One on One Interview: Para Draine – by the Roaming Reporter – April 28, 1999

RR:    What made you decide to get into boxing?

PARA:  I initially got involved with female boxing when I was 21… I remember the first time I heard about letting females start boxing!  I was talking to my father a thousand miles from home in boot camp!  I remember my dad telling me– excitement to return home was increased immensely.  Well I am not quite sure what first got me interested in boxing.    I come from a very big family and almost every one of my male cousins were boxers. I grew up watching the fights! I have always had an interest in boxing.   There is no other sport you beat the tout of each other and hug at the end!   Win, lose or draw,  you respect the other athlete for being gutsy enough to pull the ropes open and step into the ring!

RR:   Who do you think has been your toughest and strangest opponent?

PARA:   My toughest opponent hmm……. that’s a hard question because you know awkwardness can attribute to the hardness of the fighter.. I would have to say Eva Young.   I hate saying that because she already thinks she is unbeatable! I mean look at her record who has she lost to. (except when I fought her).  But who has she fought? The reason I would say Eva Young is because of her canning way that she holds on in fear of getting hit to hard!! Coming from personal experience of course..:) My strangest boxing experience,  I would have to say was after I beat Michelle Sutcliff for the I .W.B.F flyweight title in Atlantic city  and she wanted her picture with me!! LOL it was very odd to me, but needless to say I was flattered!!

RR:  Where do you see yourself in women’s boxing down the road?

PARA:   I see myself down the road in boxing holding multiple world title belts in different weight classes,  if anyone will come out and fight like a champion!

RR:   Who is on your list of opponents that you would like to fight?

PARA:  I would like to fight anyone who thinks they are better than me! Jill Matthew’s, Bridget Riley,  Leona Brown,   Eva Young,  Delia Gonzalez,  just to name a few!   Why? Let’s find out who the best is!!!   I would like to fight a lot of people but if I could choose just one I think it would be Eva Young! Why? because I feel as though I deserve a rematch. I beat her in my home town and she beat me in hers.   Now let’s see who wins the tie breaker!!

RR:  Do you feel like anyone has been ducking you?

PARA:   Hmmm…. shoot,   I feel like I have the plague!! No one wants to fight unless it’s a “for sure”   win! Everyone wants their girl to have the best record….

if your a professional fighter and you think you are the best in the world and you truly believe that, you would fight anyone!! I mean I can honestly say who ever thinks they can take my belt.. Come try to get it girls!! Can the other title holders say the same? I bet not!   Well really I feel as though everyone is ducking me.. Why? no idea, I only have ten fights!

RR:   What kind of training regime do you follow to get ready for a fight?

PARA:    I train for all my fights by starting my day out with a run in the morning, and gym at six and try and hit the weights every other day— probably very common with a lot of athletes.   I stay in shape well hmm….. mostly by just being me I guess.   Very active in softball, basketball, do labor things i.e., yard work,  I guess a little of everything.    I prefer to spar with a person a level or two above myself, and  sex is not the issue,  talent is experience in the ring,   things like that– I spar with mostly males.  Every now and then a female, but more so to work with them!

RR:  Do you have a game plan before stepping into the ring?

PARA:    I usually leave it up to my trainer after the first round.  We go “round to round”  things are unpredictable in a fight and you have to go one round at a time.   First round,   I usually use as a warm up just to feel the opponent out then try and do what ever my trainer says.

RR:   What kind of things do you think about before entering the ring?

PARA:   When I enter the ring I feel very good, even on my way to the ring.   I am thinking darn there is a lot of people here to see me! and when I reach through the ropes and put my feet through the ropes its like everything stops all the noise is silent! Very focused,  very ready to show my stuff! I usually fight with some butterflies but not to bad!

RR:  How about once the fight get underway?

PARA:  Once the fight begins,  I am feeling good,  feeling confident,  like no one can touch me!    Normally I don’t hear voices,  only my dad’s,  and my older brothers voices do I ever hear,  rarely do I hear any one else.  It’s like my head shuts everything else out except those two voices. On occasion I can hear my trainer and parts of the crowd.

RR:   What do you do between rounds to relax?

PARA:  Between rounds,  I relax with an ice bag on my neck is my favorite thing in the corner, and some super cold water over my head.  I intently listening to my trainer’s advice.  I use my trainer’s advice the best way I can! Trying to remember what they said is the challenging part!

RR:   What do you think your boxing strengths and weaknesses?

PARA:   My boxing strengths are just that– boxing!  However,  I believe I can brawl at any time I feel cornered!    The one thing I need to work on is sharpening the talent I already have.

RR:   What do you think would be the best ways of promoting yourself as a boxer?

PARA:   The best thing to do to promote any boxing career is to be on television! Fight on a big card, or fight a big fight title shot or something of that nature! All of those are good things for a boxing career. Go on talk shows, magazine interviews, etcl,  anything with the press or the public’s eyes will boost your career! The more you get in the public eye the better! My manager Rod Mahaffey is in charge of that kind of thing.

RR:   How has female boxing changed?

PARA:  I think the good thing when I started was there was a bunch of “want to be” fighters and there is always someone else with the best damn female fighter out there!   Time has weeded out the wanna be’s.    The thing about boxing I don’t like is all the champions don’t want to fight or defend there belts against worthy opponents!     Every one wants to hold on to their belts forever or they want to fight someone they know they can beat!    I think it should be mandatory to fight number one ranked in the sanctioning body!   I say bring it on If you think your gonna take my belt away come and try!    All comers……….. Spoken from a true champion!!!

RR:  How do you feel about boxing, after all of this time?

PARA:   I love to box, but I hate politics!

RR:   What do you like to do in your free time (if you have any):

In my free time I do tons of stuff.  I love to go camping,  sit by a campfire,   and spend time with my family.  I ride motorcycles, fish, hunt! Anything outside in the sunshine is great!    I also do yard work,  mow,   plant flowers etc.   I have a lot of hobbies to aside from the great outdoors,  I love to make hemp necklaces and beads out of Fimo clay.     I enjoy building things that I design out of wood or clay or what ever I can think of.  I play softball, basket ball and enjoy watching movies. really I am a very well rounded person,  love just about anything! I am very open to suggestions to try something new!

RR:   What advice would you give to other women who want to become fighters?

PARA:  Well I have little advice except I would stay amateur until the Olympics so you can have a history making opportunity to be on the first women’s USA boxing team!   Also DO YOUR ROAD WORK!!! There is nothing more irritating than to see a great fighter/boxer unconditioned or run out of gas!! Ps. Running gives you so many things stamina, wind,  edginess,  everything you need for a good fight! It will make you a champion.