Boxing

 

Workout Quotes From LA Boxing Gym: Christy Martin, Mia St.John


PHOTO: TOM CASINO: Mia St. John (left) weighed 140 1/4 pounds and Christy Martin tipped scales at 144 pounds

06.12 - Longtime rivals and wildly popular women's boxing superstars Christy Martin (44-2-2, 31 KOs) and Mia St. John (26-1-1, 13 KOs) will fight for the World Boxing Council's (WBC) "Pound-for-Pound" world championship, Friday, Dec. 6, at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich. Titled "Battle of the Covergirls," this event will be available via pay per view, live at 9 p.m. ET with a suggested retail price of $24.95. Fans should contact their local cable or satellite company service provider for times. An exciting undercard will be headlined by a 10-round featherweight bout featuring two-time world champion Junior Jones (50-5, 28 KOs) against "Sugar" Reymundo Beltran (11-2, 8 KOs). Also on the card is Bahaman super middleweight Freeman Barr (23-2, 11 KOs), slated for a 10-round bout against an opponent to be announced.

CHRISTY MARTIN: "Mia is a good businesswoman and I do not begrudge her for anything she has accomplished, but we got to where we are in totally different ways. I paid my dues like most male boxers: I sold tickets, fought for free or meager wages, changed clothes in janitor's closets. She used sex and her femininity to sell herself and make a name. That is just the way it is.

"I have been around way too long to know better than to underestimate any opponent. I have seen too many huge upsets. I respect Mia, but I know what I have to do.

"Mia is saying all the pressure is on me, and she is right. I have everything to lose and virtually nothing to gain. She says that after this fight, she wants to retire, but I still want to fight all the top women, including Laila Ali, Jacqui Frazier and everyone else.

"I think it is a little unfair that most people expect me to win so easily and so quickly. I know I have more experience, but I expect Mia to fight the fight of her life. Plus, this is my first fight in a year. She has been way more active. So I do not expect nor do I plan to just blast her out with the first punch or two I throw. My game plan is to punish her for 4-5 rounds, so that I can show her the difference between fighting the kinds of opponents she has been in with and me. Then, from there, we will see what happens.''

MIA ST. JOHN: "I feel people have to respect me as a fighter, not only for what I have done for women's boxing but just for getting into the ring with Christy. The two of us have worked very hard and have done far more than anyone else to help get women's boxing where it is today.

"I always dreamed about fighting Christy Martin. It was one of the three things I set out to do when I decided to become a pro boxer. The others were to work with Don King and fight on an undercard of Oscar De La Hoya. After a week from Friday, I can say I did all three.

"I have had to gain weight for this fight. I think I have put on about 15 pounds, but I still could be giving away around 20 by the time we step into the ring. I like the look of me heavier, but it makes moving around and boxing in general harder, but I am starting to get used to it.

"The key for me is to be able to use the entire ring, and make her come to me. Also, I need to make sure I do not get caught and that she is able to land a clean shot.

"I am so excited about Dec. 6. For the first time, I do not feel really nervous or scared. I actually feel bad for her. There is so much pressure on her to not only win, but to win rather quickly. Some think I will get knocked out in the first round. Well, that is not going to happen.''

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