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Post by jr on Apr 30, 2006 10:56:50 GMT -5
(APR 29) Rock & Sock Productions in association with K.O. Boxing and 7X Boxing Promotions announce A Ring of Their Own: "Women of Mass Destruction", June 23 at the Shaw Conference Center in Edmonton.
Headlining this card in the main event will be Edmonton’s own WBC/WIBF Super Featherweight champion Jelena Mrdjenovich (15-1) battling Mia "The Knockout" St. John (43-6-2) in a 10 round bout. To fight St. John, Mrdjenovich will step up in weight to fight at 135 pounds to challenge for the WIBF Lightweight Title.
Also, Jeannine Garside (5-0) of Windsor, Ontario will be defending her WIBA Super Bantamweight belt in a rematch against former World Champion Lisa "Bad News" Brown (12-2-2) of Toronto.
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Post by jr on May 2, 2006 14:22:32 GMT -5
From the Edmonton Sun:
"We are having problems finding opponents for Jelena because fighters are seeing her on TV in the States and they don't want to face her left hook,"said KO Boxing boss Glen Carriere, who is co-promoting the show.
Layla McCarter and Chevelle Hallback want to fight Mrdjenovich but her team won’t risk a loss. Other fighters won’t go to Edmonton because they can’t get a decision there.
From Fightnews.com:
When asked about her fight against St. John Jelena stated "boxing is all about respect, if you want respect in this business you have to fight the best girls out there, and in fighting Mia I know I am fighting one of the best."
To earn that respect, Mrdjenovich will have to “fight the best girls out there” – McCarter and Hallback. With all due respect for two courageous boxers, Mia St. John is not an elite fighter (by her own admission) and Franchesca Alcanter is not at Mrdjenovich’s level of performance.
If Mrdjenovich wants to prove she is an elite fighter, her team will have to match her with the best opponents and venture outside of Edmonton to prove that hometown bias is not the reason she is a title holder.
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Post by Dee Williams on May 5, 2006 16:56:28 GMT -5
Let's see ... I have a feeling several Forum members may turn blue over this piece of reporting from the Edmonton Spun, er, Sun ... Birthday bashersMrdjenovich and St. John both want to serve a KO with candlesBy SCOTT ZERR -- Edmonton Sun slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Boxing/2006/05/05/1565709-sun.html There are some striking similarities between Jelena Mrdjenovich and Mia St. John. Both are world champion boxers: Mrdjenovich holds the WBC and WIBF super featherweight titles while St. John has a grip on the IFBA lightweight crown. When they clash head-on June 23 at the Shaw Conference Centre, one will add the vacant WIBF lightweight belt to her wardrobe. Both fighters share the same birthday: one day after their encounter, Mrdjenovich (15-1, nine knockouts) turns 24 and St. John (43-6-2, 18 KOs) hits 39. Both are also prominent businesswomen. Mrdjenovich is a key figure in her family's hotel and land development empire, while St. John has developed herself into a peace advocate, TV host and fitness trainer. But there is a heavy line separating the two. St. John was the first Latin-American covergirl in the history of Playboy when she appeared nude in the November 1999 issue. Mrdjenovich completely downplayed any interest in the same sort of "exposure." "No, I don't think I'd ever do it. It doesn't matter how much money," laughed Mrdjenovich at yesterday's official announcement of the "Women of Mass Destruction" card. "Mia has done a lot for women's boxing - probably more than Laila Ali has. She doesn't fight for nothing and has upped the purses for women. And she's a smart businesswoman, which you have to respect, but when you get in the ring it's boxing and that's where my game is." St. John's pictorial and abilities in the ring have made her one of the highest-profile female fighters in the world. "I would never advise anyone to do Playboy," she said. "It was a personal choice. "And, for me, it was a career move. "I'm a businesswoman and I capitalized off my boxing career. When the numbers made sense, it made sense to do it. I showed America that it's not just Caucasian blue-eyed girls that are hot. "Latinas are hot, too." Mrdjenovich paid tribute to the San Francisco native's moxy and called this her "dream fight," but she has every intention of putting St. John into retirement after their battle. "I was told to ask her if she wanted a tennis racket or golf clubs," said Mrdjenovich. "I don't think she's ever been up against anyone who can punch like me. "She's always taken safe fights and you can only do that for so long." St. John nearly called it a career after a victory in April, but after some gritty negotiations she finally agreed to a fight that Mrdjenovich had wanted for more than a year. "I'm a better fighter now than I was in my 20s, so if I can't beat her now I couldn't have beat her then," said St. John. "It's no secret Jelena has more power and she has a lot of spunk, which I love to see. And she's aggressive and has great technique. "I'm known as a boxer, so my goal is to stay on the outside and outbox her. "It's going to be a challenge, but I always love a challenge."
