Like many women in Argentine politics, Marcela Acuña draws inspiration from Eva Peron. “She faced obstacles and she wasn’t accepted by everybody,” says Ms. Acuña. “But she never stopped caring about the common people and never stopped fighting.”

Of course, Evita never had a right cross like that of Ms. Acuña. The reigning women’s junior featherweight boxing champion, she is better known as la Tigresa, the Tigress. After racking up a record of 32 wins — 16 by knockout — against just five losses, Ms. Acuña is now crossing over into the political arena, running on the ticket for the governing Peronist party in Sunday’s midterm election.

Oct. 16, 1976 – Born Marcela Acuña in Formosa, Argentina.

1990 – Trains in martial arts. Becomes South American Karate champion at 14. Defends the title 16 times.

1991 – At 15, she moves in with her trainer, Ramón Chaparro. The couple has two children, Maximiliano and Josué.

Dec. 5, 1997 – Makes her professional boxing debut at Florida’s Pompano Beach Amphitheater. Loses to experienced Christy Martin by a wide margin.

Sept. 25, 1998 – In her second fight, she loses to Lucia Rijker, of Los Angeles, for the newly created WIBO junior welterweight title at Foxwoods Casino in Ledyard, Conn.

April 28, 2001 – Reappears as a featherweight after a break from professional boxing. Defeats Jamillia Lawrence of Atlantic City, N.J., in Buenos Aires, in the first professional women’s boxing bout ever fought in Argentina.

Jan. 19, 2002 – Scores a first-round knockout of Patricia Quirico of Caseros for the Argentine featherweight title. Defends this title in March.

Dec. 6, 2003 – Wins WIBA Super Bantamweight world title with a sixth-round knockout of Damaris Pinock Ortega of Panama. Defends this title in 2004, with a first-round knockout of Daysi Padilla. Keeps the title after wins in October and December 2006.

Aug. 12, 2006 – Defeats Colombian Anays Gutierrez Carrillo for the WBA Junior Featherweight world title.

Nov. 2006 — Participates on the TV show “Bailando Por Un Sueño,” the Argentine equivalent of “Dancing with the Stars.”

Dec. 4, 2008 – Wins a unanimous 10-round decision over her rival Alejandra Oliveras to unify the WBA and WBC junior featherweight belts at Buenos Aires’s Luna Park Stadium.

April. 30, 2009 – Defeats Jackie Nava of Tijuana, Mexico, for the WBC Junior Featherweight title, for a new record of 32 wins, 16 knockouts, 5 losses.

May 2009 – Announces her intention to run for city council. She is the fourth name on the Peronist list for Tres de Febrero city council.