(DEC 31) "Phenoms" (sports shorthand for
"phenomenon") have been a part of boxing lore almost from the start.
The first one, in my memory, was Coley Wallace, a heavyweight who
came storming out of the New York Golden Gloves where he had a
decision over Rocky Marciano. Wallace's professional career was a
bit less distinguished and, at the time of his death in 2005, he was
probably best remembered for his portrayal of the title character in
a seldom recalled movie, "The Joe Louis Story" and for reprising
that role for a bit part in "Raging Bull." In later years, I can
still recall a tired, old boxing lifer, in a tired, old gym on North
Charles Street in Baltimore, telling me about a kid who was
"Coca-Cola in the ring." Ray Leonard was, indeed, "the real thing,"
even though I always felt he violated at least one boxing
commandment (thou shalt not imitate gods) with his nickname. Boxing
phenoms have been around a long time and they've had varied careers
and have traveled diverse paths towards different ends. And, as
befits the twenty-first century, one of the latest phenoms may be a
27 year old female fighter out of Daly City, CA.
Ana Julaton made her professional debut on November 2 after a thirty
plus-bout amateur career and she did so with an eye catching style
common to boxing phenoms, she started part way up the ladder. Julaton began her pro career against
a very tough, veteran fighter, Rita Valentini, who came to the
bout with 11 pro fights (6-5) against some of the top boxers in the
featherweight division, most notably Jeannine Garside. Julaton put
Valentini on the canvas twice, in the four round bout, with an
overhand right in the opening round and a picture perfect left hook
in the fourth. Asked about any trepidation she may have felt
beginning her pro career against such an experienced fighter,
Julaton replied, by phone from California, "No, I think my amateur
career prepared me well. I, honestly, felt more intimidated the
first time I stepped into the ring in the amateurs. I came out of
(the Valentini bout) really looking forward to my next fight."
One additional indication of Ana Julaton's possible status as a
phenom is the trainer in her corner. Freddie Roach's experience with
Women's boxing is not particularly extensive, but it has been
highlighted with high quality fighters, starting with his work with
Lucia Rijker. "I'm so glad to have him (Roach) to work with,"
Julaton professes, "he has so much experience and knowledge of the
sport. I really have to calm myself down when he's around, so I
don't miss anything he's saying. I want to absorb everything."
There's little doubt that the fact Roach has decided to work with
Ana Julaton is a clear message to the rest of boxing community that
Julaton may be poised to become a major factor in the sport of
Women's boxing.
Angelo Reyes, Julaton's manager, notes that "Freddie (currently) has
Ana as a super bantamweight (122 lbs) and may eventually move (her)
down to 118." The 118-126 pound division may be the deepest talent
class in the sport and it has the potential of providing some of the
most compelling match-ups in Women's boxing. Currently competing at,
or around, that weight are such talented fighters as Alica Ashley,
Melinda Cooper, Jackie Nava, Marcella Acuna and Kelsey Jeffries. And
two fighters, Ronica Jeffrey and Emily Klinefelter, will make their
pro debuts early in 2008, after respective outstanding amateur
careers. Julaton hopes to be active in the first quarter of the new
year and when asked about specific opponents, she replies, "No one
in particular, I just want to fight as often as possible and I'm
willing to step in with anyone who's out there. Winning is
important, but competing is really what this sport has to be about.
Women's boxing will advance only when the best fighters compete
against one another on a regular basis. I'm ready."
Measuring a fighter for the mantle of a phenom is it's own kind of
intense pressure. Ana Julaton sounds as though she's prepared to
deal with whatever comes her way, as far as the sport of boxing is
concerned. "My amateur career provided me with a lot of good
experience, not only in the ring against well trained, experienced
boxers, but that time also taught me how to prepare for and approach
a big bout. I boxed Ronica Jeffrey out here (the Bay Area) in May
and it was a huge happening, all kinds of local celebrities and
boxing people attended and it really built up into a big event. It
was a great experience and a lot of fun (Jeffrey won a close
decision). She (Jeffrey) is a great fighter and I look forward to
fighting her again along with many others in the weight class."
There's no question that Ana Julaton's professional debut against a
tough, experienced fighter like Rita Valentini was an impressive
beginning. It certainly was a distant remove from the conventional
professional debut in which the expression "two left feet" is not an
uncommon description for a first opponent. Rita Valentini is more
than a couple of levels above the conventional and Julaton won the
bout handily. Additionally, the fact that Freddie Roach is in
Julaton's corner is significant. Roach is not a guy who wastes his
time in the business he's made his life. He's always had a keen eye
for boxing talent and is usually found close to such talent. That
seems to be the case with Ana Julaton. Of course, only time and
fights against top flight competition will determine if Julaton is,
indeed, the next "Coca-Cola" in the sport of Women's boxing. Her
career will, undoubtedly, track somewhere between those distant
paths of Coley Wallace and Ray Leonard but based on early returns,
the chances of Ana Julaton becoming "the real thing" appear to be a
real possibility. Bernie McCoy
#
# #
#
For Online IWBHF Tickets for
Next Event!
Check Our Next Annual International
Women's Boxing Hall of Fame Event that we have to celebrate hour IWBHF
Inductees and Special Award Recipients!
Next Event, Go Here!
Our Online
WBAN/IWBHF Online Store
Proceeds from the Online Store is to
continue our mission to support the INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S BOXING HALL OF
FAME. The Official collection includes IWBHF and WBAN Merchandise and
Memorabilia from the WBAN Boxing Collection. We will continue to list
items from the collection and merchandise.