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Post by jr on May 5, 2006 17:45:54 GMT -5
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Post by Dee Williams on May 5, 2006 20:21:48 GMT -5
The common theme from the Canadian press is to trivialize St. John for her Playboy Magazine appearance. Not just the Canadian press. That's happened in the good old USA too. In fact it's hard to get coverage (if that's the right word) of Mia without a mention of her earlier (un)coverage, which I guess was part of the point of it. |
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Post by Dee Williams on May 5, 2006 20:26:51 GMT -5
Same Zerr article with photo P.S. the photo has them in hockey jerseys, Jelena's wearing the Oilers ... they have more oil than Saudia Arabia up there (so long as you like sand with it). So J.R., you better learn to be nice to them ;D |
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Post by jr on May 6, 2006 11:50:04 GMT -5
The common theme from the Canadian press is to trivialize St. John for her Playboy Magazine appearance. Not just the Canadian press. That's happened in the good old USA too. In fact it's hard to get coverage (if that's the right word) of Mia without a mention of her earlier (un)coverage, which I guess was part of the point of it. It depends who the writers are. Many have hidden (or not so hidden) agendas to tout a fighter or criticize another. Some have business and family relationships to the boxers. Women's boxing could learn much about marketing from Mia St. John. Prior to bouts, she gives motivational speeches in the surrounding communities. This example is from the publication Nogales International before her contest with Shelby Walker: 4/3/2006
Mexicayotl hosts Mia the boxing sensation
By Julia Bishop
The International Female Boxer Association World Champion Lightweight Mia St. John spoke to students at Mexicayotl Charter School on Thursday about valuing what she says is their most important tool, their education.
"It doesn't matter what you do for a living," St. John explained to a room full of children, "it doesn't matter if you're the IFBA Champion of the World, you're going to use your education. All my life, my mother insisted I get an education. I did and you know what, I use my college degree in my boxing career."
St. John's said that education was especially important to Hispanics as they are a minority in the United States and that it is very important for people to exercise their right to vote.
"We're a minority, but we are becoming a majority in this country. We need to get an education so our people can progress in this country. And, I know people here are a little young, usually I speak to high school students, but it's really important to vote.
"Go home and tell anyone of age, your brother or cousin 'you have to get out there and vote.' Voting is how you stand and be counted. When you do it you are saying I am here, I exist. I am not invisible. We as Latino's do not want to be invisible. We want to say hello we're here and we want to be counted."
Students were given the opportunity to ask St. John and her mother, Maria Rosales questions. Mostly, they were interested in personal information asking her, "Why did you become a boxer? Have you ever lost a fight? How did that make you feel? When is your birthday?"
St. John, who said she was impressed by the children in the audience that already knew what they wanted to be when they grew up, replied that it wasn't until her mid 20s that she decided to become a professional boxer.
She had been encouraged by her father to participate in the sport. "It was a sport that I didn't know I if I liked very much, but I knew I was good at it."
