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In the second part of a two-part interview originally published on the
Women's Boxing Page in September 1999, Jane Couch,
Britain's "Fleetwood Assassin",
talks to
Dee Williams about her toughest fights and
about what it takes to be a real "world" champion.
Dee:
You fought a war with Sandra Geiger to win your world title. I've
heard that she ended up in the hospital with a busted nose,
cracked ribs, and a broken hand. Was that your toughest fight?
Jane:
I won the title in Denmark May 1996 and yes ... believe all the reports about
me and Sandra Geiger. That fight was a war from start to finish and my coach
Tex Woodward told me after the fight "you will never have a harder fight than
that". He was right. Geiger was very experienced and coming into that fight I
was inexperienced. I had no idea of the standard
of the women at world class and can honestly say I have never been hit so
hard in all my life. She was one tough lady, but I wanted it more. If I boxed
her now I think it would be a lot different as I have more experience at
that level now. But at the time my determination and her power and skill made
for a great fight. We got a standing ovation from the crowd and even people
who didn't really support women's boxing were standing and clapping. Also you
have to remember at that time there was just one organization for women's
boxing and being the only champion was brilliant. It felt more special to
me.
Dee:
How does that compare to the way things are now?
Jane:
Now there are four or five governing bodies and to be world champion today you
need to hold all the belts, which to me devalues the sport. Also sanctioning
bodies are trying to be in charge of a girl's career. If she fights for one
belt that organization doesn't want her to fight for another and wants to
arrange her fights. A sanctioning body is there to sanction a fight and that's
it. Theres too much control by the bodies and seems to be spoiling the sport
with more and more politics being involved. I'm pleased that when I fought
for the title it meant world champion. I can always look back and say "I did
it" ... no favours from promoters, no trying to get easy fights and pretending to
be world champ. I did it right.
Dee:
You're one of the boxers who came to the USA to get fights when
there wasn't much action available in Europe (and almost none in
England). What'll it take to make more international bouts
happen, so "world" titles really are the best in the world?
Jane:
I was one of very few European boxers who came to the USA and got
results. But I think that to be the best and real world champion you have to
do that. I did it, now I'm two time world champion and looking for maybe a third
or fourth title at Lightweight. I'd like to see some of the American boxers
come to Europe and more Europeans going to America and making genuine world
title fights. There have been a few American boxers come to Europe and when
they came they haven't lived up to expectations. There have been Europeans who
have gone to the USA and done badly too. But we have all got to work together
and get these fights on so we can find out who really is the best in the
world.
Dee:
Apart from Lucia, is there anyone you'd come to the USA to fight
again? We're hoping we'll get to see you again!
Jane:
I would like to come back to the USA to fight. It would have to be a big
fight like Lucia, Christy, Anani ... whoever. But I would also like to see them
come to England as well.
Jane lost a split decision to the USA's Dora Webber
in Lula, Mississippi in October 1997
Dee:
You mentioned that fighters who cross the Atlantic to fight often
don't live up to expectations. It seems to be extra hard to get a win
on the other continent, and you're one of the few who's pulled it off.
What are the biggest hurdles a boxer has to overcome for a
trans-Atlantic fight, do you think?
Jane:
I never worry about the judges because if you do get a bad decision there's
always someone out there honest enough to admit you won. You can't let that
bother you. Most judges are fair and after the recent Lennox Lewis result
I'm sure they will be more careful in the future, The way I go about fighting
away is just be positive.
Dee:
What about physical and mental preparation? How do you cope with
leaving enough time to adjust, unfamiliar food and water,
unfamiliar surroundings, different language?
Jane:
I always switched my body clock ten days before I
leave. I live on American time while still in England, then when I get there I
feel ok. But I'm lucky enough to have a coach that knows the business and
worked it out. Also I know a few girls that have just treated a fight abroad
as a holiday. You can't do that. You're a professional boxer and there to do a
job. Once that's done, you can enjoy yourself afterwards. But its definitely a
mental thing and if you can't travel to fight and get results then you don't
qualify to be called a real world champion. If you lose, no matter what the
circumstances you lose, the loss is nobody else's fault but your own. It is
difficult getting used to different food, different surroundings, but that's the
difference between a champion and a contender. I hate people who lose fights
and bitch about it later saying things like "I was robbed", "the judges were
not fair", "it was in her home town", "the flight was long". Bullshit!
If you lose, you lose. I don't care what country you're in.
When you take a fight away from home, you know the problems and if you don't
think you can cope with them you shouldn't have taken the fight in the first place.
I lost fights and sat down and questioned the circumstances, but in reality it's
yourself you need to question and learn from it. If you can learn from it you'll
make a better champion.
Dee:
Who are the fighters, men or women, who you admire most?
Jane:
I'm a big fan of the male boxers. I follow the sport intensely. After all, we
have to learn from the male boxers. I boxed on the Roy Jones Junior card in
Connecticut and he is a great boxer, a nice person too. I like Naz ... he's a
friend of mine and his family are great to work with. I love Oscar De la Hoya
but I think that because of his looks. And I saw Floyd Mayweather recently on
TV in England and he looks great.
In the women boxing I have great respect for all women that box, but I really like Eva
Young as a boxer and a person.
Dee:
Jane, thank you for giving us so much time for an interview.
Do you have any message for your fans from all over the 'net?
Jane:
A message to all my fans on the 'net ... thanks for all the great support and
I will carry on to become one of the greats. I'm planning on becoming four time
world champion this year, and next year ... who knows? I'm going to break records
and need all your support in doing that ... so watch this space!
Many thanks to Jane for sharing her unique perspective on women's boxing!
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