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Another "Warrior" on the Horizon!
by Sue TL Fox
August 19, 2003WBAN had an
opportunity to talk with Yvonne Reis, a boxer that fights out of Florida,
and trains under retired IFBA World Champion Bonnie Canino. Reis
gives a candid interview for WBAN and talks about the sport and her own
career!
TL Fox: What made you decide to become a boxer, and were you in any
kind of contact sports before becoming a boxer?
Yvonne: I have been a Martial Artist since i was 8 years old.
I have a Black belt in Kempo and Cabales Serrada. So, I had been competing
in point sparring for years. In 2001, I was asked if I wanted to
compete in the USA Extreme Challenge in full contact and I that I would.
That was my first full contact competition. (I believed that if I
wanted to teach women to defend themselves, I should know how it felt to
get hit with full force.) I lost my trainer one month
before the competition, and that is when I met Bonnie Canino. I
asked her if she would train me and be in my corner. She said sure.
I won and then she asked me if I would be interested in boxing. At the
time, I didn't even know that there was amateur boxing for women.
That was how I first got into boxing.
TL Fox: You were involved with Bonnie Canino in a fairly large
and significant amateur event in Florida. Can you give details about that
event, and some behind the scenes information?
Yvonne: I was the CO-host. We put it on together. Bonnie had
been going to the Nationals since 1999. She felt that the girls just were
not getting a fair deal in exposure, etc. So, she expressed interest in
hosting the event. After I turned 34, I went pro, and became a ref
and judge in USA Boxing---something she was already doing. When she said,
"I want to have the Nationals in Florida," I said 'let's do it and do it
right for the girls.' I mean I love these girls. When I first met the
amateur girls in 2001, I could not believe the cross section of life they
represented; economic, cultural, social, you named it and they were there.
They were all so nice. I could not believe that girls competing in a
contact sport like boxing could be so nice to each other. I was hooked. We
wanted to give them a Nationals on the high level that they deserved and a
National event deserves. It was our first event on that level and we hope
we raised the bar for other event hosts in the future. We will do it again
and better. All of the USA Boxing Staff and Officials were great and went
way out of their way to help us. So you know, it really wasn't that hard
to organize. Raising the money was/is for women's amateur boxing, the hard
part. That is where the work comes in. We hope to get sponsors next time,
which should be easier now that we have numbers to give potential
sponsors.
TL Fox: I know that you have fought in the amateurs and
the pros. What do you see as a contrast between the two other than the
fact that pros are paid, and amateurs are not?
Yvonne: The amateurs skills are better than many pros and
getting better every year. The 15/16 year olds this year at the Nationals
"WOW", I am glad that I am too old to fight amateur. These new girls KiCK
BUTT. The money is not really an issue between the 2 because most of us do
it to compete, not for money (which isn't really that great -- whole
'other subject).
TL Fox: Do you box full time, or hold down another job and also box?
Yvonne: Well, that is where I am lucky to train with Bonnie.
I was working as a bookkeeper in Ft. Lauderdale and then she asked me to
do some computer work for her. I also do PT work. But really when you are
a female you make a decision to box or get financially stable (most of us
anyway), so I pay the bills and train whenever I can just like the other
2000 plus women out there. It isn't easy, but before I started to box I
was 215lb, now I am a solid 168lb. It keeps me healthy and happy, so I
fine time for it.
TL Fox: You were supposed to fight Dakota Stone at the end of August
in Tacoma, Washington, why did that fight fall through?
Yvonne: I was really pumped about that one. We have the same
body type and styles, it would have been a great fight. But they called me
and said that the fight was off for medical reasons on Stone's side. That
is all I know. But as a female we are use to having the fights fall
through. I hope we get to fight though, it would be a good one.
TL Fox: I have heard that you
will be fighting this coming Saturday (August 23)…Who are you going to
fight, and do you know very much about your opponent?
Yvonne: Yes, I am on the Michael Moorer card here in Ft.
Lauderdale. I will be fighting Jennifer Mancil of Ft. Lauderdale. She is
1-1. I have seen her two fights. She is a tough girl who like to brawl,
but so do I. I will box also. It should be a fun one to watch.
TL Fox: And…Speaking of August 23, you will be fighting
on the SAME night as Laila Ali vs. Christy Martin, with Ann Wolfe taking
on Valerie Mahfood? Any Predictions?