St. John was born in San Francisco, Calif., on June 24, 1967. She began competing in Tae kwon Do when she was 6. She graduated from California State University of Northridge with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology in 1994. She is currently working on a second BA degree in Broadcast Journalism.
St. John began her professional boxing career in 1997. While addressing the students, she said that she has 42 wins, 6 losses, two draws and 17 knockouts.
In her closing message to students, St. John stressed that students need take responsibility for their own success because they are empowered with the abilities it takes to be successful.
"You can do or be anything you want to. Anything requires dedication. You can progress in any field as long as you have the heart and the desire. Stay in school. Take your education seriously and remember to vote. Your voice counts." Education, family, personal responsibility, empowerment, success, voting as a civil duty - St. John's personal beliefs and all powerful themes. These children will remember St. John's appearance for a very long time. Women's boxing cannot continue to market itself by emulating men's boxing. It hasn't worked and won't. Women's boxing needs a business plan. This a topic for another time. |
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Post by fightfan on May 7, 2006 10:52:55 GMT -5
Great! Mia has to fight the Paris Hilton of Edmonton. Mia seems to get the thumps up on business skills, but she's not going to like it in the post fight Edmonton press when she gets bluggened for her efforts. That very night the information goes around the world because the SUN gets caught up in all the news feeds. So if Mia wants to go world wide by being demolished in Canada then, let's get it on!
A better business decision would have been to bring the fight to the states. That would be a very good draw if JM could really slaughter Mia, then a promoter in the Southwest could match the mean old Edmonton girl against the high powered Mia.
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Post by jr on May 7, 2006 12:12:16 GMT -5
Great! Mia has to fight the Paris Hilton of Edmonton. Mia seems to get the thumps up on business skills, but she's not going to like it in the post fight Edmonton press when she gets bluggened for her efforts. That very night the information goes around the world because the SUN gets caught up in all the news feeds. So if Mia wants to go world wide by being demolished in Canada then, let's get it on! A better business decision would have been to bring the fight to the states. That would be a very good draw if JM could really slaughter Mia, then a promoter in the Southwest could match the mean old Edmonton girl against the high powered Mia. Mrdjenovich isn't leaving Edmonton (or Yellowknife for the upcoming Alcanter bout). The support system in Edmonton (fan base, press and officials) is key to her success. So holding this competition in the U.S. is not an option. The Canadian sports press (Sun, Slam, et al) has been hyping local female boxing for years as de facto publicists. I'm sure Mia St. John could care less what they write. The Sun's sports writing popularity is linked to Mrdjenovich's success. Without Mrdjenovich, their sports readership will fade away. |
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Post by Dee Williams on May 7, 2006 12:31:07 GMT -5
The Sun's sports writing popularity is linked to Mrdjenovich's success. Without Mrdjenovich, their sports readership will fade away. J.R., that's pretty wild. Here's a couple of questions for you. 1. Why do you think Jelena was wearing a hockey jersey saying "Oilers"? 2. What is the most popular sport in Canada? ;D |
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Post by Dee Williams on May 7, 2006 12:47:07 GMT -5
The Canadian sports press (Sun, Slam, et al) has been hyping local female boxing for years as de facto publicists. GOOD! After seeing the total lack of coverage given to Margaret Sidoroff when she was one of the best in the world, I'm glad to see women's pro boxing finally attracting more interest up there. Canada was a leader in making women's boxing accepted as a legitimate amateur sport, and their boxing program has produced some excellent boxers, of whom Sidoroff was one of the very best. Until recently, no women pro boxers in Canada were getting much attention, and hardly anyone had heard of world champion Sidoroff in Ontario when the Canadian press went ga-ga over an appearance by Laila Ali there. If there is finally some publicity being given to female boxers in Canada by their local press, that's GOOD. It will put them more on an equal footing with some of the American and European press coverage. It's the jerk comments from Milan Lubovac (and increasingly from Jelena herself) that I find annoying, NOT the fact that they have local coverage and a feed into some of the Canadian internet sites now. Women's pro boxing needs more media attention to the good boxers everywhere, and it's been slow coming up in Canada ... ask any of the Canadians. |
