Exclusive Interview with “She-Bee Stingin’ Laila Ali! By Sue TL Fox

WBAN had an opportunity to talk with Laila Ali in a candid one on one, where Ali pulls NO punches about many issues in this sport, including her upcoming fight with Christy Martin on August 23, her past fights with Valerie Mahfood, her thoughts on Ann Wolfe, and much more!

TL Fox: First off, I would like to talk with you about your last fight that you had with Valerie Mahfood on the HBO card. What do you think about the fact that even as “high-profile” as your fight was with Mahfood, that HBO did not (or would not) televise your fight?

Ali: I feel that HBO wants to follow their tradition of only showing male fights. They don’t feel that women’s boxing is worthy to be on their network. I don’t feel it was a matter of whether or not my name is big enough, they know that it is. But they may feel that if they put me on, they will open up a can of worms that they don’t want to deal with. I personally don’t put my energy into begging to be on HBO. I know that millions of boxing fans can see me on ESPN or PPV.

TL Fox: Has HBO talked with you in the future of televising any future fights on their cards, and if so, any particular opponent in line for you on that card?

Ali: I have not spoken to anyone from HBO about future fights.

TL Fox: It was reported that you were angry that the last fight with Mahfood was stopped before you could KO her. Can you give more details about your feelings about this stoppage?

Ali: I always rather get a KO over a TKO. I was not mad because, once again, I put a beautiful beat down on her. In our first fight, the ref would not have been wrong to let it go longer. But he was not wrong for stopping the fight because I was hitting Mahfood with sharp combinations, her face was busted up, she was backing up, she was defenseless, and was warned in the 6th and 7th round to get in the fight or it would be stopped. But she simply couldn’t and was about to get KO’d and possibly seriously hurt. There was no way for her to win that fight and the story was pretty much the same in our second fight. I gave her the opportunity to bring all she claimed she didn’t have a chance to do the first time, and once again, I stopped her. After the fight, I went to her corner and told her she did better this time because she did. I know she studied our last fight, hired a new assistant trainer and was very optimistic this time around. The only problem was that I switched up my style and showed her something she could not possibly be ready for.

TL Fox: Boxing fans are very surprised about your recent news that you will be fighting veteran Christy Martin. What made you decide to take this fight?

Ali: I think the reasons for me taking this fight should be very obvious. Christy Martin is a veteran who is still considered to be pound for pound the best by the general public (or should I say “mainstream Americans”) because they don’t keep up with the times. True women’s boxing fans and I know that is not true. Christy feels she is bad enough to come up in weight and get in the ring with me. (She walks around at about 155, so she does not have much to gain) Those are two excellent and personally motivating reasons for me to show her and the rest of the world who is really the “greatest”! Of course, we are both business women and the most famous female fighters in the world. We will make history and well deserved money. Of course, there are those who will be mad, but it doesn’t matter because they were already mad anyway. Life and Laila Ali continues to move on in an upward direction.

TL Fox: With Christy Martin basically fighting as a Welterweight throughout her boxing career, do you think that it will be criticized by the public for Martin fighting out of weight class?

Ali: She is a welterweight who wants to fight me at 162. I know what I will do to her. She may even know. The boxing critics and WBAN anti-Laila Ali folk are going to say she was too little and too old after I beat her. But it will be a great night for women’s boxing and the end of “are you going to ever fight that Christy girl?” question.

TL Fox: WBAN has been told that the catch weight of your bout with Martin will be at 162 lb. I know that you are pretty sleek at 168 lb., which seems to be a perfect weight class for you. Do you think that it may be hard to get down to 162 lb.?

Ali: I have a strength and conditioning coach who is very good at what he does. It will not be a problem. Although I am sad to say that I won’t be able to sneak “goodies” when my husband goes to be for this training camp! LOL! Don’t forget that I was 160 3/4 when I fought Frazier.

TL Fox: Now that you have decided to take on Martin, is there any talk that you may fight other high-profile, but lighter boxers, such as Lucia Rijker, or even Sumya Anani?

Ali: There has not been any talk coming out of my mouth about those two girls. I really don’t have an interest in fighting women that are not my size. Christy wants to fight me and for the reasons I stated early, we will fight. If those two women want some of me and want to gain 25/30 pounds, then maybe we can make it happen. The problem is that neither of them are a big draw. And that is very important. I think they should fight each other.

TL Fox: There seems to be an ongoing dialogue about you and Ann Wolfe fighting down the line. Do you feel that Wolfe should first fight Valerie Mahfood, to clean up that early KO that she received from Mahfood, whereas you stopped Mahfood in two fights now?

Ali: Wolfe is a strong, athletic girl. A few people that want to see me beat feel that she is the last hope because they feel that she may hit me with one of those wild punches and knock me out. They don’t seem to realize that I am definitely going to hit her with combinations that are much faster, sharper, harder and skillful than Valerie Mahfood dropped her and then knocked her out with. I think that they should have had a rematch a long time ago. If it just “was not her night” then she should have fought her again right away. Ms. Ann is always talking about how a “true champion” should be. Well, we obviously have two different ideas about that. I feel that a champion who was defeated should have a rematch and avenge that loss. She stated somewhere that a “true champion” is not afraid to lose. Well, now that she has lost, is she afraid to lose again?

