"GOING OUT IN STYLE" By Jeff Mayweather

The stage has been set and the battlegrounds have been picked for the two most popular female fighters in the world; on August 23rd Christy Martin and Laila Ali will square off in Biloxi, Mississippi. A very intriguing fight with so many plots and subplots that the story could be made into a movie and/or television show.

There certainly is drama, it's the old versus the new. It's the one whom was a sense of inspiration the other now face off head to head to see if the torch will be passed on or stay with the older wiser more experienced veteran.

The pre-fight hype has already begun when both fighters got into a scuffle during a Press Conference scheduled to announce the signing of the fight. Christy Martin, who once served as the Poster Child for Women's Boxing goes up against the New Poster Child of Women's Boxing.

These are the two most popular women in the boxing world and both have been great inspirations to many women who have chose boxing as a way of life. Christy Martin, who stole the show on a Mike Tyson under-card showed the world that women too are worth watching, and also have skills that merit attention.

Ironically, Christy Martin is the reason why Laila Ali is a boxer today; one would also have to sense that her genetic make up played a part in that decision as well. Christy Martin took the Boxing World by storm and captivated its attention for a very long time, until there was all of a sudden a flood of famous daughters choosing to make a living as their famous fathers once did. George Foreman's daughter, Archie Moore's daughter, Roberto Duran's daughter, Ingamar Johansen's daughter, Joe Frazier's daughter and last but not least Muhammad Ali's daughter. It didn't take long to find out which daughters would survive and prove themselves worthy of stepping into their fathers shoes.

Early on Roberto Duran and Ingamar Johansen's daughters suffered their first defeats. It wouldn't be long before Freda Foreman would join them as she was so slow and methodical that is was only a matter of time, soon her fate was sealed and she walked away from the ring hopefully to never return.

Archie's daughter appears to like to train but doesn't really seem to want to fight as she bounces around from gym to gym in Las Vegas although she certainly will talk a good fight.

I was one of the critics who said that these women are just capitalizing off their dads names but soon would make a mockery of themselves and the name as well. Now we were left with Ali and Frazier. These two were also in question early on as they both built up their records by defeating stiff after stiff; sometimes the women they faced didn't even seem to have a pulse. Well, it was only a matter of time before we would have the 2nd Generation War between Ali and Frazier as the boxing world witnessed the brutal trilogy between their fathers that will forever have them linked in history. When this fight was made the world knew that these two would put all they had on the line, and that they did.

It was still hard to determine their skill level because there was so much more at stake. They both fought with all their heart and pride and it turned out to be a very entertaining fight. Laila went on to win via decision. Out of all the before mentioned daughters these two have proved that they belong. Laila has since captured three World Titles and is now being touted by most as the best Female Fighter in the World Pound for Pound. Her upcoming match with Christy Martin will only solidify her position if she emerges victorious. The scuffle that took place in Biloxi during the Press Conference has a hint of Bad Blood.

It's an intriguing fight in terms of its significance to Women's Boxing. That is where the intrigues stops. Laila Ali is almost 6 ft tall, Christy Martin is roughly 5'5 maybe 5'6. Martin has campaigned at 140 lbs while Laila has fought her entire career at 168 lbs. The only real advantage that Christy Martin has is experience and that is only in the number of fights she has on her record because she's never faced anyone as big as Laila.

Laila is younger, stronger, faster and punches way harder. I see no upside for Christy other than a nice payday and possibly a moral victory of making the distance. Let's not forget she struggled with Mia St. John who the entire Boxing World knew was nothing more than a pretty face and a novelty act even though she always fights her heart out.