BOXING HERALD: Carina, thanks for talking with Boxing Herald today. How are things in California?
CARINA:No problem. It’s great here. We are in Chico training for the big fight. I’m doing some sparring with Ava Knight and another girl named Claudia. I’ve trained really hard and I’m pretty sore. We’ve been doing two-a-day sessions. But, I feel real good and have had some great training sessions.
BOXING HERALD: How has the camp gone and what have you focused on getting ready for this fight?
CARINA:I have done a lot of sparring and spent a lot of time in Chico at the Chico Boxing Club.
BOXING HERALD: That’s not typical for you huh?
CARINA:No, I usually prepare some in Los Angeles and in Vegas. We felt like it would be good to train with someone like Ava, who’s really good and strong. She’s a little taller and has fought Jodie, the girl I’m fighting, so she’s been really helpful.
BOXING HERALD: What do you know about Jodie and what are you looking for in the fight?
CARINA:I’ve watched some video on her. She’s a tough fighter with a big right overhand that she throws a lot. She bounces a lot, but with not a lot of head movement. She comes straight at you. But, I’m prepared for that.
BOXING HERALD: Carina, going into a title defense, do you find your approach to the fight different then maybe in the past when you weren’t a champion. Is it harder to focus on fighting verses purely keeping your title?
CARINA:Sure, a title defense is more stressful. Still, I take every single fight and approach it the same way. I’m a world champion so everybody is gunning for me. That’s part of it. I worked hard to get the belt and I will work hard to keep it. I fight to fight.
BOXING HERALD: You mentioned you were away from home to finish up your training camp, does that mean you can train full time. We know your family is in the restaurant business and you work with them…are you able to let go of that and focus full time on fighting now?
CARINA:Yes, for now, in preparation for a fight…I do just that. I train full time.
BOXING HERALD: I’m sure it makes a difference being able to train that way huh?
CARINA:Definitely, when you have to train twice a day and then go to another job in between sessions it’s really tough on you. So, it’s been great to be able to work out full time and step away from any other work. I’m so well prepared for this fight.
BOXING HERALD: Carina, you’ve been WBC Women’s Fighter of the Year, a four time World Champion, arguably one of the best pound for pound women fighters in the world…what’s next? What else can you accomplish? What are your goals?
CARINA:You know early on I wanted to box in the Olympics and obviously that didn’t happen because they didn’t have it. I became a pro and set the goal of being a world champ in three different weight divisions, 105, 108 and 112. I’ve already accomplished one of them. So, I’m going to go after the other two. I was supposed to get to contend for the 108 title in October, but that didn’t work out, so we took this fight. But, plan on defending my title here and then moving up in weight class to get the other titles.
BOXING HERALD: What weight do you walk around at? Will it be easy to move up?
CARINA:I walk around 112 or 113. I never balloon up like some fighters. I cut down from there. 105 is getting harder for me to make. The last three pounds; getting there is extremely difficult. So, 108 and 112 ought to be pretty easy.
BOXING HERALD: What do you see in the women’s boxing and how can it grow and improve? Along with that, how can you use your status as a world champion to help with that?
CARINA:Definitely, I want to help the sport of women’s boxing. I do believe that the Olympics need to include women’s boxing. I think it could make a difference overall. I also think that some women’s fights, good fights, should be included on more of the bigger men’s under cards. Sometimes when we finally get to see women’s boxing on TV, it’s really not the better fighters. We need some good fighters on with the major men’s fights. Sometimes the women’s fights are the best fights of the night. The women are often more aggressive and a lot of fun to watch.
BOXING HERALD: It seems that MMA as a sport is actually ahead of boxing in that sense. CBS has featured women in their main cards in their Elite XC events and it’s been very well received.
CARINA:Yeah, I follow MMA some and I agree, those women fights are great. I just hope boxing will follow suit.
BOXING HERALD: Do you ever get calls about fighting on the under card of any major men’s fights?
CARINA:No, not really. I would love to be apart of that. But, for the most part our sport is run by completely different promoters. We’ll see.
BOXING HERALD: Will women ever be allowed to box in the Olympics? Could it happen in London in 2012?
CARINA:Well, I think so; it’s been talked about a lot before. They thought maybe it would this year and it didn’t. Now, they are talking about 2012. Hopefully it does. Obviously as a pro and I can never compete in the Olympics if it makes it in, but I would love to coach. As much experience as I have in the amateur side of the sport I think I could help a lot.
BOXING HERALD: So you enjoy coaching as well? Would you like to do more of that in future?
CARINA:Absolutely, I definitely enjoy it. There are different levels of amateur coaching and you have to be a level four to coach in the Olympics. I’m a level one right now, but working on moving up to higher levels. I work with my coach in my gym where I live. We have some amateur kids we are working with and I love helping them grow in the sport.
BOXING HERALD: Ok, last question. I know that you’ve sparred with guys, sometimes much larger than you…but, hypothetically speaking if you could fight one pro male fighter right now and of course, beat him up, who would it be?
CARINA:(Laughing) You got me on that one. I don’t know. (Laughs again)
BOXING HERALD: Maybe we can set this up…C’mon, who?
CARINA:I would say maybe the 105 World Champ. That would be fun.
BOXING HERALD: I wouldn’t bet against you, that’s for sure. Carina, thanks again for talking with me today. Any words for your fans on the fight with Jodie?
CARINA:I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a high impact and energetic fight. If you can be there, be there. I’ve been training hard and I’m ready. Thanks for the opportunity to talk with you guys.
