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MISSES IN MITTS or THOSE HITTIN' MISSES By Patricia Gough

Woman to Woman.

Patricia Gough interviews two Champion Women boxers

WOMEN'S boxing has met rebuffs. People say it's a man's sport, women should not be involved. Television networks (so one claimed) get negative feedback from viewers if they show females trading punches. But despite the negativism, the pioneers are hoping this pursuit will be included in the Olympics 2008, and the girls are training.

Female boxing is banned in New South Wales. This accompanied a report of a coma induced by a punch. It was alleged that a West Australian girl boxer met head injury in a bout in New Zealand a year or two ago. I have not been able to locate the young lady over here around Perth for an interview; and the matter remains in doubt. But despite this ill wind, more and more Australian women are taking off their leg warmers and biting on mouthguards.

Two attractive boxer girls were talking on National Nine News recently.
Two-fisted females in Perth, WA - Erin McGowan, 23 and Claire Ghabriel, 21.
Patrick Devellerez, a trainer with medical knowledge, told me: " They are
down-to-earth, hard-working, motivated, loyal, disciplined young ladies.
They are fit and well trained to box safely."

Erin McGowan, Australian silver medalist, was born in Grafton, New South Wales. Claire Ghabriel, Australian gold medalist, was born in Melbourne, to Egyptian parents.

FIGHTER ONLINE commissioned this correspondent to interview the girls and find out about women's boxing, up close and personal.. When I made contact they were training in Canberra at the Australian Institute of Sport Boxing School, in preparation for the Oceania Games in Tonga. (Both came home Oceania Champions, Erin at lightweight by stoppage and Claire at light-welter on points). Before their international venture the girls took time out for this interview.

"Yes, our ardent desire is to represent Australia in the Boxing at the
Olympic Games, Beijing 2008. It remains to be seen if the International
Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) will recommend inclusion of women's
boxing, and whether the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will then
agree."

Why did Perth Channel Nine have you on air?

"Their line was that boxing as a sport is considered dangerous for women. At the same time there is evidence that Perth is becoming a Centre for Excellence. So they focussed on us two."

What do you girls think of the New South Wales ban on women boxers?

"Silly," said Claire Ghabriel. "New South Wales is the only state that
does not allow women to box. This is harsh on the NSW girls, as they have to cross borders for a contest. The Boxing Australia National Tournament will never go on in NSW while this holds."

"Pathetic," said Erin McGowan. "The ban is pathetic! You have to leave the
state if you want to be successful." She said Arthur Tungsten hated women boxers, "and that is why he banned it. Not a coma induced punch on a West Australian girl."
The NSW State Giovernment followed suit.

Erin's Defeat

At Adelaide on 28 March, Erin met her biggest defeat in the final: Julie
Ryan, a Queenslander, persevered and won. Reportedly Julie had boxed many contests in the United States where her father was employed. Joe Bridges rated it "a Battle Royal." Erin led copybook lefts, Julie lobbed counters over the top. At Tonga on 30 April they parted divisions, and both won titles.
What were Erin's thoughts on her Adelaide defeat?

"The Queensland girl kept putting her head down and punching me in the
back. This is illegal in amateur boxing. The referee should have
disqualified her or at least taken points off her for doing the wrong
thing. That is why I roughed her up.
" The referee was an idiot. Sometimes you come across referees who do not know what they are doing. I was more experienced than her. She did the wrong thing."

Thoughts on the Greatest

What did the girls think of Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson?

Claire: "Muhammad Ali was brilliant to watch. His foot work is
incredible. Mike Tyson, hmmm...strong and aggressive."
Erin said she "loved" Muhammad Ali - but Mike Tyson was "a pig".

Media Coverage

What kind of coverage does women's boxing get in Australia?

Very little, the girls felt. The women are only covered if they win a major event. Now that the Olympics are drawing closer some reporters are interviewing us. Coverage is getting better.

Mischa Merz in Melbourne was an Australian women's amateur welterweight champion boxer. A metropolitan journalist, she said: "Broadcasting American women's boxing, and not Australian, doesn't wash. They are discriminating against Australian Women's Boxing."

"It's just not fair that Fox Sports edits out our fights," said Holly
Ferneley. Holly is a woman boxer training at the Tony Mundine Gym in
Redfern, Sydney. "If they are not going to film, I am not going to fight,"
she said when they wanted to cut her match out of the air time on a Foxtel
cable screening.
Holly Ferneley said her battle for equality was not physical but the
emotional jab was hard to bear.
With the help of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, she challenged the
female boxing ban in the Federal Court - and failed.

"What we find with women's boxing," said Craig Dobbs, director of
programming, Fox Sports, "is that it receives negative feedback from a raft
of people. They include women, and people who don't like boxing full stop."
[The Merz, Ferneley and Dobbs quotes are from a report "A Tough Fight for Recognition" published on the Internet at smh.com.au]

Training The Ladies

Claire Ghabriel is a fitness instructor by profession. She began competing at the age of 12 in karate, continuing till 18. Then she went into Kick Boxing, then Boxing. Joe Fasio recommended Patrick Devellerez for her coach.
Devellerez is a nurse-clinician by profession but passionate about
training. Pat took Danny Green to the Olympics 2000. Erin's boyfriend is
also a fitness instructor.

What quality do you look for in your trainer?

"Ability to connect," said Claire.
"The trainer must be able to identify your strength and develop that style,"
said Erin.

On the international scene the Cubans and Russians appeared to be strong contenders in Women's Boxing, "same as in men's," Claire told me. Erin found the French team "very well looked after." The French came first with her, followed by Sweden and Russia.

What leisurewear did the girls like?

Erin liked "girly" clothes though she trained in track suits or shorts.

Claire said the occasion counts. If she went out to dinner she liked to
wear a nice dress.

There was one question the editor wanted me to put. They gave it short
shrift.
Neither of the girls was ever in a situation where she had to defend her
boy friend from a bully, or fend off a man.

Australian women champions

51 kg. Kori Farr (Qld) d Danielle McKay (Tas) rsc 2 (nosebleed)
54 kg Cyclone Casey Taylor (SA) d Kylie Dean (Tas) rsc 1. Knockout streak.
57 kg Shannon O'Connell (SA) d Karen Hill (Vic) rsc 1
60 kg Julie Ryan (Qld) wp Erin McGowan (WA) 24-20
63 kg Claire Ghabriel; (WA) wp Emma Carruthers (Qld). Close
67 kg Kim Lord (Vic) d Kristy Rootes (Tas) rsc 3
72 kg Natalie Jenkinson (Qld) d Niomi-Lee Rasmussen (WA) rsc 1
(bloodbath). Seventh straight rsc
Cadets - 57 kg Jasmin 'Elf' Ward (Qld) d Linda Fowler (SA tyro) rsc 1.
60 kg Kelly Dunn (WA) wp Melanie Daniels (Tas). Close

Oceania women champions

51 kg Kori Farr (Aust) d Tina Flores (Tahiti) rsc 2.
54 kg Casey Taylor (Aust) wp Stephanie Perry (NZ) 13-8
57 kg Julie Ryan (Aust) wp Shannon O'Connell (Aust 2) 16-6. Semi-final
Shannon wp Alexis Pritchart (NZ).
60 kg Erin McGowan (Aust) d Kelly Halling (NZ) rsc 2
63 kg Claire Ghabriel wp New Zealand. Semi: Claire wp Pate Ranatah
(Tahiti).
67 kg S b New Zealand d Kim Lord (Aust) rsc 3.
75 kg S b New Zealand wp Natalie Jenkinson (Aust), prev undefeated