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.
Many thanks to Delia for this interview! Read
more about this true fighter's career and all of her ring record in her WBAN
profile page
Other Delia Gonzalez links
Page last updated: Saturday, May 29, 2004