I am undefeated. And yes, I’m so afraid to lose that I do what I need to do to be 10 times ahead of the rest so that the beat-down seems effortless when I put it on you. I have never had to offer up any excuses. I make sure that every time I get in that ring, it is my night!

I feel that Wolfe should want to fight Mahfood just so that her actions can keep up with her mouth. Of course, it would also be the smart thing to do since I already softened Mahfood up for her. Thanks to my help, she should be able to handle her this time. I hope! But then again, I can’t help that chin!

TL Fox: If you wanted to say ANYTHING to Ann Wolfe and her team, what would you like to say to them?

Ali: Her team is not worth my time. They have no sense of the game. They don’t understand what goes on inside or outside of the square jungle. Ann you would do a lot better for yourself if you would stop acting so shy and humble when you are in my presence. You could at least raise her head up and look me in the eye and tell me face to face that you want to fight me and how I am afraid of you. Then maybe I would feel that you were a “true champion” as you like to call it. What happen to the hamburger? Now you think you should get what I get. Or is your team selling you that BS! What have you done to put you in my league?

Do you realize that I am internationally known, I have graced the cover of magazines, been in commercials and television shows and appeared on over 25 different talk shows. Have you ever looked me up on the web to see all the coverage and pictures of me on red carpets. Have you heard that I was nominated for BET’s 2003 female athlete of the year. I won over Venus, Serena and other great black athletes last year! Do you know how many times I get stopped a day for autographs on the street. People recognize my face, not just my name. Do you know that kids dress up as me on Halloween. I am a triple crowned, undefeated, celebrity boxer who happens to be the daughter of the greatest of all times! Nobody knows who you are. You don’t sell tickets unless you’re in your home town. You for darn sure can’t sell PPV buys.

Forget what they told you, try to comprehend all of this and maybe you all will understand why you will never get in the ring with me and make what I make.

That should not be your goal anyway. Your goal should be to get in there anyway that you can so you can KO me like you say you can. Girl, you got to get your mind right! You’re the one who is going to have to face me. I whooped Mahfood like she was my child. Twice! What do you think I will do to you?

TL Fox: At one time, it was brought up that Vonda Ward wanted to fight you. Is this something you think may happen in the near future?

Ali: Her team is worse than Wolfes’. They just make up straight out lies. I don’t even feel like talking about her. They know they are not ready!

TL Fox: WBAN just recently published the “Top Ten Picks” for the hottest fights that should be picked up by television. The number #1 pick was between you and Jacqui Frazier-Lyde for a rematch…Has there been any talk between your camp and theirs about getting this to happen on Pay-Per-View? If yes, could this fight happen this year?

Ali: That fight is #1 because of the name value. The only way Jackie will get back in that ring with me is if the money is right. The problem is that she does not know her worth either. Or maybe there is a minimum amount she is willing to take for the damage that is going to be done this time around! Hopefully it will happen soon because she ain’t getting any younger!

TL Fox: It appears at times, that no matter what you do, you come under the “gun” with some boxing fans. What would you like to say to those fans?

Ali: I am not like most other fighters that frequent your site. I am not the nicest, most politically correct and humble kind of girl. The only opinions I care about are of those who gave me a chance in the first place. Those people you are asking me about are not my fans. I am 100% competitor and I say what I feel and I mean what I say! I also back up what I say. So believe me when I say that I can care less what a few people write about me on their computer. They wouldn’t even have the guts to come and say half of that mess in my face!

I would like to take this opportunity to say that when I read some of the articles on your site about me and some other fighters that are one-sided, and filled with negative opinions. It is disturbing because I know many fans do log on to your site and people tend to be influenced by what they read even if it is pure nonsense and opinions of someone who is always searching for something negative to write and for someone to blame for the “state of women’s boxing.” It would be nice to see more articles with less biased opinions and more input from the fighters. This way fans can get the facts!

TL Fox: WBAN encourages women to contact WBAN to get the input you have mentioned….

If you were to give any advice to new women boxers on the scene, what advice would you give those women to help them avoid some of the pitfalls of the sport?

Ali: I think that women should make sure that they have a good team around them and work harder then everyone else. Develop your skills before you turn pro. Fight as an amateur to get some experience first. Also, take the right fights at the right time. Staying undefeated is the name of the game. If you do lose, it better be to someone who is a great fighter, not the average Jane! Don’t think you have to be trashy to get attention. A lot of people get my success confused with being a sex symbol. I have never sold sex. Beauty is something that is natural and also comes from within. Don’t fight just because you want to make money. You may never make a lot of money. Fight because you love it. Be prepared through hard work and dedication when an opportunity presents itself. There is no such thing as luck in boxing!

I would like to personally thank Ali for taking the time to be interviewed on WBAN. Ali has a hectic schedule, and she took time to talk with WBAN about many issues boxing fans are interested in.  Sue TL Fox