“Little Mama” wouldn’t sit down! By Sue TL Fox

(JULY 1, 2003) Today in Biloxi, Mississippi, the press conference for the August 23^rd, Pay-Per-View fight that is to take place at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, proved to be quite exciting when Martin and Ali ended up in a pre-fight brawl!  WBAN spoke to Laila Ali shortly after the incident and told WBAN about what had occurred between Christy “The Coal miner’s daughter” Martin and herself.

Photo credit:  JP Photography

Ali said that Martin was the first to get up and speak about the upcoming fight, and that Martin gave thanks to Don King, who successfully promoted her as a boxer, and that “Laila” knows in order for her to be considered one of the best that she has to go through her (Martin). I asked Ali if she had interrupted Martin anytime throughout her talking, and Ali said, “no.”

Ali then went on to say that after Martin was done talking that Yahya McClain (Ali’s husband and promoter) got up and clarified that Martin challenged “Laila” and that Laila is just accepting that challenge.  Ali said that this is when  Martin began to start talking and said,  “Let Laila talk, let Laila talk.”

Ali said that she then got up and began talking, at which time she said her thanks, etc., and how this “little woman” who is that “bad” enough to come in and get the “beatdown.”

Ali said at that point Martin began to interrupt her and spouted off, “Don’t write checks that your ass can’t cash.”  And that as she kept trying to talk, Martin continued to interrupt, at which point she finally turned around, and told Martin that she had her turn and said,  “You had your turn, now why don’t you let me talk now.”

Ali said that Martin continued to talk by saying,  “Oh you are making things worst by talking.” Indicating that Martin was getting angrier.

Ali said that the whole time Martin was interrupting that she (Ali) kept a smirk on her face, and looked Martin “dead” in the face and said to Martin, “Do you think you are intimidating me.” and that Martin responded with, “I don’t think…”  Ali said that Martin said this is not about “bullying”, at which point Ali said that she asked Martin what her point was in which Martin did not answer, but then remarked for Ali to “just finish talking.”

Ali said that,  “Okay that is my point and just shut up  cause you are not saying anything anyway”. At that point according to Ali,  Martin got an attitude and stood up, and said to Ali, Why don’t you just relax.”  Ali said that she stepped closer to Martin and told her “why don’t YOU just relax.”  Martin then told Ali to “get out of her face.”  Ali said that she told Martin, “You’re the one who got in my face, so why don’t you sit down “Little mama”.

Ali said that was when Martin took both of her hands, and tried to pushed her (Ali). Ali said, “she grabbed my shirt, that is a short-sleeve silky top, and she was trying to lean forward and then tried to push me.”  Ali said that Martin’s head was in her chest and then Yahya got in between, and that she (Ali) threw a couple of hooks that hit in the cheek area, and that the punches were fast but jammed up with them being so close together.  Yahya added, “Jim Martin punched me in the back—felt like massage.”