Femmefan Exclusive Interview
Jill Champion, PR Executive with the World Boxing Commission

By Ivette Ricco

Jill Diamond has traveled several career paths, and that path has led her to an unlikely place, the World Boxing Council. Jill Diamond has been selected as an honorary member of the first Women’s Championship Committee. She has also been asked to officiate at fights, to liaison with the press, and to help make boxing more appealing to women.
Boxing has as many detractors as fans, and Womens Boxing is in its infant stages of growth and development. Jill Diamond is hoping to make an impact on the sports of boxing and Womens Boxing in particular.
Femmefan is pleased to present Jill and her story for its readers.
The interview follows after the story.

Jill Diamond and Women in Boxing

“True heroism is facing the unknown daily and fighting your fears when they’re not really sure of the strength of their weapons.”
Don Chastain (1935-2002)

Don Chastain was my husband.

Three years ago, I sat in the corner chair of Don’s hospital room and fought for his life. Now I sit in the corner chair of a boxing ring and fight for mine. It’s not a professional arena, but a neighborhood gym, a place I’ve come to think of as friendly and cathartic. I’m the Unmarried Woman who became Rocky. I’m a Coney Island chick in a room full of Palookas. I’m a strong and able woman, who has journeyed from pain to punches.

My father-in-law, Clyde Chastain, whupped Maxi Rosenblum twice in non-contested fights. Clyde retired after 152 bouts, joined the Army during W.W.II, and never stepped into the ring again. He never watched another fight. He never went inside a gym. He wouldn’t speak of “it”. His past was a well-known secret, except on rare visits home when he taunted Don, his golden-haired boy soprano, by cuffing him “playfully” in a test of macho manhood

As a child, most of Don’s memories of his father were contained in a scrapbook he kept by his bedside. It burst with articles detailing Clyde’s fight career. When other children spoke of their dads, my husband took out this album and showed them his.

Later in life, my husband went on to become an actor of some significance. It was only after my father-in-law died that we discovered that he too kept a scrapbook. This one contained a meticulous chronology of his son’s acting career. I suppose on Father’s Day, when other men spoke of their sons, my father-in-law took out this album and showed them his.

Despite their relationship (or lack thereof), Don attached himself to the sport of boxing like a thirsty man to an oasis. It was his lynchpin to a fantasy past. I am still grateful to the minister grandfather who actually raised him for the soft, loving nature of this forever fatherless prodigy. Why some men wound other men with their

disregard, I’ll never know. Perhaps society forgets to teach them how important they are to their children. All I can say is that Clyde became a boxer for the same reason many people still do; an impoverished background, a starving family, a shattered home.

In truth, as much as Don loved boxing, I never cared for it. I thought it brutal and unworthy of civilized adults. I was a lifelong vegetarian who wouldn’t so much as hit a fly, let alone hit another person. It never occurred to me that someday I would find my road back to health through the legacy of a man I’d never meet and a man I somehow lost.

Many speak of the dangers of the sport, but boxing saved my life. When Don died it pulled me out of bed, got me dressed, and marched me to the gym. It wasn’t just the punching; it was the people, the music, the emotional elation, the sudden feeling of control and power. Some may call it the sweet science. For me it was the chemistry that neutralized my sadness.

It was that realization that inspired me to contact Jose Sulaiman, President of the World Boxing Council. It was a long shot, but I was determined to become a part of this community; the connective tissue to my past life and the grit of my present life.

By this time, I knew some of the women boxers training in New York and LA. I respected their athleticism, and empathized with their frustration at their lack of parity with their male counterparts. I knew first hand that whether or not a person became a professional boxer, the sport itself--the discipline, the exercise, the self-respect, the boundaries--added to a foundation of physical and mental wellness. My goal was to get that message out to others. Jose and his son Mauricio enthusiastically concurred.

Of course, there was the success of the movie Million Dollar Baby, but what did this movie teach us? That for all her sweat, work and arduous dedication, the lead character was punished with defeat and an untimely and brutal death. I’m convinced there’s another message we can send female enthusiasts. I’m hoping that the benefits for these women outweigh the risks.

Now, as a woman, whose career has spanned from music to health care, I’ve returned from the 43rd Convention of the World Boxing Council as an honorary member of the first Women’s Championship Committee. I’ve also been asked to officiate at fights, to liaison with the press, and to help make boxing more appealing to women. This is the first year that women will actually be sanctioned by the World Boxing Council and my mission—no, my passion--is to make the sport as safe and profitable for women as possible, and to ensure that someday we take a woman’s team to the Olympics.

Yes, getting hit hurts. But in my new world, you never hit a lady, unless you expect to get hit back.

Ivette:

How does someone qualify to become a boxing official, specifically a judge? I have looked for information on the criteria for boxing judges and was unable to get anything. It seems to me that one of the problem areas in boxing is the "subjective" nature of the judging and the widly varied results on the scorecards.

