LADIES NIGHT IN BILOXI By Jeff Mayweather

Ladies Night won't have any free drinks or free admission, but someone might end up drunk and certainly waking up with a severe hangover via right hand or left hook; let me not leave out the possibility of a vicious uppercut.

One of the biggest fights in the history of female boxing will take place on August 23rd, when Laila Ali faces off against Christy Martin for Ali's 3 World Title Belts, but what is really at stake here is bragging rights to the claim of best Female Fighter in the world.

Christy Martin put female boxing on the map; Laila Ali has taken the torch and has not looked back, becoming the poster child for Women's Boxing in the process. Christy Martin was once held in the most prominent position in the sport, even gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated. Since that day -which now seems so many years ago- Martin has done little to impress in the same fashion as when she stole the show on a Mike Tyson undercard.

Women's boxing was catapulted into the spotlight as it became a part of ESPN's weekly Broadcast from time to time and other faces became more familiar to the boxing public. There was once talk of Lucia Rijker and Christy Martin, with several names now added to the notoriety list... Anne Wolfe, Vonda Ward, Jackie Frazier, Laura Serrano, Melinda Cooper, Elena Reid, Jennifer Alcorn, Mia St. John and most publicized Laila Ali.

I know Ms. Ali very well and consider her a close friend. I also had a hand in getting her prepared for this fight with Christy Martin. Laila is a very strong woman who carries a very strong right hand that would present a problem for any woman, including Christy Martin. Actually, even more so for her because Christy Martin has never been hit by a woman the size of Laila with small gloves and no head gear. Christy has a very big hill to climb; Laila is younger, stronger, just as fast and throws as many punches as Martin.

I don't want to appear biased in my writing of this story, but even if I never met Laila Ali or sparred with her it would be extremely hard for me to pick Martin to defeat her. Christy's performance against Mia St. John solidified any reasonable doubt for me. Mia was just a pretty face, never really all that talented, she was a Novelty Act that would be exposed once the veil of protection was lifted. I still commend her because she did fight with all her heart. The fight with Martin was supposed to be an execution that ended up being a very competitive match, which had Christy Martin doubting her own ability as she at one time in the fight said to her cornerman... "Look me in the eye and be honest with me, am I losing this fight?"

Mia's stock went up after that fight, Martin's plummeted. Christy Martin chances of beating Laila Ali are slim and none; just finishing on her feet through the final bell would be a major accomplishment in my eyes. I can't see this fight going beyond six rounds but wouldn't be surprised if it ended even earlier.