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UP CLOSE: INTERVIEW WITH AMATEUR
CHAMPION, AMBER GIDEON
by Bob Marovitz -WBAN Chicago Correspondent
September 24, 2002
Inside Chicago's Windy City Boxing Gym, Amber Gideon, is the first
boxer to arrive for daily training. Gideon commutes one hour from the
Western suburbs of Chicago to train with one of Chicago's best trainers,
Sam Colonna. Amber shows me around the legendary gym where Muhammad Ali
has trained in his career. The walls are covered in old boxing posters and
photos of fights as far back 1950.
"I am happiest when I am here in the gym training" says Gideon,
32, as she wraps her hands. Gideon has committed herself to being the best
female amateur boxer. 2002 has been a banner year for Amber as she won her
fourth Chicago Golden Gloves Championship, third U.S.A. Boxing
Championships in Scranton and placed second in the 2002 National Women's
Golden Glove tournament. Gideon is preparing for a trip to Turkey in
October to compete in the World Championships (where she earned a Bronze
Medal in '01) Gideon sat down with Bob Marovitz to talk about what today
holds and her future holds.
BM: Who is Amber Gideon without boxing gloves laced up?
AG: I am a boxer 3-4 hours a day. All day long I am a struggling, single,
working mother. I carry the financial, physical and emotional
responsibility of two young boys, ages 7 and 11 and I am dedicated to
giving my sons the best I can. My boys are my first priority. They believe
in me as I do them. They energize me to keep pursuing my dreams and I
encourage them to find their hearts' desire. I went to Wheaton Central H.S.
and was always athletic. I was a #1 ranked karate competitor and also
participated on the softball and gymnastics teams. I received my
Bachelor's Degree with a double major in psychology and human services at
National Louis University.
BM: How did boxing become your focus?
AG: I ran a licensed Day-Care facility from my home 55 hours per week to
be able to be with my children and provide income. I was looking for some
healthy time out of the house. My mother took me as her guest to Gold's
Gym in Aurora and I decided to try a Saturday afternoon boxing class. It
was a great outlet for my energy and stress relief! Slowly, boxing
workouts became my new obsession and the core of my happiness. Boxing
meets my needs for physical exercise and has given me an outlet for my
outgoing, competitive and aggressive personality.
BM: How do you answer critics that women shouldn't be in boxing?
AG: Their is no right or wrong place for "a woman "-homemaker,
career professional or athlete. It is for each person to decide what fits
for their own life and personality. Female boxing is frowned upon by many
because it doesn't fit the "norm "for society. Boxing is a
combative sport and is not for everyone, male or female. I have found my
biggest athletic challenge in the boxing ring. I think if people could see
boxing as a sport, instead of as a fight, people could understand that a
women can be kind, affectionate and beautiful as well as competitive,
aggressive and skillful boxers. I think that as women gain experience and
skill the public and critics will see that women have a place in the ring.
Don't limit us. Let women challenge themselves.
BM: You have a very positive attitude both in and out of the ring.
How has this helped you in your career?
AG: I have high expectations for myself. I try to be the best I can in my
heart and life. When I meet someone, I realize that I will be remembered,
forever, by how I represent myself in the smallest moment. I am very down
to earth and try to be myself and treat others the way I want to be
treated. I can only hope that a person walks away with a positive
reflection of who I am, not the person they expect me to be. My boxing
career reflects this attitude. I try to remember that I may not always win
and it is not the end
of the world if I lose. Recently, I had a lesson in what I thought was an
unfair decision in my boxing career, but I was a good sport and took that
lesson to grow further as a boxer.
BM: In your opinion has amateur women's boxing grown over the past
five years?
AG: I have been an amateur since January 1998 and I have seen the number
of female boxers increase and attitudes change. They are more committed
and competitive boxers and the numbers have transformed the women's boxing
community into a natural atmosphere of camaraderie and competition. The
pre-fight intimidation and posturing so common with men is rarely seen in
women's amateur boxing.
BM: Their is a report that women will box in the 2004 Olympics? What
have you heard about this?
AG: It has been proposed by USA Boxing that their will be 2 exhibition
bouts between the top four amateur female fighters in a particular weight
class. It is expected that women's boxing will be sanctioned as an Olympic
sport in 2008.
BM: What does the future look like for you in boxing?
AG: I have been going through chiropractic treatment 4-5 times per week in
the last month for an injury I sustained at the USA Boxing Tournament in
Scranton. I am just getting back into the gym to train for the World
Championship in Turkey.I took the Bronze last year so I am going back to
try for the Gold Medal this year. Regardless of the outcome, I am looking
to sign a pro contract after the World Championships with my pro debut in
January, 2003.
BM: What do you think pro women's boxing needs to elevate the sport?
AG: Women's boxing will earn more respect, more fans and more television
coverage as women increase their skills.. Our skill level is increasing
with time and experience and our numbers are growing with exposure. The
unskilled boxers are dragging the sport down, but as the numbers of
skilled boxers rise the unskilled boxers will be eliminated from the
spotlight.
BM: Do you think what women wear in the ring will be able to grab
more attention of boxing fans and sponsors?
AG: Yes. While boxing is a sport. it is also entertainment. It is skill,
endurance, toughness and athleticism. It is not about if they can be
stylish in what they wear, it' about their performance and ability. If a
boxer has the skill, then a little style is a plus. Critique my skill, be
entertained by my clothing. I am a women in the ring and out. Pressuring
women to wear men's boxing trunks is saying that we can't be boxers and
express our femininity. Judge my fight, not my trunks!
BM: Who are the boxers in both male and female boxing you admire?
AG: I look to people as a whole. I have great respect for boxers with
positive attitudes and lifestyles, as well as great boxing skill. There
are four guys at my gym I admire. Angel Hernandez and Angel Manfredy have
great offense. Jermaine Marks and Germaine Sanders have slick movement and
defense. They work with me and sacrifice their own training time to help
me be the best I can be.. In the women's arena, it is Laila Ali. She does
not let anyone take away from her feminine side. She focuses on her skills
and
doesn't pretend to be someone she is not. She is a great representative
for women's boxing and for me.
BM: Imagine you are a pro today with a 10-0 record and are seeking
to move up to fight a top 5 woman boxer. Who would you be fighting?
AG: I would like to fight between 122-132. The women I most respect at
those weights are top competitors like , Sumya Anani, Ada "Ace"
Velez and Laura Serrano.
BM: What advice do you have for aspiring women entering boxing?
AG: #1 - Be determined. Do not give up. #2 - Believe in yourself. Do not
let anyone tell you that you can't do it. #3 - Find a good coach who will
watch out for your safety and LISTEN TO HIM/HER. I never shadow-boxed or
jumped rope for three years because I thought I looked stupid. If I had
listened to my coach earlier in my career, I would be even better than I
am today.
BM: My last question is what are the myths and facts related to
women's boxing?
AG: A MYTH is that all female boxers are masculine and angry women. This
stereotype is not typical of most women in the ring. A FACT is that women
are willing to work harder in and out of the ring.
Amber Gideon has a clear vision of the road ahead for her. She realizes
the ebb and flow of women's boxing, but through her poise, personality,
endurance she seeks to turn pro and show boxing fans and especially her
two sons what skills and determination can bring to life. |
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