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(MAY 18) On May 16, 2003, WBAN had an One on One Interview with
Sumya Anani
AND in that interview, Anani talked about her
latest fight with Fredia Gibbs.
Mia "The Knockout" St. John took exception to a few remarks
made by the Island Girl, and responded to that Interview.
Anani has contacted WBAN to comment on some of the statements that St.
John made about the Gibbs fight.
Anani told WBAN the following:
Okay...I have to respond to Mia's
defense of Fredia. I believe you Mia, that Fredia broke her thumb(s) in a
sparring session two weeks before the fight. OK, I believe you.
But knowing that she had two broken thumbs, she went ahead with plans to
fight anyway. Mia is telling us that Fredia knowingly went into a
fight with an injury. She (Fredia) decided to go into the fight acting as
if she were 100%. Bottom line, she was less than truthful with the
promoter about her injury because all she cared about was her money....her
paycheck.
She (Fredia) didn't bother to think about how this would mess up the
promoter's fight card----never mind ESPN, who was putting a female fight
on T.V.....never mind all the female fight fans who were looking forward
to watching the rare seen women's bouts on T.V. All that
Fredia seemed to be concerned about was getting her money.
So she wasn't honest and truthful with anyone. So, in light of this
information given by Mia, I honestly don't think this scenario 'saves
Fredia's face.' And as I said, I take your word that she broke it in
sparring.......I really do. BUT, that she lied to the promoter and showed
no respect for the show because she knew she couldn't go 8 rounds with an
injury that hasn't had time to heal. She showed no respect to the fight
fans. She showed no respect for my career. She showed no respect for
women's boxing by not letting two healthy fighters get the T.V. exposure.
I think it would have been better if Mia hadn't responded to my
interview----- now instead of looking like a chicken, Mia exposed Fredia
for what she really is....
If she would have told the promoter the truth, the promoter would have had
time to get another fighter to take Fredia's place. This happened two
weeks before the fight, as Mia says, right? Not two days, or two hours,
but two whole weeks....plenty of time for the promoter to find a
replacement to fight me, but not enough time for any fracture to heal. OR
the promoter could have put TWO other female fighters in that spot.
Considering that there is so much talent out there, and so many women that
would have love a chance to be on ESPN, and so many women that DESERVE to
fight on ESPN, and haven't had the chance.
That is what really gets me, and I've already said it, but the fact that
Fredia would so easily and carelessly jeopardize an opportunity for women
to get T.V. exposure. AND that she robbed boxing fans of a game fight
proves that she doesn't really care about the sport, but is only in it for
herself.
I do not personally respect Fredia's choice of actions here. What a
shame...........to risk ruining her reputation for the sake of getting a
paycheck? To jeopardize her future career for a paycheck...........because
if other promoters get wind of this, let's just say that I don't think
Fredia's phone will be ringing off the hook. Doesn't anyone think about
applying values like truth to their career in boxing? Or is that they just
don't have any values in the other areas of their life either? No wonder
the sport is suffering like it is.
I look at boxing like a microcosm of the macrocosm---the moral principles
we apply here (in the fight game), we also apply in other aspects of our
life (relationships, raising kids, jobs, etc). If these values are not
applied personally by each individual, how do we expect it to be applied
between communities, between nations? No peace will ever prevail in the
world until each individual assumes responsibility for their own actions.
When all the people of a given society dedicate themselves to an accepted
ideal and gather courage to live up to their convictions, then, and only
then, will the society grow into a noble nation..........then a noble
world community.
I do believe in my heart of hearts that all people are good. Deep down, I
believe that there is the Light of goodness in all of us. We just need to
remember that we come from Love, and our dharma on this planet is to
return to Love. May all beings discover, awaken, and live from the Spirit
of Truthfulness. God Bless. "Sumya 'the island girl' Anani
If anyone would like to comment to Sumya, you can visit her website at:
www.sumya.com |
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