Jill:

There are women judges, supervisors and commissioners. When it comes to judges, one famous husband and wife team come to mind – The Castillanos, who now live and work in Las Vegas.

Judges generally have an amateur background as an official, or in some way a boxing background (former fighter, etc). There are however, a good number who have just an interest or passion for the sport. I can't speak for any jurisdiction in particular, but in many, generally people who are interested in judging boxing to take training seminars (with someone like Duane Ford or Tom Kaczmarek instructing). Assuming they complete the session and pass an exam, they may be permitted to sit near ringside during events and keep score - NOT official scoring, just to evaluate them. Should they do well there, we may use them as a "provisional judge", receiving the odd 4 round match to see how they do "under pressure".

If all goes well, we might then appoint them as a permanent judge. This whole process might take several months to several years depending on how they do and whether we are in need of additional judges. We also look at replacing officials who are not performing to our expectations.

Commissions are generally appointed. It's very important that people get the training and knowledge base they need to carry out their duties, whether it as a commissioner or an official.

One last thing is that nothing is forever, and when a referee or judge has lost his competency, he/she ought to be replaced.

Ivette:

Women in boxing have an uphill battle as do most of women's sports in America. Those who follow boxing have to get their heads wrapped around watching women hit each other, bloody each other and do what men have done for generations.

Jill:

There’s a difference between women boxing and women boxing professionally. More than ever before, women pick boxing as their choice of exercise. The media is partly responsible for the awareness that this is a terrific way to become strong and shapely. Because of that, I think that many people are becoming more comfortable with women boxing. Part of this is due to the presence of many beautiful and articulate women boxers, to the sanctioning of women’s boxing by the WBC (giving women’s boxing more validity and exposure), and to the entertainment world’s creating vehicles that center around women boxers.

Ivette:

Do you find that the average boxing fan is open to women boxing and see it as just another spectator sport? What do you hope to do to change the perceptions and stereotypes?

Jill:

As always, boxing can be a doorway for people trying to get ahead. I think some of the reasons women box may be different than those of men. Perhaps we’re a generation away from real acceptance. We’ve had no popular women role models in this sport until recently. Laila Ali may be the first one.

For those who like boxing, the difference in acceptance between men and women’s boxing may be cosmetic. Many people, even some in the field itself, are disquieted by the concept that women are, as you say “bloodied.” Women boxers themselves are less concerned, because they think of it as a part of the training and competition. The point is to be so good you don’t get hit.

Knowing that women box, I want to see opportunity and unified standard of safety. The WBC and its Medical Advisory Board, with people like DR Vicente Rodriquez and DR Paul Wallace, are trying to accomplish this. Some of the world’s best athletes are women boxers. I think we have to let people know that powerful women who choose to use their talent this way should be respected and supported.

Ivette:

Were you readily accepted into the "boxing community" and the WBC? What qualities, background or experience afforded you access to the Jose Sulaiman?

Jill:

So far, I’ve found an incredibly warm and welcoming group of people. The WBC is composed of people from all over the world, from every social and economic group, united by their love of the sport. It’s been very gratifying.

In truth, I pursued Don Jose. Based on my own experience with boxing, I felt strongly about the benefits. I wanted to see more women involved in all aspects of the sport. Jose and Mauricio Sulaiman felt the same way. Now, I work most closely with Ed Pearson, the Executive Secretary of the Female Championship Committee. He knows boxing and works diligently to keep things level. We’re in our infancy. There may be mistakes along the way, but we’re learning fast.

As for my background, I was exposed to boxing early on. As a teenager in New York, I was friends with Jack Dempsey and his family. I also knew the Marcianos. My husband was passionate about the sport. His dad was a professional boxer, as was my husband’s close friend, Buffy Strawn. In the ‘30’s, Buffy was a poor, black teenager, thrown into prison for carrying what appeared to be a nightstick. There, Buffy learned two things; boxing and sewing. In jail, he became the heavy weight champion of Altoona Prison. Outside, he was known for creating delicate leather work and beautiful hand-stitched clothing. I still have some of the beautiful jackets and bags Buffy made.

Ivette:

Can boxing clean up its act by creating one commission and merging all the different entities as suggested by Sen. McCain?

Jill:

If there’s work to be done, I think the sanctioning bodies can probably do most of it themselves. But I think guidance from an outside, objective body is always helpful as long it’s someone(s) who understands the sport, its history and the needs of the fighters and fans. This rarely happens when the government steps in. Also, boxing is international, not just a product of the United States. The standards and goals of all involved countries must be acknowledged. In no other industry would you appoint someone to "run the show" when that person has no or limited experience or exposure to that industry. I believe it’s better done from within. I respect Senator McCain, but I’m not sure what he suggests would do the job.

*Opinions expressed are the opinions of Jill Diamond, not of the WBC.

Femmefan thanks Jill Diamond for taking the time to speak candidly about boxing with us. For more information on Womens Boxing please check their site, www.wbcboxing.com.

 

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