(FEB 15) At the end
of 2003, Valanna "Dynamite" McGee was
WBAN's Pick
for the "Best Kept Secret" female boxer of the year....She was SUCH a
"secret" that WBAN did not even have a photo of her! BUT....that did not
keep boxing fans from talking about this new up-and-coming professional
boxer on the scene who was quickly making a name for herself...I got an
opportunity to interview McGee to find out just WHO this boxer really was!
Bill W: WBAN said that you were the best kept secret in 2003. Who is
Valanna McGee?
McGee:
I was surprised when I saw my name as best kept secret. I didn’t know anyone
know my name. I was born November 21, 1980, I am 5’6, I prefer to fight at
126 but I do fight higher when I have to. I am originally from Redding Ca; I
now live in Sacramento Ca with my Fiancé Cory (Who also boxes) and my 2 year
old daughter Chayla. We moved to Sacramento in February of 2003 to further
my boxing career a year after my first professional fight against Eliza
Olsen.
In
Redding the city that I am from there is no boxing trainers, There are
boxing gyms but no “real training” so I never thought I would have the
chance to be a professional boxer.
So when I got the opportunity to have a professional fight,
I didn’t care who it was against----I just wanted to do it. I just wanted to
be able to say that I fought Professional. My first professional fight was
against t Eliza Olsen. I now know that taking that fight was not a good
choice I had just had a baby 6 months before that fight I weighted 145
pounds and I was extremely out of shape. Even though I lost that fight that
night I decided I was going to continue my boxing career and take it
seriously. So a year later me and my fiancé and my daughter moved to
Sacramento for me to train with Nasser Niaveroni, Who is also my manager.
I am
glad that I moved to Sacramento, Nasser has turned me into that boxer that I
always new that I could be and I know I still have a lot more learning to
do.
Bill W: Did you box in the amateurs? Did you fight anyone in the amateurs
who is pro now...a name we might recognize?
McGee:
I fought as an amateur over a course of 2 years from age 17 – 19. I had a
record of 6-1 my one loss to Myra Trevino who is now professional, in that
fight I learned a bout hometown decisions. Other names that might sound
familiar are Jamie Barron Who at the time was ranked #2 and Gail Webb.
Bill W: Tell us about the fight with Kel-C. Do you think that you won the
fight or was the judges decision a good one?
McGee: The
Jefferies fight let me start my saying I took that fight on 3 days notice.
But I did not lose that fight, I will admit that I did get a little tired as
the rounds went on but me my coach and a whole lot of other people that came
up to me after the fight felt that I won that fight. People were coming up
to me saying that they were there to support Kelsey but I was robbed. A few
people got my Email address to let me know they were impressed with my
boxing skills and that I won that fight. The reason I throw out that I
took the fight on 3 days notice is because when/or if I get the rematch we
have been trying for I will have much more time to prepare Kelsey doesn’t
stand a chance.
Bill W: Got any fights coming up?
I
don’t have a date set yet but we are working on getting a fight soon. And in
March, I hopefully will be on a card at the Arco Arena in Sacramento.
Bill W: The WIBA has you ranked at #13 and Dee Williams computer rankings
have you at 5th. Let me throw a few names at you that are also ranked in
your division...give me your take on them. Jo Jo Wyman, Kristy Follmar,
Rolanda Andrews, Keli Cofer…..
McGee: I
have read about all of those women and I am sure that they are very tough
and have good skills but I believe in my heart that there is no female can
beat me all I need is more experience. I have learned so much in the past
year thanks to my coach Nasser, and with a few more fights I will be ready
for anyone.
A Few words from WBAN:
McGee's Biography will be posted soon. WBAN received permission from
McGee's mother to use the above shown ©photo
of McGee.
