Martin:  I am married, and my husband, Andrew, is my manager. He is my main supporter and encourager. He loves me being involved at this level of boxing.

Jolin:  Do you do any other work?

Martin: In California, I was a full-time primary school teacher (grade 4/year 5). Now, I am a supply teacher in the Warrington area.

Jolin:  When did you start boxing and why?

Martin: I started amateur boxing in 1999, and turned professional in 2000 after winning the California Golden Gloves Championship. I initially started in cardio-kickboxing, but then later was told by the trainer that I should take it more seriously. He then introduced my to the legendary Lily Urquidez Rodriquez (boxing and kickboxing great).

Jolin:  How long have you been boxing?

Martin: I’ve been boxing professionally for two years.

Jolin:  Why did you decide to come to the UK?

Martin: My husband’s company offered him a position here to help with a large contract to upgrade the water systems in the Northwest. It was a great opportunity for him to further his career, and a fantastic way for us to get to see Europe.

Jolin:  Was it hard starting out – learning to cope with the pain of being hit?

Martin: My first encounter with a punch was when I first started, and I got a ‘fat lip’ from a guy that wanted to prove he was better than me. My jaw was sore after that, and I swore that I didn’t want to be hit like that again.   Because of the immense amount of adrenalin during a match, though, there isn’t much time to feel pain. If you have good defence, the punches are either glancing blows, or they are missed altogether. Most pain isn’t felt until the next day (especially if hits were taken to the back of the head). At least that’s where I have felt pain after a fight.

Jolin:  Did you encounter any prejudice in the States as a woman boxer? If so, can you give me any specific examples?

Martin: The most prejudice women boxers receive in America, is that the big promoters rarely are interested in putting women on their big cards to be televised. But we are getting on under-cards much more often, and that’s encouraging. The female fighters that can put on their own cards (a la Laila Ali et al) will be seen by the masses. There are more women’s cards being broadcast, but the there is a list of great, skilled women boxers that include the likes of Kelsey Jeffries, Ann Wolfe, Sumya Anani, Corrine Van RykdeGroot, Ada Velez, Melissa Del Valle (Salamone), and, oh, Karen Martin "The Natural Born Thriller", that could also grace television screens. It is my hope that the public will see women like these broadcasting their skill for your enjoyment in the near future.

Jolin:  If so, also, how did it make you feel – did you ever feel like giving up?

Martin: The politics of boxing on a whole is frustrating. It has driven many a woman away from the sport. I have to be honest and say it has danced around my mind one or two times. But the main focus is a fighter’s mindset. If your head and heart aren’t into it anymore, you should not be boxing. Injuries and setbacks in a fighter’s career are usually enough to make a boxer want to quit. Eighty percent of the fight is in your mind, 20 percent is your body. If everything around you is falling apart, and you can’t cope with it, get out. You can really get hurt in this sport.

Jolin:  What was your first match like? Were you nervous?

Martin: My first amateur match was against a woman named Kathy Goode, a lean, mean, muscular built female. She was taller and bigger than me, but I wasn’t nervous, I just wanted to ‘play’ boxing. Other women fighters continued to tell me prior to the fight that they were glad they weren’t fighting Ms. Goode. I stepped into the ring and my trainer said, "Don’t forget your head movement." I started bobbing and weaving and doing all these fancy moves until Ms. Goode slammed two hard jabs at me. That’s when I knew that she wasn’t playing. She started to push and grab my head and punch, and then I was angry. The referee separated us, and she punched me on the split. At that point, I was furious, especially since the ref told me not to grab. I told him I wasn’t and that he should tell her to stop, he told me not to talk, and then I started yelling at her saying, "Come on, it’s on now!" When we finally got back to the action, it was a flurry of fury. No skill, just anger. The fight was stopped at forty-seven seconds of the first round, when the referee pulled me off of her. I spoke to that same ref later, and he said he had never seen a woman hit that hard before, that’s why he had to stop the fight.

My first professional fight started with quite a bit of calamity. Not to mention I was rear-ended by another boxer, 2 days before the match. The fight was cancelled because the main event could not make it, and we found that out at the weigh in. Later that day, we (my brother and his family had flown to California for the fight) drove to Las Vegas and then got a call to say that the fight was back on. This fight was to be televised, so the weigh-ins and interviews had to be done the day of the fight, but I was still excited that it was going to happen. As with most women boxers, I knew nothing of my opponent except that she had one win and no losses. The contract was made for 126 pounds (9stone), but when we were about to weigh in, the contract was changed to 130 lbs. (I really weighed 121 lbs at the time because I had lost about 4-5 pounds during that hot summer on nerves). All of my clothes were on. Ms. Rojas was slower, with very little movement in the ring. I had a lot of movement, and utilized my jab and speed. The hype for this fight lasted much longer than the actual match; it was stopped at 1:47 of the first round. I was truly on a high after that.

Jolin:  How is the women’s boxing world different from that of the USA? Would you say that it’s better for women boxers over here or over there?

Jolin:  What would you say to people like British boxing promoter Frank Maloney, who’s said that the only role women should have in the ring is carrying the cards between rounds?

Martin: Most people have a difficult time with women boxing, because it is not an easy match (to watch). This sport is the truest test or challenge of what one is made. Mr. Maloney’s views probably represent a large percentage of the public, but until he and others stop and see that women put the same effort and work into training and boxing as the men, recognize that these women are also professional athletes, and respect that, views will not change. In addition, as the quality of women’s fights improves, the people will see the skill and professionalism that comes with this arena. Hopefully, promoters will get on board and try to encourage women, not dissuade them.

Jolin:  What’s your opinion on mixed-sex matches – have you ever taken part in one?

I almost took part in a mixed-sex match for a pilot of a reality show in Los Angeles; a twist of Fantasy Island. It may have been fun, but never would I do it for real.

Jolin:  Have you met any British women boxers? What do you think of their ability and are they supportive?

Martin: I met Jane Couch, the biggest name in women’s boxing in the UK, at a match in Texas in June of this year. She is very supportive, and is still looking to be recognized by the promoters. She does have fights here, but are against fighters with less experience. She is putting a lot of effort into promoting women's boxing here, including hosting training camps and participating in exhibition matches. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see her fight in Texas because I was in the dressing room preparing for my own match at the time, but just based on the work she does, the experience she has, and her record, I know she is 'ace'.

Jolin:  How often do you train and what’s your routine?

Martin: I train daily, except Sunday, the day of rest. My training isn’t as intense as it was in California. To put it briefly, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are for running, and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays are for boxing. Sparring isn’t a consistent part of my routine as much as I would like it to be, but that is changing.

Martin: Women have to actually participate in boxing. Kickboxing is where most women boxers come from, but now they must start with boxing and continue to the next level. Getting involved also means supporting the efforts of other women who are participating - attend matches, train together as much as possible, and continue to put efforts into maintaining a public image.  That way the general public can see that women have a presence (a community) in the sport.

Jolin:  Is it possible for a female boxer to make a living in the UK?

Martin: I’m not fully qualified to answer that question since I do not have a BBBC licence. But based on my previous answers, it would seem difficult. A good manager/promoter will get you fights anywhere in the world. In the rest of Europe (i.e. Germany, Poland etc.), Asia, and North America, women are thriving in the sport of boxing. I think that it is a requirement for any serious professional to compete on one or all of those stages, if they want to be recognized as a legitimate boxing professional, and make a good living.