HISTORY OF
WOMEN'S BOXING

For proof, fans need look no further than Para Draine's record to know that she'll take on just about any fighter, any time, any  where.

She's already traveled to Germany, North Dakota,  Idaho, British Columbia, Atlantic City and Kansas City. By her fourth pro fight -- when many boxers are still trying to figure out the difference between a left hook and a fishing hook -- she was in the ring against world champion Eva Jones Young.

In fact, she's split two showdowns with Young, lost a split decision to Theresa Arnold, outboxed classy Yvonne Trevino, trounced Shirley Prescott, and stopped Michelle Sutcliffe.

Her dossier is a who's who of women's boxing. So it may come as a surprise that Draine is suddenly having trouble finding someone to step between the ropes with her. "I just can't find fights. It's like everybody wants the easy win and the pushover opponents," Draine said. "Well, you're supposed to be a world champion, get in the ring. I would fight twice a month if I could, I can't find a fight even every three or four months. I want to fight, period. That's the whole thing. The last couple of fights I lost, yeah, my opponents were bigger and I went to their home town, so that has a big say in it."

The Spokane, Washington, native doesn't remember exactly how old she was when she first started fighting, but she remembers being turned away at the local gym.  "The gym didn't allow it (women to box)," Draine recalled.   "I remember that my Dad told me that when I was eight years old I came home  crying because they wouldn't let me." Undaunted, she would box with her older cousin in the basement, until the amateur ranks finally opened to women. There, she was undefeated in four amateur fights, winning the Tacoma, Washington Golden Gloves.

Not that she needed the confirmation, but Draine knew she had found a calling in just her first professional fight, against Delores Lira. "She hit me and I hit her back real hard and she grinned at me," Draine added. "So I stepped up and hit her again with three or four punches and knocked her on her butt. I'm like 'there, smile now.' " Not only was she fighting big names, she was inked to be  featured in 10-rounders by her sixth pro fight, a title shot at IBA bantamweight champ Theresa Arnold, who was six pounds heavier than Draine.

She went on to lose a split decision, but rallied with a decision over Shirley Prescott. Her belt came May 24, 1998 in Atlantic City, stopping then champ Michelle Sutcliffe in the fifth round. She successfully defended the flyweight title with perhaps her biggest win, a unanimous decision over Yvonne Trevino.

Her current two fight "losing streak," came via a decision loss in a rematch against IWBF/WIBF bantamweight champ Young, and a lost in a bid for a second belt, the WIBF Junior Welterweight title, some three weight classes above her natural 112 pound group.

Flying halfway around the world, knowing she would go 10 rounds, Draine lost a close decision to local favorite Silke Wickenmeier in Mannheim Germany. She lost the fight by one point on one card, two points on another.  " In Germany, I had a lot left," Draine remembers. "I mean I was making sure I didn't get tired toward the later rounds, and then at the end, I was like, 'Dang, I don't even feel tired.' That's not how it should be."

It's expected that Draine will give a mandatory defense or her title in the coming months. Delia Gonzales has been mentioned as a possible opponent, but as usual for Draine, they aren't lining up outside her Spokane locker.   "I've challenged a lot of gals I would consider to be world cham pions," Draine added. "We're not ducking any body. If someone wants to try to take my belt, let's go. Not many champions say that. I've never met anyone like that. Everyone picks and chooses who they want to fight for their belt. I say, if someone thinks they can take it, let them come and try."   Any takers?  Brian Ackley 6/2/99 Copyrighted. All rights reserved.