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 New! Laila Ali Interview
Awesome interview with Laila Ali. Laila shows how lean she is at 168 (note:a must see part of the video) and calls out Martin, Rijker and anyone willing to challenge for her two title belts. A good interview with Peter Palmiere
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It's Christy Martin vs. Laila Ali
By David A. Avila (June 26, 2003)
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A pair of the world’s best-known female prizefighters will meet later this summer. Laila “She Be Stingin” Ali and Christy “the Coal Miner’s Daughter” Martin have signed to fight each other on August 23, in a match that will be shown on pay-per-view. The fight, promoted by Absoloot Promotions, will take place at the Grand Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.
“I’m excited about the match and I’m going to get ready to the best of my ability,” said Martin (45-2-2, 31 KOs) who will be in her 50th professional fight when she meets Ali. “For the first time in my career I’ll be going in as a big underdog.”
Ali (15-0, 12 KOs), 25, who recently stopped Valerie Mahfood last weekend in a rematch, has been working to prove she is the best female fighter and is anxious to meet Martin, who has more victories than any other woman in the world.
“This is the greatest fight in the history of women’s boxing,” said Johnny McClain, president of Absoloot Boxing Promotions and Ali’s husband. “It just goes to show when egos get put aside anything can be done.”
Negotiations between the two fighters had been going on for months and finally came to fruition two days before Ali’s fight at the Staples Center.
“We signed an agreement around 3 a.m.,” said Martin, who is the former junior welterweight champion at 140 pounds and plans to fight at 142. “I’m glad it’s finally happening.”
Martin, 35, last fought against Mia Rosales-St. John in December and won a unanimous decision. But it wasn’t as easy as most people predicted.
“Mia fought a wonderful fight against me. Most of my opponents really fight their best against me, they have nothing to lose,” Martin said. “In this fight, Ali is going to have all of the pressure. I have nothing to lose.”
Martin has been fighting since September 1989 against some of the best female fighters in the world. A showdown between Martin and Lucia Rijker – who recently fought and beat Jane Couch at the Staples Center last week – almost took place several years ago but fizzled. Both have recently said they do want to meet each other soon before they retire.
“A fight with Lucia is still a possibility,” said Martin, who will be
training near Orlando, Florida. “But I want to put all my focus on Laila Ali. I need to be ready to do all I can to beat her.”
Martin, at 5-4, is at a distinct height and weight advantage against the 5-10 Ali. But she’s not bothered by the disparity.
“Most of the girls I’ve fought were taller than me,” Martin said. “Lisa Holewyne was much taller than me. She was as tall as Laila. I think I know how to fight someone taller. I’ve had a lot of practice.”
Though Ali weighs 168 pounds, Martin will not put on more weight.
“I fight my best around 142 pounds,” Martin said. “I feel good at that weight.”
Ali, who has proven to the world that she is not just a pretty face, is eager to get in the ring against Martin.
“If Christy wants to do it let’s go,” said Ali after her fight against
Mahfood.
Though both women are high profile female fighters, it will not be televised on HBO nor Showtime.
“We’re going to do it on pay-per-view and show the other television networks just how popular these women are,” said McClain. “This is the biggest fight ever for women’s boxing.”
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