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Post by jr on May 7, 2006 14:22:49 GMT -5
The Sun's sports writing popularity is linked to Mrdjenovich's success. Without Mrdjenovich, their sports readership will fade away. J.R., that's pretty wild. Here's a couple of questions for you. 1. Why do you think Jelena was wearing a hockey jersey saying "Oilers"? 2. What is the most popular sport in Canada? ;D Dee, The obvious answer to both questions is hockey. But professional hockey is not a universally followed sport like pro boxing. Testament to this is the NHL financial struggles in the US. No sports publication can survive on one sport alone. So the Edmonton Sun can write about hockey (and very well as I've seen) but without boxing to cover, they will lose readership from people like me. Misleading, dishonest, and "lazy" writing contributes to the novelty status of women's boxing. |
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Post by Dee Williams on May 7, 2006 15:02:18 GMT -5
But professional hockey is not a universally followed sport like pro boxing. Testament to this is the NHL financial struggles in the US. Edmonton is in Canada, where professional hockey is the universally followed sport and pro boxing is not particularly popular! And their local team is up against San Diego in the Stanley Cup playoffs, which Mia bought into by wearing a San Diego jersey for the photo. Edmonton also has a pro football franchise (CFL of course). Like I said before, it's great for women's boxing that local papers pick up on the careers of good local boxers. I say this wherever this occurs, because women's boxing has not had coverage, even at the world champion level, in most places until quite recently. I'm glad to see a female fighter on the same pages as an NHL playoff series in Canada, and using it for some promotion! But Milan Lubovac is making boorish and ignorant comments about other fighters, and some of his boorishness appears to rubbing off on Jelena too, which is a pity. But I think you are hyping a situation to say that female boxing is keeping the Edmonton paper's sport column in business when they have two major pro sports franchises (by Canadian standards) there. Local papers always go looking for local talent, and in the past many of them have not bothered to look at female boxers or any other female sport during that search, except for one-time "oddball personality" spots. I bet Jeannine Garside, Lisa Brown and Kara Ro would all like more coverage in Ontario, for example. I also remember Margaret Sidoroff telling me that local and national media would not cover her fights even though she was fighting some of the best in the business at the time. So to see a paper actually following a female pro boxer's career is still unusual, and in general I'd like to see more of it. The problem I have in Edmonton is they are hyping the second-rate Americans who Jelena will fight as top class boxers, while deprecating the top-flight ones who she's now clearly avoiding. |
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Post by len on May 7, 2006 17:48:09 GMT -5
Two comments: Mia wasn't the first female boxer or even the first Latina female boxer to pose for playboy: Gracella Callas (not sure of the spelling of her last name) did it nearly a decade before, so Scott Zurr of the Edmonton Sun should do some fact checking. Secondly, there are 40 nations that participate in international Men's hockey in four different division levels representing every continent, and at least 12 national women's teams. Therefore ice hockey is pretty universal.
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Post by marcel on May 8, 2006 14:09:51 GMT -5
Indeed. Graciela Casillas was first. She is one of the greatest fighters (not only boxing) EVER.
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Post by Willie Edwards on May 8, 2006 16:08:20 GMT -5
okay team mrdjenovich,listen mia st john has seen her better days come and go,please give us 2 month to train and then it is on ,angel mcnamara is pleading for this fight and i know jelena wants to fight her as well its been along time coming ,team mrdjenovich please give us the opportunity to be next in line ,angel has never ask me to fight some one as bad as she wants this fight ,dont get me wrong jelenas a great female and a great champion thats why we want to fight her.
