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11/23/2004 Archived Entry: "HARDING MAY PUT BOXING CAREER ON ICE"
HARDING MAY PUT BOXING CAREER ON ICE
Former skating champ parts company with manager Paul Brown
By KERRY EGGERS
The Portland Tribune, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 04
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Tonya Harding sees autograph signings, meet-and-greet parties and a return to figure skating in her immediate future.
But probably not boxing. And definitely not Paul Brown.
Brown, her trainer and manager for more than a year, has parted company with the former Olympic skater, who appears to have given up on a boxing career she began in February 2003. In six professional fights, beginning at 118 pounds and ending at 135, Harding owns a 3-3 record.
“It’s always a possibility,” says Harding, 34, of future boxing events. “I do know I’m going to start skating again. I love skating. I love teaching kids. I would be open to skating in shows and (pro) competitions.”
Harding’s boxing career took a dive when she lost a June bout to Amy Johnson in Edmonton, Alberta. Had Harding won that fight, a letter of agreement had been signed that could have produced a $1 million payday for a fight with Croatian Jelena Mrdjenovich. Harding lost by disputed knockout; the Harding camp says Johnson was allowed too much time to get up and recover on a knockdown by Harding.
Since then, Brown says, her dedication to training for boxing has been less than ideal. He says the 5-1 Harding has gained “probably 35 pounds” since the Johnson fight.
“I’ve been around boxing most of my life, and I know how fighters are,” says Brown, 45. “They don’t want to train, make excuses not to come to the gym. I didn’t think it would be that way (with Harding), but it’s the same way all around, male or female.
“I think she’s figured out just how hard boxing really is. This is a sport you can’t con.”
Brown says it also has been hard to find opponents with whom Harding could be competitive. “I gotta keep checking these cemeteries,” cracks Brown, who ran a funeral home for many years. “The Paula Jones celebrity boxing, ‘The Man Show’ — those were good gigs for Tonya. But in real fighting, that’s a different game. It was tough for her, because she has been fighting girls who are much taller and have a reach advantage.”
Brown was working to arrange a January fight for Harding at the Portland Convention Center during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, which take place Jan. 9 through Jan. 16 at the Rose Garden. Brown figured Harding could take advantage of the global media that would be in the city for promotional purposes.
That turned off Harding, suspended for life from amateur skating for her role in the Nancy Kerrigan affair in 1994.
“I couldn’t believe he would do that,” she says. “That would be a low blow to the skaters. I had told Paul all along, no way I am going to do that; maybe the week after (the championships). Then he opens his mouth and blabs it up. I don’t care how much money is offered, I wouldn’t do that.”
Brown says he was only looking out for Harding’s financial interests. “Boxing was an outlet where Tonya was going to get paid more money than Laila Ali or Christy Martin,” he says. “Based on her notoriety, she could have made more than $10 million for one pay-per-view fight. She’s going to let her biggest opportunity slip by.”
Replies: 2 Comments on this article
Tonya should stay in boxing. She needs better training and promotional management. She is a hot commodity, and basically the hottest looking fighter since Mia St. John. She is the attraction that womens' boxing needs.
Posted by joe @ 11/29/2004 10:07 AM EST
Please don't tease me! Is she really gone? Halleluja!!!!
Posted by Molly @ 11/23/2004 06:09 PM EST
