06.02.07 – Interview by Kirk Lang: Former world champion Jaime “The Hurricane” Clampitt (photo © www.jaimeclampitt.com), who lost her lightweight title to Melissa “Missy” Fiorentino back in May, is returning to the ring in the hopes of fastening another world championship around her waist. She will face Mia St. John Friday night at the Rhode Island Convention Center for the vacant International Women’s Boxing Federation World Lightweight title. Clampitt shared her thoughts with EastSideBoxing.com on her career a few days before the big fight.
How does it feel to be back fighting for a world title again?
It feels great. I really still feel like a world champion, so its time to get that belt wrapped around my waste again. I have worked long and hard on my boxing career and despite some earlier reservations about fighting again because of all of my hand injuries, I knew that I had to get back in there and show what I can do. I am thankful that Jimmy Burchfield came to me and offered me this opportunity. I have been with Jimmy since my 5th professional fight, and I am looking forward to giving him another world championship belt, which would be the third for me..
You haven’t fought in months. Worried at all?
I am not as worried this time around. The last fight I had more reservations because of the lay-off but this time is a bit different. I kept my weight off well through my surgery and it has been a lot easier to get down to weight this time. Plus I have been through the process before, so I just felt more comfortable overall, and not at all rushed. Also, my hand feels good. It was sore throughout the entire training camp for the last fight, but I masked it all with a cortisone shot. This time I don’t need any shots as my hand feels great thanks to Dr. Steven Margles at the Lahey Clinic in Boston. He has done the hands of guys like Vinny Paz, Micky Ward and Paulie Malignaggi. He operated on my left hand in December of 2004 and that went great, and now he has fixed up my right hand.
What do you attribute your last defeat to? Did you underestimate Missy?
To be honest I truly don’t feel like I lost the fight. I don’t think any other world champion would have lost their title like that. But I fought in her hometown, and that is what you have to expect. I felt like I deserved at least a draw in the fight as the reigning world champion, but again fighting in your opponents hometown is going to make that a tough one. That being said, I made the fight hard on myself. I did not underestimate Missy, I knew exactly what I was getting and what I had to do, but I just didn’t execute. I fought her fight instead of fighting my fight. But looking back, its not that big of a deal. Obviously I think I would have been making more, money-wise, had I won, as I would be defending my world title on Friday. But the fact of the matter is that I messed my hand up pretty bad in the third round and would have had the same lay-off. Overall, I have no regrets on how anything has played out. The fight with Missy was a great fight for women’s boxing, and in the end it pushed me to make some changes in my training and in my style that I may have not made had I won. I feel like I am a better fighter now, and more confident now, thanks to the fight.
How many miles a day have you been running? How many rounds in the gym a day and how many rounds of sparring?
All I can say is that I have been training hard everyday. I have a new trainer, Kurt Reader, who has been Gary Balletto’s chief trainer for most of his career. He has been pushing me hard and we have been working on so many great things. Sparring has been going great as well. All I can say is that I have been getting great work with Gary Balletto. He thinks I look sharp, so I will take his word for it. Obviously no one knows how great I will do, or how sharp I am, until I step through those ropes on Friday. This is a fight that I have always wanted, not because I think it’s easy, but because I respect Mia as a fighter and as a businesswomen and it is an honor to fight her. Say what you want about her, she has proven she can fight with the best fighters in the world, so I have to bring it at a high level on Friday.
Your husband recently fought an amateur fight and scored a victory. Did you help train him for that fight?
I did, I was actually his trainer for the fight, which I think may have been even tougher than fighting myself. He has been in and out of the gym since he was like 16 or 17 so he has solid skills, but he has some bad habits that were pretty tough to break. But he did well. Lost the weight good and got himself into great shape. I am working with him again as he has another tentative fight on March 3rd in Providence. He and I are promoting our second amateur show that night at the Columbus Theatre. Check out www.riboxinggym.com for more information.
If you beat St. John for the title will you retire as champ or continue on? If you continue on, how much longer can you see yourself lacing up the gloves?
You mean when I beat Mia right. Well, I don’t want to look past Mia, but all I can say is that – barring anymore hand problems – I would like to fight on for sure. I still have some things to take care of in boxing and if all goes well on Friday I would like to continue on and complete any unfinished business I may have. Obviously I am 30 years old and don’t wish to do this much longer. I don’t want to be fighting for more than 2 years or so. I think that gives me enough time to do what I have to do.
What’s the plan when your fight career is over? What will you be doing on a full-time basis?
Maybe if I am able to do my job on Friday and beat Mia, I can make my own workout DVD. That would be cool! Life after boxing will feature a lot of boxing. I will always be in the sport, as I own a gym and I train a slew of fighters, so I would say that even when I am not fighting I will be doing boxing full time. I really enjoy training female fighters and I think I can carve a niche with that and hopefully turn some girls pro in the future. Obviously I train males as well. In addition, I have always been interested in teaching yoga as I enjoy it a lot. I have been looking into getting the proper licenses for yoga and Pilates instruction, so that could be an additional benefit offered at my gym.
Questions/Comments: kirklang@yahoo.com