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Vaia Zaganas: Strawweight World Champion
By David A. Avila (April 2, 2003)
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She's a woman of the world with her sights dead on another world title. But inside the Canadian native burns a desire to keep her world title, but moreover, reach the skill level of her male counterparts like James Toney or Bernard Hopkins.
Vaia Zaganas, the IFBA strawweight title-holder who lives and trains in Las Vegas, wants to be one of the best female fighters in the world and to find paradise in some remote village where money, bickering and politics are distant anomalies.
"I'd love to live in Mexico," said Zaganas (7-1, 3 KOs), who has lived in Oaxaca and visited several Mexican towns. "It's so different there."
But once she steps in the ring, Zaganas becomes "Vicious" Vaia a 102-pound high-energy fighter whose style resembles Australia's hall-of-fame fighter Jeff Fenech more than any other female fighter.
Zaganas recently pounded Terri Moss (3-4) in a six-round decision last week in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Though she expected a tough fight, it wasn't to happen as Moss decided that surviving on her feet was better than a knockout loss.
"It was a wrestling contest," said Zaganas. "She was deducted two points for holding."
For Zaganas, boxing is an art form that is best captured against an equally competitive fighter. She gets this each day in the gym training with her junior bantamweight stable mate Elena "Baby Doll" Reid, who sits on the precipice of a world title in the bigger junior bantamweight division.
Outside the ring they're close friends, inside the ropes they're professional prize fighters honing their boxing skills with an intensity that rivals any of their male counterparts. When they spar against each other it's a true challenge.
"We don't spar against each other too much," said Reid, who at 115 pounds out-weighs her friend by 12 pounds or more. "Sometimes it's the only sparring we can get."
On one particular Saturday, both Zaganas and Reid find themselves sparring with a much taller 180-pound cruiserweight. Though seemingly overmatched, they both fight competitively with precise punching and quick feet. However, every so often, the heavier female fighter catches them in a position where her weight proves too much to overcome. They're forced to punch out of the situation with wild fury.
"I don't like sparring with someone that big," said Zaganas, who at 5 feet seems much younger than 27. But her crisp punching and high volume output make observers double take.
"I've had trouble finding sparring partners until recently," she said.
Now trained by Chris Ben, the brown-eyed Zaganas who looks more like a fashion model outside the ring, has been receiving a steady diet of opponents. And like other top-flight professionals, she has a "hit list" with fighters she intends to meet. One of them is Los Angeles fighter Wendy Rodriguez.
"We almost fought a while back but she had to take some kind of test in school," Zaganas said of Rodriguez, another boxing stylist. "I hear she is a pretty good fighter."
More than just a victory, Zaganas seeks to find an artful fighter who can oppose her and show the fans how far women's boxing has progressed. A solid win is good, but a skillful encounter is even more valued for the native of British Columbia.
A couple of years back, Zaganas fought as an amateur and was named "Best Fighter" in the prestigious Blue and Gold Tournament held each year in Baldwin Park, California. The names of those who have also been named "Best Fighter" reads like a "Who's Who" list with Fernando Vargas, Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley and others who have won the title. But Zaganas won the title in successive years against one of the best amateur fighters in the world Linda Carrillo.
"She's a very good fighter," Zaganas said of Carrillo, a Southern California amateur stalwart. "She has a style similar to Oscar De La Hoya. She uses her jab real well."
Seeking to reach her goal of a world title, Zaganas moved from Canada to Palm Springs, then to Las Vegas. On her mind was professional boxing, not anything else. But a recent eight-month trip to Mexico allowed her to experience another lifestyle which grabbed her spiritually. Undaunted by living in a foreign land, the girl Mexicans in Oaxaca call "Nena", wants to find a way to live in Mexico but fight professionally in the United States.
"I wish I could do it," said Zaganas who is Canadian and Greek. "That would be great."
Until she finds a way to make Mexico her homeland, Zaganas plans to beat every opponent that plans to take her title from her. Next on her hit list, is Atlanta's Nina Ahlin on a fight that will be shown on ESPN2 on April 18. It is yet another challenge and goal.
"I've always had goals," she said. "I need goals."
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