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Post by jr on Jun 21, 2006 21:07:38 GMT -5
http:/www.insidewomensboxing.com/2006/jelena.html
Quoting from Alberta-based Doug Rowe’s article:
Mrdjenovich, a rising young star will be taking on women’s boxing pioneer Mia St.John in a crossroads fight that will determine the young fighter’s immediate future. A big win could mean immediate international recognition and big money fights. A solid or close points win will establish the Edmonton fighter as one of the top women’s lightweights, and a loss would be just a temporary setback for the twenty-three year old.
Mrdjenovich is guaranteed a decision if the fight goes the distance. “A big win” will not mean “immediate international recognition” just as Holly Holm’s shutout over St. John did nothing for Holm’s career. A Mrdjenovich loss would be a major setback since all the advantages are in her favor – hometown venue, hometown referee (Team Mrdjenovich’s favorite, Ken?) and judges, and hometown promoter Rock and Sock Productions. Mrdjenovich, as with Holm, will earn no respect or credibility by defeating St. John, a fighter in the twilight of her career. Mrdjenovich and Holm continue to avoid the best fighters.
For St. John this is an opportunity to reestablish her reputation as one of boxing’s elite, just as Bernard Hopkin’s did at Antonio Tarver’s expense two weeks ago.
St. John has stated she is not one of boxing’s elite fighters and has also said this bout is about business and entertainment. St. John has indicated she will retire within a year.
“For me (Mrdjenovich) it is challenging going into because I am the underdog in this fight”
Mrdjenovich is the favorite in this contest, not the underdog.
“I do want to stay on the outside and keep her at the end of my jab,” said the superfeatherweight champion. “Absolutely at the end of my punches. I am prepared to fight either way, if she wants to come inside, I enjoy brawling a little bit and I enjoy fighting inside. That is where I like being, but I think I am far more effective working at the end of punches, so I am willing to do both.”
Mrdjenovich is an inside fighter, not a boxer. Franchesca Alcanter was stopped by short hooks in close fighting. Expect Mrdjenovich to charge and brawl with St. John rather than box her.
Mrdjenovich has more power but St. John but has superior defensive skills. And since punching power is meaningless if you can’t hit your opponent, expect the referee to help force St. John to fight Mrdjenovich’s fight. Edmonton wants St. John stopped, not a repeat of the Holm decision.
Even if St. John is allowed to fight her fight, Mrdjenovich will still win by decision. St. John cannot get a decision in Edmonton.
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Post by Dee Williams on Jun 22, 2006 16:58:14 GMT -5
A rebuilt, reprogrammed JelenaBy MURRAY GREIG
Thu, June 22, 2006
Edmonton Sunwww.edmontonsun.com/Sports/OtherSports/2006/06/22/1647039-sun.htmlLike Jaime Sommers in The Bionic Woman, Edmonton's Jelena Mrdjenovich has been rebuilt and reprogrammed for the biggest fight of her life. "Adding some weight and adding some weapons," is the way the reigning International Women's Boxing Federation super featherweight champ summed up her training regimen for tomorrow night's WIBF lightweight title fight against Mia St. John on the six-bout Women of Mass Destruction card at the Shaw Conference Centre. "Putting on five extra pounds was actually fun - I got to eat more of my favourite foods," Mrdjenovich said yesterday. "Five pounds doesn't sound like much, but I feel a lot stronger, and in the gym we've been focusing on using that strength. ''I'm punching harder and my balance and timing have really improved. This is a good weight for me, and I think people will notice the changes. I'm a completely different fighter than I was even a few months ago." Milan Lubovac, who trains and manages Mrdjenovich, said his fighter intends to showcase her boxing skills, rather than going for a quick knockout. "She'll be moving a lot more than you've seen, taking her time and setting up the combinations. Jelena has become much more patient, but if there's an opening, she'll let go with the power." With a 16-1 record and 10 knockouts, Mrdjenovich can't match the ring experience of St. John (43-6-2, 18 KOs), but she's counting on younger legs to shorten the odds. "Mia's been in there with a lot of good fighters, but I don't think she'll show me anything I haven't seen," said Mrdjenovich. "Shorten" the odds? If Jelena does not win this one, she should retire to the hotel biz ...
