November 20, 2008

The former tomboy from Lake Forrest, Illinios, McKey, won (all together now…) a contract with Elite model management, a spread and cover for Seventeen magazine, and a $100,000 contract with covergirl.

Nineteen-year-old McKey defeated her rival, LA high school student Samantha Potter, after strutting along one unique runway, a giant hot pink hill, and striking memorable poses. Annaleigh was third in the contest.

We picked both of the finalists at the beginning because of their athleticism and beauty. Winner McKey played all kinds of sports as a kid including hockey and soccer. She now trains as a boxer with her cagefighter bf. 

When McKey was 15, a sports injury forced her off the field and she began to channel her competitive energy into modeling.  Looks like it paid off!!

Elite XC, which produced seven of the 10 most-watched MMA matches in U.S. history on two CBS specials in recent months, will be closing its doors at the end of the week. This leaves a roster of fighters, including Carano, looking for work.

Will Carano move to the sport’s highest-profile group the UFC? According to Yahoo Sports,

UFC president Dana White has said he’s not interested in promoting women’s fighting, although Carano’s success as a draw may cause him to reconsider. Her match with Kelly Kobold two weeks ago ended up adding more new viewers than any MMA match on television in the U.S.

Stay tuned.

June 27, 2008

LaTonya decided at 11, she would learn to box in order to protect herself. A year later, she would become the first black woman to ever win a Golden Gloves title match. By the time she was 15, she had six national titles under belt. With a training regiment that consisted of three hour sessions - five days a week, she refused to let her boxing interfere with her school work. She not only played clarinet, joined the cheerleading squad, and maintained straight A’s, she graduated valedictorian of her high school.

With boxing idols such as Roy Jones, Jr. and Laila Ali, it’s no surprise that her skills mimic those she admires. Emanuel Steward, Boxing Hall of Fame instructor, can not deny her talent. In Jet magazine he was quoted as saying ‘”She makes me more excited than any other boxer. I never thought in a million years I’d be training a girl.”

At 18, she became part of Nike Women’s Work 2 Play campaign highlighting female athletes from all sporting genres. Work 2 Play gives insight into just how hard these female athletes work to maintain their athletic edge.

As it stands now, King has earned eight national titles, three of them being Golden Glove titles, a Ringside National Championship, as well as an International Boxing Championship. At 19, she is pound for pound the best boxer in her weight class. With a record of 25 wins, 0 losses and 5 knockouts it isn’t hard to imagine that she would be much more than just a boxer.

You may be asking yourself, ‘What’s left for LaTonya King?’ Who knows, maybe she’ll turn pro.

LONDON, Jan. 30, 2008

The former highly successful corporate lawyer has been the focus of countless newspapers articles and the subject of television programs, where she has on occasion proceeded to give painful boxing lessons to unsuspecting presenters.

Despite her unusual career path, the native Australian is no mere novelty, having ended her amateur career as an undefeated British lightweight champion but is more suited to the professional game as anyone who has witnessed her gritty performance last Autumn in South London can readily attest to.

(more…)

The show is an update on the 1989-97 syndicated series that featured amateur athletes facing off in a series of competitions against a regular cast of “gladiators.” Laila, who shares hosting duteis with Hulk Hogan, believes the show is more sports programming than reality TV. A nationwide search for gladiators and contenders culled a cast of men and women who proved they are fit enough - mentally and physically - to compete. 

As host, Ali probably won’t be part of the competition herself but she has tried the joust and found it a lot more challenging than she thought it would be. Other women will compete however so keep an eye out for Gladiators Crush, Siren, Stealth and Venom and contestants Monica, Bonnie, Christie, Jessie and Kim.

LUSAKA, Zambia, Dec. 2, 2007

The single mother and former street vendor with little education is now a household name in Zambia. But growing up in the slumbs of Mtendere, the future looked bleak for Esther. The turning point came when an international non-governmental organization, Africa Directions, started a youth-centred HIV-awareness project in the area, combining health education and sport. Esther found herself the only girl in the physical training program focused on boxing. (more…)

Nov. 21, 2007  -

Recognized as one of the best pound for pound female fighters in the world, Moreno is riding a 7 fight winning steak and looks to continue her winning ways when she’s expected to battle Terri Mosson December, 6 2007 at the Tachi Palace Casino in Lemoore Ca.

An ecstatic Moreno commented by saying, “2007 has been a break out year for me. Holding the WBC title is what every Mexican fighter dreams of. I want to thank my trainer Rick Noble, my promoter Christian Printup, along with my manager Repo Rick for doing a fabulous job in guiding my career. I wouldn’t be in this position without them.”

Known as a pressure fighter, Carina displays an exciting style that fans have grown to love and appreciate. Team Moreno plans to stay active, bringing exciting fights to everyone who is fortunate enough to see her fight live.

It’s no surprise that Laila float like a butterfly on the dance competition show. The undefeated boxing champ (and daughter of boxing great Muhammad Ali) used her athleticism and fitness to conquer dances including the mambo and rumba. Along with her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy she garnered high marks from the contest’s judges and won viewer approval.

Ali made it to the final three and was definitely our choice to win the whole thing. In the end, another athlete, Olympian Apolo Ohno, took home the big prize. Ali may not have won the comp, but she won America’s hearts. [+]

Laila Ali on Dancing with the Stars