One on One Interview: Kathy Williams of Canada – by Sue TL Fox

Kathy Williams,  5’5″, fights as a  junior bantamweight, is an IBA World champion. Williams is also a current a police officer  Thunder Bay,  Ontario, Canada. Williams comes from the amateurs and has an impressive amateur boxing career before ever turning pro.  William began boxing at the tender age of 11.  Williams is an all-around athletics, that includes track, gymnastics, volleyball, softball and basketball.

TL Fox: Kathy, when did you arrive in Las Vegas?

Kathy: I arrived on Saturday, and on Monday I began working out.

TL Fox: Are you working out at the Top Rank Gym?

Kathy: I am working out at two gyms. The Top Rank and the Nevada Partners.

TL Fox:  What made you decide to go to Las Vegas to train right before your fight with Tracy Moulton in Hawaii?

Kathy: In Thunderbay where I live, I only had one person to spar, so I came to Vegas to have more sparring partners.

TL Fox: How do you like Las Vegas?

Kathy: It is really nice. The temperature has been around 104 degrees. We have been training right in the middle of the day and it takes some time to get use to.

TL Fox: How do you feel about what kind of condition you are in for this 10-round championship bout?

Kathy: I am ready to go 10 hard rounds. I have been training with three-minute rounds.

TL Fox: Do you think that you will ever relocate like other women boxers have done in the United   States?

Kathy: I plan to stay up in Canada. My boyfriend lives there and my police job.

TL Fox: How long have you been in boxing now and who has been training you?

Kathy: I have remained with the same trainer, Tony Pimenpel for my boxing career. I have been in boxing for seven years that is including my amateur background.

TL Fox: What was your record as an amateur?

Kathy: I had 31 amateur fights, and my record was 25-6.

TL Fox: How do you feel about your fight with Daisy Lang where you lost the decision and that there was controversy about that decision? And, would you like to have a rematch with her?

Kathy: I feel basically “ripped off.” After watching the tape of that fight I had with Lang I felt that I won the fight. But I also knew that I would really have to shine in order to defeat her. I felt that I didn’t shine as much as I should have. I was trying to hard, and didn’t fight “my” type of fight.

I would love to have a rematch with her.

TL Fox: What do you do as a police officer? Are you in patrol?

Kathy: I work in Thunderbay in patrol in community policing. I wear a uniform, and I enjoy my job. I get to go into the schools and talk to the kids, and I like that because when kids see a police officer they don’t think things are bad. Also, the kids know that I box, and they really like that I am a boxer and a cop.

TL Fox: Who do you think was your toughest opponent?

Kathy: I would have to say Yvonne Trevino and Suzanne Riccio-Major.

TL Fox: How long do you think that you will stay in boxing?

Kathy: I am going to take it year by year, and see how my body holds out. I would like to stay four more years.

TL Fox: Is there anything that you would like to say that I may not have asked you about?

Kathy: I would like to say that I am really grateful and thank Brad Goodman (Top Rank), and Dean Chance (IBA president) for this opportunity.

A special thanks to Kathy for this interview! ) TL Fox