25.07.05 – She is a boxing beauty whose good looks have earned her the nickname “The Knockout.” He is a boxing beast who graduated from “toughman” contests and improved enough to stay in the ring for 10 rounds with legendary heavyweight world champion Larry Holmes. She has appeared in the ring at the Playboy mansion and in the pages of “Playboy” magazine..
He has earned, while compiling a 70-4-4 record with 53 knockouts, the unofficial title of “King of the Four-Rounders,” a claim he challenged former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson to dispute.
She is Mia St. John.
He is Eric Esch, better known to millions as “Butterbean.”
And both have been added to the sensational and historic boxing show which the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation in association with Northeast Promotions is presenting Aug. 9 at Camp Pendleton, the sprawling United States Marine Corps base near San Diego.
The card will be nationally televised by ESPN, and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation will provide this card free of charge for Camp Pendleton authorized personnel.
“On behalf of the warriors of First Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton California, I salute the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation and thank them for their generosity in bringing professional boxing to our Marines, Sailors and their families,” said BGen Mike Lehnert, USMC, Commanding General, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
The Sycuan Tribe demonstrates its strong commitment to the San Diego region through its support of civic and charitable organizations. The Tribe has long been a supporter of organizations which support the military including, the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.
“Camp Pendleton is home to thousands of marines fighting in the war in Iraq,” said Daniel Tucker, Sycuan Tribal Chairman. “We are remindful of the sacrifices they make to serve this country and hope that this event will provide our troops with some enjoyable entertainment.”
History will be made for this is the first time our fighting men and women at Camp Pendleton have hosted a pro boxing event.
The 10-round main event features another popular pugilist, former International Boxing Federation lightweight champion Julio “The Kidd” Diaz. Burning up the comeback trail after a premium cable television loss to World Boxing Council lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo, Diaz will be tested by rugged Texas veteran Tomas Barrientes.
Both Mia St. John and “Butterbean” said they are honored to display their ring skills before the live audience at Camp Pendleton.
“I am a red, white and blue American,” Butterbean said. “I completely love and support these genuine heroes who sometimes make the ultimate sacrifice in defending our country and our way of life. I can’t wait to meet and greet all those great fighters.”
“If I can, in some small way, boost the morale of these brave men and women by performing in the ring that will be wonderful,” St. John said. “I consider just being invited by Sycuan and Northeast Promotions to be on this special show an honor. This will be a unique and long-remembered privilege for me.”
Born Mia Rosales in San Francisco, “30 something” years ago, St. John has rolled up an impressive 41-5-2 record with 17 knockouts. She is trained by former world champion Robert Garcia of Oxnard, Calif. She has stood toe to toe with such
well-known female fighters as Christy “The Coal Miner’s Daughter” Martin.
Many dismissed St. John as just another pretty face and branded her a powder puff puncher. Those critics and naysayers have been silenced as St. John has more than proven her ring mettle. She started shutting up the critics when she rolled to victories in her first 22 pro bouts.
Like Mia, “Butterbean” has been heckled by nattering nabobs of negativity. And, like Mia, the 36-year-old Jasper, Ala., resident has made most of them eat their words.
The rotund and jolly puncher won 13 of his first 15 pro bouts (two were no contests) and his widespread appeal led him to fighting in England.
One is a Spanish rose, a beauty in boxing trunks. The other is an old school barroom style brawler who doesn’t mind being labeled a boxing beast.
And both will be at Camp Pendleton Aug. 9 to entertain the live audience and the viewers watching nationwide on ESPN.
Diaz currently is ranked No. 3 by the IBF among lightweights and has a record of 31-3 with 23 knockouts. Diaz won the IBF lightweight championship with a 12-round decision over Javier Jauregui on a Sycuan Ringside Promotions card May 13, 2004. Barrientes has a record of 27-8 with 17 knockouts.
Sycuan Ringside Promotions is considered the fastest-growing and most dynamic promotional entity in the sport. Sycuan Ringside made its debut during 2004, and to date has hosted numerous world title bouts on premium cable networks. Sycuan Ringside Promotions has many notable athletes in its corner including former World Boxing Organization junior featherweight champion Joan Guzman and IBF junior featherweight champion Israel Vasquez.
Northeast Promotions is headed by Walt Lambert.
Members of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation have resided in and around the foothills of the Dehesa Valley for nearly 12,000 years. Today they are a modern government providing public services to their members, employees and neighbors. The Sycuan Tribal Government operates one of the region’s premier Indian gaming and resort facilities, the Sycuan Resort and Casino. The Tribe through the Sycuan Tribal Development Corporation (STDC) also seeks to reinvest back into the San Diego community with a progressive business development effort. To date, STDC has purchased the Singing Hills Country Club and the historic U.S. Grant Hotel, is an investor in Hotel Solamar near Petco Park and is owner/developer of the Marina Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in National City. The Tribe also owns and operates Sycuan Ringside Promotions, the country’s first tribally owned boxing promotion company, as well as Sycuan Funds, a publicly traded and professionally managed mutual fund. Combined, these enterprises now employ nearly 4,000 San Diegans.