Laila Ali Staying Busy Until Wolfe Team Steps Forward – By David A. Avila

(FEB 10, 2005) Sitting on the imaginary throne as female prizefighting’s best in the world, Laila Ali steps forward on Friday to show the world once again her pedigree.  Ali, the undefeated daughter of Muhammad Ali, faces the rugged Cassandra Geigger (6-4) in Atlanta, Georgia, in defense of the IWBF light heavyweight title. The fight will be shown on ESPN2. Leatitia Robinson faces Monica Nunez on the co-main event. The winners of the two bouts will meet in the spring. [Inset photo by Sue TL Fox]

Though Ali harbors no ill feelings toward Geigger, the beautiful daughter of boxing’s most renowned fighter aims to show the world that she’s better than anyone in the super middleweight or light heavyweight weight class.

“It’s not even close,” said Ali (19-0, 16 KOs), when asked who could pose as a possible threat.

Clamors to match Ali with another light heavyweight title-holder named Ann Wolfe have built up imaginary sentiment that someone is ducking someone.

“We’ve tried to make that fight so many times,” said Johnny McClain, husband and promoter of the boxing and entertainment event in Dixie. “I’m tired of even talking about Ann Wolfe. Her people don’t want to make the fight.”

Ali versus Wolfe is the match most female boxing fans want to see. But more than four times over the past two years something has road blocked the most anticipated fight since Christy Martin and Lucia Rijker pummeled each other during a press conference. And like Ali-Wolfe, Rijker and Martin never met in the ring.

“That’s why I’m taking this fight,” said Ali, who faces Geigger, a fighter who went the entire six-round distance with Wolfe last November 5, 2004. “I’m going to take her out. Ann Wolfe couldn’t take her out.”

Yet doubt remains that the model-looking Ali, who could easily be an actress or beauty queen, has the boxing skill or strength to meet mano a mano with Texas-born Wolfe, whose bulging muscles have scared off many an opponent.

“Just because she looks like some muscular freak doesn’t mean a thing,” said Ali, who has fast become as quick with her tongue as she is with her jab.

Four weeks ago, the two fighter’s managers were close to making the match. Wolfe’s team pulled out.

“I can’t believe Ann Wolfe is afraid,” said Ali, who thinks Wolfe’s management is behind the back outs. “She wants to fight me.”

When Ali heard a deal was almost made she burst out in excitement.

Now, frustration has set in because many lukewarm fight fans feel Ali is the one avoiding Wolfe.

“The public is starting to question why we’re not fighting,” Ali said by telephone from Atlanta.

Ali picked Geigger for her next opponent to prove that she can beat her easier than Wolfe. They also both fought Valerie Mahfood twice.

“I stopped her twice,” said Ali of Mahfood, a prison guard in Texas. “Wolfe got knocked out by her the first time and had a rough time their second fight.”

So even though Ali is stepping in the ring against Geigger, it’s Wolfe who is the opponent. But she may not know it.

“Geigger, no matter how hard she is training, she has already lost,” Ali said.

Possible Ali threats

A number of female fighters in the super middleweight and light heavyweight divisions had been clamoring for a match with Ali. But lately, the shouts have stopped.

“Erin Toughhill was making a lot of noise, but now we can’t even find her,” said Ali, who captured three super middleweight titles. “There have been lots of others who don’t want to step up like Veronica Simmons, She just disappeared.”

Lately, Lucia Rijker, a well-respected prizefighter in both the world of martial arts and boxing, has been making challenges through various media outlets.

“Lucia, she’s got lots of boxing skills. She actually looks like a man when she fights,” Ali said of the former junior welterweight world title-holder. “But beating her won’t prove a thing. She’s too small like Christy Martin. It won’t prove a thing.”

The light heavyweight title-holder says Rijker has plenty of opponents in her own division she can tangle with such as Sumya Anani.

“If Lucia had problems with Jane Couch, she won’t stand a chance with me,” said Ali. “Let her fight people like Sumya Anani or the other girls in her division. They’re calling her out.”

Other fights loom, but the one fight that intrigues Ali, is Robinson, who fights Nunez on the co-main event.

“Leatitia Robinson is going to be a hard fight. She can box too,” said Ali, who shares a common win with Robinson in Mahfood. “She’s never lost.”

Mia and Jessica

Mia St. John decided to step back in the gym one week after stopping her last opponent in two rounds. It was her second consecutive knockout victory.

“She was really wild,” said St. John, 37, about her last opponent Joy Irvin, a free-swinging fighter out of the Midwest. “I was a little surprised.”

But using her years of professional prizefighting experience, the brunette bombshell picker her spot and dropped Irvin.

“It was a straight right hand,” said St. John (40-4-2, 17 KOs). “I just kept calm and waited for the right moment.”

Now, St. John, who lives in Los Angeles, fights IBA lightweight world title-holder Jessica Rakoczy in a rematch. It’s a six round affair and a non-title bout.

“I wasn’t planning to fight her,” said St. John, 37, who last fought Rakoczy a year ago in the same Palace Indian Gaming Center in Lemoore, California. “I was trying to help her find an opponent but everyone turned it down.”

The list of lightweight contenders who turned their backs on the match reads like a “who’s who” list of female boxers. One fighter who wanted to take the fight but is already committed was Melissa Del Valle. She’ll be fighting Mary Jo Sanders.

“I just said ‘why not’ and took the match,” said St. John, who should perform much better than Rakoczy’s last opponent who was stopped in 36 seconds.

In their first battle on April 5, 2004, St. John and Rakoczy went the full eight rounds and the Canadian now living in Las Vegas won by unanimous decision. There were no knockdowns.

“I’d say Jessica is the best fighter in the world in this weight,” said St. John, who sparred with Mariana Juarez and others in preparation. “I didn’t take any time off.”

Mariana Juarez to Face Terri Cruz on Feb. 25

Mexico City’s Mariana Juarez will face New Mexico’s Terri Cruz at the Rio Hondo Country Club in Downey, California on Feb. 25, in a non-title bout.

Juarez, who now lives in El Monte, will be making her first appearance in the ring since capturing the IFBA junior bantamweight title in Korea.

Also on the fight card will be Heather Percival, possibly against Rita Valentini.

The fight card is promoted by KO Productions who have stepped up promoting female prizefights.

Ray Alcorta, president of KO Productions, tried to make a bout between Juarez and Elena “Baby Doll” Reid. But the Juarez Team couldn’t come to an agreement. Hopefully the two will meet soon.

Reid will be in attendance for the fight, she said.

“I’d love to fight Mariana,” said Reid, who fought Juarez to a draw two years ago.