Yvonne: YOU BET! I fight around 7:30 p.m. - 8:00ish a 4-round
fight. Laila will probably go on around 10. I should be home to watch the
first one with Anne Wolfe and then hers. Otherwise my mother will tape it
for me. Ali will win if she boxes, Martin if she slugs it out with her. I
think she (Ali) will box. Anne will win, stop by ref for blood or
something like that on Valerie.
TL Fox: There has been some controversy about Ali fighting the
much-lighter Martin, and according to Martin's own statement in her
interview with Eastside boxing this week, said she weighs 142 lb., and yet
in one week she will be fighting in the 160's….What do you feel about
Martin taking on a much heavier opponent in this fight?
Yvonne: I don't think fighting out of your weight class is a
good idea, and she is fight 3 or 4 weight classes out. She is also much
shorter. Look, she is the only other big name out there, but does that
mean is should be fought? Should De La Hoya fight Lewis - come on people.
TL Fox: Do you feel that this upcoming Pay-Per-View will
impact the sport in anyway, negative or positive?
Yvonne: Negative - of course. This feeds into what the TV MEN
want to show of women's boxing - mismatches. Could it be a great fight,
maybe it is boxing----But if Ali wins - big deal - she beat someone
fighting way out of her weight class and kind of (sorry Christy) past her
prime. Ali has a lot to lose and nothing to gain. If Ali losses, it was a
lucky shot, or she fought someone with much more experience. If she wins,
she still has not been tested, and the controversy continues.
TL Fox: With you being in the same weight class as Ali,
Frazier, Simmons…are there any plans in the near future to fight any of
these boxers? Any particular fighters on your "hit list"?
Yvonne: SIMMONS - There is way to much talk about her and she
hasn't fought since Ghana. I was going to fight her this month- and was
really pumped, but her team said no. I wanted to fight her in NY also.
I also want Nikki again, my only loss. The whole scene as a mess. They cut
off my hand wraps then told me I had 5 minutes to get into the ring. They
were typing my gloves on me in the ring (her trainer came over to tape my
left hand) I fought with an ace bandage on my right. No, excuses I lost -
but she didn't win. We need a nationwide commission, to avoid promoters
doing things like that to give their fighters the upper hand.
Basically, want to fight everyone that is a contender and then the champs.
Ali is where the money and notoriety is, but Anne Wolfe, she is "top dog"
as far as fighters go (in this weight division). I would like to fight
both, but first clean out the field. Take on every one. Leave it to the
fans to press the fights. The one to watch is "Jay" Davis. We were on the
USA World Team together. She is always in good shape and a very smart
boxer. Keep an eye out for her - she will be fun for me to fight a 6 or 8
rounder.
TL Fox: At this time, who do you think has been your
toughest opponent?
Yvonne: Cynthia Jones - no question about it. I went in
thinking she is 0-4, a little lighter, so she might be faster and out
point me. She can't really hurt me. WRONG- I was great first round, then
the second she almost KOed me. From round 2 through 6, I was in FIGHT. OK,
so I win then go look to see who she lost to, Carla Redo, etc., the list
was impressive. So I learned in my second fight, don't pay attention to
the records - who did they fight. And this is boxing, one lucky punch on
the temple and lights out, everyone is dangerous.
TL Fox: If you were to give any advice to females who would
like to get in the sport, can you give three of the most important pieces
of advice that you would give them before getting into the sport?
DON'T DO IT FOR MONEY. Do it for the competition. There is no money in it,
really, a credit card payment now and then.
IF YOU ARE NOT HAVING FUN - STOP. This is a tough sport. If you don't
enjoy the training or the competition. Just stop. When something isn't fun
for you anymore, you can't really be good at it, so stop. Participate like
Bonnie Canino as a trainer, or Sue Fox, here, with this forum. There are
other ways to be in the game without being in the game.
BE READY AT ALL TIMES. If you want to do this, take those last minute
fights. Be ready and in shape to go at a moments notice. The phone doesn't
ring often so you have to go when it does or they will not call you again.
We do not have the privilege that male boxers have, advanced notice. It
happens, but not often and they usually fall through. Keep training and be
ready for any and all comers. The fights will come, just be ready. |
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