
20Win17–1–2Maria Eugenia QuirogaUD618 Jun 2010Club Almirante Brown, San Isidro de Lules, Tucuman, Argentina
19Win16–1–2Antonina Ayala VazquezKO2 10 Apr 2010Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Buenos Aires, Argentina
18Win15–1–2Silvia Beatriz LescanoTKO1 30 Jan 2010Club Social y Deportivo Peñarol, Guaminí, Buenos Aires, Argentina
17Win14–1–2Natalia del Pilar BurgaUD106 Nov 2009Asociación Mutual Club El Tala, San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina
16Win13–1–2Adriana SallesUD1016 May 2009Palacio Peñarol, Montevideo, Uruguay
15Loss12–1–2Marcela AcuñaUD104 Dec 2008Estadio Luna Park, Distrito Federal, ArgentinaLost WBC super-bantamweight title;
For WBA super-bantamweight title
14Win12–0–2Michelle Larissa BonassoliRTD5 7 Nov 2008Polideportivo Corral de Palos, Cordoba, Cordoba, Argentina
13Win11–0–2Maria del Carmen MontielUD811 Jul 2008Club Defensores de Villa Lujan, San Miguel, Tucuman, Argentina
12Win10–0–2Adriana SallesUD104 Aug 2007Club Atletico Central Argentino, Rio Cuarto, Cordoba, ArgentinaRetained WBC super-bantamweight title
11Draw9–0–2Jackie NavaMD102 Mar 2007Super Domo Orfeo, Cordoba, Cordoba, ArgentinaRetained WBC super-bantamweight title
10Win9–0–1Claudia Andrea LopezSD822 Dec 2006Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal, Argentina
9Win8–0–1Anays Cecilia Gutierrez CarrilloUD1013 Oct 2006Club Sportivo America, Rosario, Santa Fe, ArgentinaRetained WBC super-bantamweight title
8Win7–0–1Jackie NavaKO8 20 May 2006Palenque del Hipodromo, Tijuana, Baja California, MexicoWon WBC super-bantamweight title
7Win6–0–1Graciela BaezTKO1 7 Apr 2006Club Pabellon, Alejandro, Cordoba, Argentina
6Draw5–0–1Betina Gabriela GarinoPTS424 Mar 2006La Carlota, Cordoba, Argentina
5Win5–0Betina Gabriela GarinoSD417 Feb 2006E.N.E.T. Nº 1, Laboulaye, Cordoba, Argentina
4Win4–0Maria del Carmen PotenzaTD3 6 Jan 2006Anfiteatro Municipal, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina
3Win3–0Silvia Raquel GervasiUD411 Nov 2005Hipólito Bouchard, Alejandro, Córdoba, Argentina
2Win2–0Maria del Carmen MontielUD49 Sep 2005La Carlota, Córdoba, Argentina
1Win1–0Maria del Carmen PotenzaTKO2 12 Aug 2005General Levalle, Córdoba, Argentina