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(JULY 1) Today in Biloxi, Mississippi, the press conference for the August
23rd, 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.
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.”
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