A black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a model, a mother, a college graduate and one of the most recognizable faces in the sport of women’s boxing, Mia St. John continues to succeed in the world of combat sports at the age of forty.  Having most recently knocked out Rhonda Gallegos in a mere 44 seconds during her MMA debut back in January of this year, St. John now sets her sights back to the boxing ring where she will fight undefeated Rita Figuerora next month in Mexico City.

 

Beginning Tae Kwon Do at the age of six, it was her foundation in the rough and tumble world of combat sports, but Mia didn’t gain a passion for fighting until much later in life.

 

“I got my black belt and spent many years competing, but I really didn’t fall in love with fighting until my late twenties.  As a kid, I did it because I had to….my dad made me do it, and it was just something we had to do as kids.  My dad was a big fan of the martial arts.  He thought it was something we could do and take it just as seriously as he did.  But you know, as kids that was the last thing we wanted to do.  We wanted to do other things, so I think that’s why I didn’t like it so much because I was forced into it.  I quit for some years, and in my late twenties I went back to it, and for some reason, I don’t know why, I just fell in love with the sport.”

 

On turning professional, Mia St. John was torn between boxing and kickboxing, but once she made the decision to be a boxing professional, she took her credentials straight to the top among boxing promoters.

 

“I just happened to send a resume to Don King, and everyone told me that was like sending my resume to Steven Spielberg….you don’t start at the top.  People told me you start at the bottom and work your way up.  Then he called.  He said if I turned pro in boxing, he would sign me.  So I did, we flew to Florida and signed a contract with Don King.  That’s how I started.”

 

While her business relationship with Don King was short, Mia was thankful for the opportunity.

 

“I have to be grateful he put me on the map and gave me my start, but I was only with him for a year before I ended up leaving him for Bob Arum.  When I left him for Arum, I had a goal of one day opening up for Oscar De La Hoya, and I spent the next three years opening up for De La Hoya.”  

 

Like it or not, one cannot mention the name Mia St. John without thinking about her sex appeal.  Next to Anna Kournikova in tennis, there is possibly no other woman who capitalized better on her looks in the world of sports.  

 

“I really didn’t push it in the beginning.  Bob Arum really did that because he is a very smart, savvy businessman.  When I was with Don King, I was wearing all black and no makeup.  When Arum got me, it was really a combination of both of our ideas that I go into the ring in all pink with short, little shorts and makeup.  Then Arum and Hugh Heffner got together and decided to promote me in the magazine, so that’s how the whole sex appeal thing got started.  I was labeled as the Playboy Bunny and all of that kind of stuff.  But it did a lot for my career, and it exposed women’s boxing.  Overall, it’s been a great experience.  I still work with Playboy, love them, and I’m very grateful for what they did for my career.”

 

As far as her future plans as a fighter, Mia St. John will have a busy month of June fighting twice in the span of two weeks.

 

“As a boxer, I fight next June 21st in Mexico City, and that will most likely be my last boxing fight.  I’m fighting Rita Figueroa (10 – 0 with 3 KOs).  I also do my next MMA fight seven days later in Hawaii.”

 

Addressing the difficulty of women making a living in combat sports, Mia believes there is some potential in MMA, but the better days of making money in female boxing may be a thing of the past.

 

“I can make good money in MMA.  Can other women?  I think they will be able to, but right now MMA is still in its infancy.  In terms of boxing, I was in the right place at the right time.  I’m not so sure it’s up to the women because there are so many women out there who are skilled and beautiful.  I really think it’s going to be up to the promoters to start featuring these women on their televised cards, and of course it’s up to the market….the fans.  A promoter is not going to invest his money in a woman if the fans aren’t interested, and it’s very hard to get fans interested.  A woman can turn amateur, compete in state and nationals, turn pro and even become world champion.  That’s accomplishing a lot, but if you are talking about fame and money, I’m just not sure a market exists for that anymore.”

 

Mia St. John closed our conversation with a terrific message for all athletes - women in particular - and lends a helping hand.  

 

“My best advice is to stay in school and go to college.  In addition to my website, I also have a myspace page where they can go and e-mail me.  I have a book coming out in December about my life and my workouts….staying fit, especially at forty years old.  Mothers, women in my age range, athletes, they can ask me anything.”