| Mia St. John | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Mia Rosales St. John |
| Nickname(s) | The Knockout |
| Rated at | Welterweight Light Welterweight Lightweight Super Featherweight Featherweight |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Reach | 69 in (177 cm) |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | June 24, 1967 San Francisco, California |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 59 |
| Wins | 46 |
| Wins by KO | 18 |
| Losses | 11 |
| Draws | 2 |
| No contests | 0 |
Mia Rosales St. John (born June 24, 1967) is a Mexican-American professional boxer in the Light Welterweight division. Mia is the former WIBA and WIBF Lightweight Champion.[1] She is also a model, businesswoman, and Tae Kwon Do Champion.[2]
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St. John, a Mexican-American born in San Francisco, California, her family comes from Zacatecas, Mexico. Mia attended California State University, Northridge, earning a degree in Psychology. While a student, she compiled a Tae Kwon Do record of 27-1, was awarded a black belt, and worked as a model to fund her education.[3]
She married Kristoff St. John, star of Young and the Restless, but they later divorced. They have two children, son Julian and daughter Paris.
At the age of 29, St. John decided to become a professional boxer. In her first bout on February 14, 1997, she knocked out Angelica Villain in 54 seconds of the first round and earning her the nickname "The Knockout."[4]
St. John, under contract first to Don King and then Top Rank Boxing, was featured on the undercard of Oscar De La Hoya bouts. She had 23 fights, won 22 with one draw, 3 KOs and 9 TKOs. All fights were four-rounders and most were televised gaining her national attention. St. John was crowned the "Queen of the Four-Rounders", a title she hated. St. John’s opponents were selected by Top Rank without her input.[5]
After her 20th bout, St. John was injured in a skiing accident that threatened possible amputation of one of her legs. She underwent two operations to remove a blood clot.[6]
In November 1999, St. John appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine and in an 11 page pictorial. She wanted to show that she was a feminine woman as well as an athlete. Critical of her career, the boxing press added the term "Bunny Boxer" in describing St. John.[7]
St. John did not renew her contract with Top Rank in 2001, becoming her own manager and promoter. On November 9, 2001 she lost her first fight to Rolanda Andrews with a TKO in the second round, St. John’s first contest after parting with Top Rank.[8]
St. John turned to trainers Eduardo and Roberto García to learn proper punching techniques, footwork, and defensive strategies. St. John won her next four bouts, one by TKO.[9]
On December 6, 2002 St. John fought top boxer Christy Martin. Martin had a record of 44 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws. The press laughed at the match-up and predicted St. John would be knocked out early in the bout. St. John, coming up two weight classes, lost the bout but fought toe-to-toe with Martin all ten rounds for a credible performance.[10]
On June 12, 2005 and after 47 professional bouts and 9 years, St. John was given a title bout with Liz Drew. St. John won by unanimous decision, earning the IFBA Lightweight World Title. She followed this win with a unanimous decision over Donna Biggers in August, winning the IBA Continental Lightweight Title.[11]
St. John has fought top opponents Christy Martin, Jenifer Alcorn, Jessica Rakoczy, Holly Holm, and Jelena Mrdjenovich, fighters in their prime. In these high-profile contests, her critics predicted early stoppages or that St. John would run from her opponents. Promoters, with cameras rolling, planned and expected knockouts of St. John. She proved them wrong and fought toe-to-toe for the distance with the best fighters of the time. St. John has competed in 20 states in the U.S., Canada, China, and Mexico.[12][13]
St. John’s most recent boxing match was held on April 4, 2009 in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico with Chicagoan Brooke Dierdorff. St. John and Dierdorff fought on April 20, 2007 in Merrillville, Indiana outside of Chicago where Dierdorff received a controversial hometown split decision. Controversy plagued the rematch. Dierdorff was awarded the close decision (79-77, 77-76, 77-75).[14]
As of April 2009[update], St. John’s boxing record is 45 wins (18 by KO), 10 losses, and 2 draws. She has been stopped twice, by TKO; the contest with Rolanda Andrews and by a head butt and resulting cut in her second bout with Jessica Rakoczy.[15]
On January 26, 2008 in Honolulu, Hawaii, St. John’s fighting career took yet another turn. “Returning to her roots” in the martial arts, she competed in her first mixed martial arts contest and, with a combination of kicks and punches, defeated her opponent Rhonda Gallegos with a first-round knockout. St. John expressed respect for the dedicated athletes of this fast-growing sport and may compete in future events.[16]
St. John spoke at the AAPRP (American Association of Professional Ringside Physicians) annual medical conference in Las Vegas at Ballys Hotel on October 17, 2008. St. John recommended changes to improve safety for fighters with which other boxing professionals in attendance concurred.
St. John created the non-profit foundation "El Saber Es Poder" to aid Latino schools in the U.S. St. John, accompanied by her mother Maria Rosales, visit schools to stress the importance of family, education, self-empowerment, and voting.[17]