Behind the Scenes- Guidi vs. Valley – Photos/Story by Sue TL Fox

On July 2, 2000, I went to Monterey, California, to cover the Marsha Valley vs. Gina Guidi bout that was being held at the Hyatt Regency. I arrived at about 1100 a.m., at the San Jose Airport, and was met by driver Marty Houston. We had to wait for about an hour for the arrival of Marsha Valley, her team-Victor Hernandez /Kelly McBean, and Jackie Kallen.

The weigh-in was at 5:00 pm and it was held near the area where the fight would take place. As I approached the room that had the weigh-in, I spotted Lavonne Ludian, a past opponent that I faced in March 1977. It was a thrill to meet her and as soon as I saw her we started talking like we had been long-time friends for years. Lavonne and I talked about everything from our fight in 77’ to women’s boxing of today. Lavonne and I decided that we would have dinner together after the weigh-in.

At the weigh-in, I had an opportunity to meet Gina Guidi, and meet a couple of amateur women boxers that are working with Guidi. Guidi was the first to get on the scales and her weight was 153. Valley got on the scale and had tipped the scale at 156. The fight weight agreement on the contract was 154, plus or minus one pound, and Valley said that she would go jog and reweigh, to get her weight to 155.

After the weigh-in, Lavonne and I went to dinner, and we continued to talk about the past of women’s boxing.  I asked Lavonne if she would not mind me taping a visit with her and talking about women’s boxing in Vegas in the 70’s and many of the things she had told me about her own boxing career. Lavonne was game for the idea, so I made about an hour video-taped interview with her.  (I will do a separate report on my interview with Lavonne!)

Inside Scoops on the way to the hotel before the weigh-in…. discussed with Marsha Valley and Jackie Kallen on the way to the Hotel:

Jackie told me that she was at the fights because she is managing a new fighter, Jose Celaya, that is going into his second bout as a pro boxer.  Celaya, 18 years old, 139 lbs,  just had his pro debut and won his first fight.  Jackie refers to Celaya as her “baby” and is not only nervous, but very excited for this new fighter to have his fight on this card – July 3rd!

Marsha Valley said that she is ready for this fight!  She said that the weight on the contract was 154 lbs., and at the time Valley did not express any concerns about not making weigh-in.  Valley said that she is a free agent and is not signed to anyone at this time.  Valley told me that she was disappointed in her last fight with Trina Ortegon because Ortegon has come in head first at her. She said that she disappointed about her teams tactics. Valley responded to her taking Ortegon down in the ring, which was more like a takedown than boxing, Valley said, “I’m going to protect myself.” Which she referred to Ortegon coming in head first, and leading with her head.

I asked both Jackie and Marsha about what they thought about the daughters of famous boxing legends making the scene in the sport.  Jackie said that she had no problem with it, if they can fight.  Jackie said that  she didn’t think that just because they have a famous last name should be the only criteria.  Jackie compared it with a “what if”.  She said for an example, what if Barbara Streisand had a child that tried to sing, because she can sing.  That the public would not listen to that child, just because the child had the last name of Streisand, but that the child would have to be able to sing.  (I thought that was a very good analogy.)

Valley said that she was glad that the daughters were bringing publicity to the sport.  Valley said that she feels that anything like that will draw attention to women’s boxing, and she is fortunate enough to be in the weigh class of some of these daughters and will love to be matched up in the future with some of them.

One tidbit of info I was not expecting was that Jackie Kallen, Marsha Valley, and Shane Mosley were in the movie “Knockout.”  Valley was KO’d in the movie, Kallen played the commissioner, and Mosley was a sportscaster!

I also found out from Victor Hernandez, who also has Wendy Rodriguez, the little spitfire who fought to a draw with Anissa Zamarron, that they are on a Nike commercial. So look for Victor and Wendy hitting those  pads! — And Valley has appeared on “Ready to Rumble.”