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Post by jr on Jun 22, 2006 18:28:59 GMT -5
Shorten the odds? If Jelena does not win this one, she should retire to the hotel biz ...
My cynical gene tells me that the scorecards have already been completed with 100-90 from all judges. The scores are in pencil, however, so if a stoppage occurs, the scores for the unfought rounds can be erased. It is Edmonton and AROTO.
Seriously, the fight is a no-win for Mrdjenovich. If she wins, she has defeated a retiring boxer. If she loses, she is defeated by a retiring boxer who few ever took seriously. In either case, Mrdjenovich has again avoided the best competition.
Post-fight comments from Milan Lubovac will be interesting. How many teams will he insult this time? Who said dinosaurs are extinct?
I read St. John will write a biography after she retires. If she is as details-oriented as she appears to be, I expect she has documented all the sleaze she experienced in the fight business. Some promoters and managers should start to worry.
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Post by jr on Jun 23, 2006 14:13:24 GMT -5
www.womenboxing.com/NEWS2006/news062206aroto.htmRating The Predictions In my opinion... Jackie Kallen (herself a pioneer of boxing) has her heart in the right place when she picks an experienced St. John over Mrdjenovich. Experience, however, is only part of this contest. Krysti Rosario, Team USA Boxing Rep And Team Manager, calls the fight a draw. The Edmonton judges will never score a draw for Mrdjenovich. Franchesca Alcanter (a boxer who I believe is an untapped talent) believes Mrdjenovich will win by stoppage or decision. Unlike Alcanter, St. John avoids punches with her defense. I wish Alcanter would develop some of this footwork since she takes too many punches to the head. She has become Mrdjenovich's favorite opponent. Bernie McCoy believes if Mrdjenovich can "cut the ring" and corner St. John or pin her on the ropes a stoppage will result. This tactic will depend on the referee as well. I expect to see the usual cast of Edmonton characters as officials for this contest. A referee can set the course of this fight by not allowing a clinch as a legitimate defensive tactic, by permitting holding and hitting, and by allowing a fighter to lead with her head without penalty. Officials who do not recognize counterpunching as aggressive action or avoiding punches through footwork as effective boxing technique will incorrectly score a fight. St. John cannot win this fight without stopping Mrdjenovich because this contest suffers from "Edmontonitis". Unfortunately for St. John, Mrdjenovich and the fight officials will be working against her.
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Post by Dee Williams on Jun 23, 2006 17:18:29 GMT -5
Franchesca Alcanter (a boxer who I believe is an untapped talent) ... At 33, she's waiting awhile to get tapped, as she's been boxing professionally for 7 years. The problem is, she's been offering herself in the "opponent" role to the likes of Mrdjenovich and Follmar while a lot of her other bouts have been laughers. There's a limit to how much tapping she'll do fighting Crytsal Bolles and Kris Sepulvado ... Bernie McCoy believes if Mrdjenovich can "cut the ring" and corner St. John or pin her on the ropes a stoppage will result. This tactic will depend on the referee as well. Unless the contract allowed Mia to bring her own referee, I don't see this is a problem for Mrdjenovich. They want a KO or TKO really bad for Jelena this time to keep the hype level up. The Garside-Brown rematch is the really telling bout on this card, as I think it's a make-or-break fight for Lisa. |
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Post by jr on Jun 24, 2006 8:04:12 GMT -5
Unless the contract allowed Mia to bring her own referee, I don't see this is a problem for Mrdjenovich. They want a KO or TKO really bad for Jelena this time to keep the hype level up.
The Mrdjenovich hype took a big hit - she won by UD. I haven't seen any reports yet so I'll keep my post-fight opinions for later.
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