Delia "Chikita" Gonzalez from Chamberino, New Mexico is a former WIBF world champion who's stepped into the ring against some of the very best in her weight class (and above ... see her profile page!). While I was checking in with her about some details of her career, Delia shared some thoughts about her boxing experiences and what she'd change about women's boxing if she could ... all collected in this interview.

Dee: I love the story about the first boxing gym your father took you to when you were 11, which said NO FEMALES ALLOWED, but took the sign down the next day! That was almost 20 years ago ... do you still train there?

Delia: I still train there but not as often as I used to. I've trained in almost every gym available in El Paso and Las Cruces. Now, I'm training in Anthony's Pals Boxing Club which is very close to my home compared to the other gyms. But San Juan Boxing Gym will always be my most memorable gym because I can say that I changed the ruling system the first day I stepped into that gym.

Dee: You started your career fighting much bigger women, and you got your nickname Chikita because you were the tiny boxer ... how do you feel about that, looking back?

Delia: I thank God for putting Barbara Buttrick in my career's path. She was the one who advised me to go back to my fighting weight, that I didn't have to be facing these huge women boxers, and showed me the first ranking list for the WIBF with different weight categories. It's not that I wanted to be in this weight category, but my manager only got me fights against 130-140 pounders. As a matter of fact, I met Barbara the night I lost to Helga. Even Helga told me that she couldn't believe she was fighting me when I fought for the WIBF Title. Not even I can't believe that I was doing wonders fighting in such big weight. Like I said before, "I'll do anything to box, even go up in weight." Thank God I don't have to say those words again.

You see, Dee, notice how boxers begin fighting in a certain weight then begin to go up to the next division and keep going. Well people who have known me since I was fighting in the 130 pound division think this is funny, because unlike those fighters I dropped to lower divisions. From 128 pound to my lowest weight, 106. After seven fights, I was happy to finally feel the weight-wise discipline that is required in boxing.

Delia lands a right to the jaw of Regina Halmich
Photo courtesy of Delia Gonzalez

Dee: You went to Germany to fight Regina Halmich for the WIBF flyweight title in May 2000, and came away on the short end of a majority decision. There have been some very close decisions over there whenever Regina has fought top competition like yourself ... what do you think about the majority decision?

Delia: Well, Dee, I knew I had to knock her out to win ... so I wasn't surprised with the decision. I had Halmich in trouble many times, especially in the sixth round, but wasn't able to follow through because she held on to me. I gave her a little shove once to get my distance and was told by the referee not to push. And was also told not to hold when Halmich was the one holding. I can honestly tell you that this was one of my easiest fights. I consider Halmich a one dimensional fighter. I think she fights everybody the same.

Dee: Were you affected at all by being cut in that fight?

Delia: First of all, it was due to a clashing of heads in the eighth round. The cut didn't affect me at all. I became more aggressive. Throughout the ninth and tenth rounds I never bled. Hey, I must have had an excellent cut man: I don't remember his name but we met him there in Germany. This loss and others which I don't consider losing really hurts me a lot.

(For an independent view of this fight, please see the Round-by-Round Report from Women's Boxing Page contributor Jon Fox, who scored it for Gonzalez by 96-94!)

Dee: You mentioned that you want a rematch with Kim Messer, after your title fight with Kim was stopped on an accidental head butt.

Delia: It's funny but I thought the rematch was going to happen last November (2000). I was contacted by Paul Lee to fight Kim at South Korea. Unfortunately, I was informed that the fight was rescheduled and that her opponent was Michelle Sutcliffe. At the same time, I was offered a fight against Margaret Sidoroff in Canada. The fight didn't take place because of promotional problems. Two weeks later, from the day we were scheduled to fight, Margaret fought Wendy Rodriguez then retired. So I ended up fighting Imelda Arias from Mexico in November. I gave her a fourteen pounds weight advantage because I knew she wasn't a dangerous fighter. I won the fight by a unanimous decision.

Dee: You've said that your worst experience in boxing was the exhibition bout you fought with Jayla Ortiz at very short notice last August. What happened?

Delia: I didn't want this fight to go on my record, because of a one day notice, I had to drive six and a half hours, it wasn't a fight in my fighting weight, and I wasn't physically nor mentally ready prepared to fight. And still under these circumstances, I know, and the boxing fans that night know, that I gave Ortiz a good boxing lesson. My jabs, rights, hooks, uppercut were all landing. I say she landed about three to four punches throughout the fight. I was honestly having fun. I was even the aggressor because Ortiz style is more of footwork than fighting. After the fight scores were read, I was surprised as I knew that exhibition fights weren't scored. Anyways, I took control of the ... fight and I was shocked when I heard her name as the winner; especially that the decision was unanimous!

Dee: If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about women's boxing right now, what it would it be?

Delia: With a magic wand in my hands, I would take advantage of the opportunity and try to change more than one thing about women boxing! I would change the two minute rounds to three minutes, fair judging (no favoritism), more media exposure, no discrimination for women boxers (in all ways), no advantages in weight or experience (skills level) between boxers, and definitely better, bigger purses. If I've only had one magic request, not all of these I've mentioned, I guess I would stick to the purse issue. If you can beat the boxing system, at least get a good pay check!"

Dee: You said you'd change to three minute rounds ... why is that?

Delia: (Times like when I fought Kathy Williams) are the times when I wish the rounds were three minutes and not two, specially when you prepare yourself by running three to five or more miles (depending on the type of fight), training and sparring three minute rounds. This is superb conditioning for just two minute round fights. And more important, the lack of time makes it impossible to study, box, and to fight your way in on longer reached opponents. I've experienced fighting the three minute rounds and I do notice the lack of time in the two minute rounds."

Dee: Yours is a boxing family. I wonder if you'd like to tell us more about how your family have supported your career.

Delia: Like I always say, "I come from a family of boxers." My father, brothers, and sister all boxed. Even my mom wished she could fight other moms in the ring. They know how much dedication, discipline, sometimes sacrifices are required in boxing, and they support me 100% . I started training at age 11 with my oldest brother, then kept going with my young brother and sister until I was left alone. They admire me for sticking to boxing even when there weren't any or too little opportunity for women to box. I'm 30 now, and still enjoy the workouts and competing professionally. I'm not tired of the sport itself yet. And my whole family are still, I guess, the biggest boxing fans around.