Mia St. John
Encyclopedia
Mia Rosales St. John is a Mexican-American professional boxer
in the Light Welterweight
division. Mia is the former WIBA
and WIBF
Lightweight
Champion. She is also a model
, businesswoman, and Tae Kwon Do Champion.
, her family comes from Zacatecas
, Mexico
. Mia attended California State University, Northridge
, earning a degree in Psychology. While a student, she compiled a Tae Kwon Do record of 27-1, was awarded a black belt, and worked as a model to fund her education.
She married Kristoff St. John
, star of Young and the Restless
, but they later divorced. They have two children, son Julian and daughter Paris.
St. John, under contract first to Don King and then Top Rank Boxing, was featured on the undercard of Oscar De La Hoya
bouts. She had 23 fights, won 22 with one draw, 3 KOs and 9 TKOs. All fights were four-rounders and most were televised gaining her national attention. St. John was crowned the "Queen of the Four-Rounders", a title she hated. St. John’s opponents were selected by Top Rank without her input.
After her 20th bout, St. John was injured in a skiing accident that threatened possible amputation of one of her legs. She underwent two operations to remove a blood clot.
In November 1999, St. John appeared on the cover of Playboy
magazine and in an 11 page pictorial. She wanted to show that she was a feminine woman as well as an athlete. Critical of her career, the boxing press added the term "Bunny Boxer" in describing St. John.
St. John did not renew her contract with Top Rank in 2001, becoming her own manager and promoter. On November 9, 2001 she lost her first fight to Rolanda Andrews with a TKO in the second round, St. John’s first contest after parting with Top Rank.
and Roberto García
to learn proper punching techniques, footwork, and defensive strategies. St. John won her next four bouts, one by TKO.
On December 6, 2002 St. John fought top boxer Christy Martin. Martin had a record of 44 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws. The press laughed at the match-up and predicted St. John would be knocked out early in the bout. St. John, coming up two weight classes, lost the bout but fought toe-to-toe with Martin all ten rounds for a credible performance.
St. John has fought top opponents Christy Martin, Jenifer Alcorn
, Jessica Rakoczy
, Holly Holm
, and Jelena Mrdjenovich, fighters in their prime. In these high-profile contests, her critics predicted early stoppages or that St. John would run from her opponents. Promoters, with cameras rolling, planned and expected knockouts of St. John. She proved them wrong and fought toe-to-toe for the distance with the best fighters of the time. St. John has competed in 20 states in the U.S., Canada, China, and Mexico.
St. John’s most recent boxing match was held on April 4, 2009 in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico
with Chicagoan Brooke Dierdorff. St. John and Dierdorff fought on April 20, 2007 in Merrillville, Indiana outside of Chicago where Dierdorff received a controversial hometown split decision. Controversy plagued the rematch. Dierdorff was awarded the close decision (79-77, 77-76, 77-75).
, St. John’s boxing record is 45 wins (18 by KO), 10 losses, and 2 draws. She has been stopped twice, by TKO; the contest with Rolanda Andrews and by a head butt and resulting cut in her second bout with Jessica Rakoczy
.
St. John created the non-profit foundation "El Saber Es Poder" to aid Latino schools in the U.S. St. John, accompanied by her mother Maria Rosales, visit schools to stress the importance of family, education, self-empowerment, and voting.
Women's boxing
Women's boxing first appeared in the Olympic Games at a demonstration bout in 1902. For most of the 20th century, however, it was banned in most nations. Its revival was pioneered by the Swedish Amateur Boxing Association, which sanctioned events for women in 1988. The British Amateur Boxing...
in the Light Welterweight
Light welterweight
-Professional boxing:The light welterweight class is a weight division in professional boxing that has a limit of 63.5 kg or 140 pounds...
division. Mia is the former WIBA
Women's International Boxing Association
The Women's International Boxing Association a sanctioning body for women's professional boxing came into existence in July 2000, and quickly grew into a major force in the sport....
and WIBF
Women's International Boxing Federation
The WIBF is, along with the WIBA, IWBF and others, one of the more recognized world championship fight sanctioning organizations in women's boxing. The organization is based in Miami, Florida, and is not associated with male boxing's IBF.The WIBF was formed in the middle 1990s. It is presided by...
Lightweight
Lightweight
Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
Champion. She is also a model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
, businesswoman, and Tae Kwon Do Champion.
Early life
St. John, a Mexican-American born in San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, her family comes from Zacatecas
Zacatecas
Zacatecas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Zacatecas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 58 municipalities and its capital city is Zacatecas....
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Mia attended California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge is a public university in Northridge, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California, United States....
, earning a degree in Psychology. While a student, she compiled a Tae Kwon Do record of 27-1, was awarded a black belt, and worked as a model to fund her education.
She married Kristoff St. John
Kristoff St. John
Kristoff St. John is an American actor, best known for his role as Neil Winters on the daytime US drama The Young and the Restless.-Career:...
, star of Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show is set in a fictional Wisconsin town called Genoa City, which is unlike and unrelated to the real life village of the same name, Genoa City, Wisconsin...
, but they later divorced. They have two children, son Julian and daughter Paris.
Professional boxing career
At the age of 29, St. John decided to become a professional boxer. In her first bout on February 14, 1997, she knocked out Angelica Villain in 54 seconds of the first round and earning her the nickname "The Knockout."St. John, under contract first to Don King and then Top Rank Boxing, was featured on the undercard of Oscar De La Hoya
Oscar de la Hoya
Oscar De La Hoya is a retired American boxer of Mexican descent. Nicknamed "The Golden Boy", De La Hoya won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games shortly after graduating from Garfield High School. De La Hoya comes from a boxing family. His grandfather Vicente, father Joel Sr., and brother...
bouts. She had 23 fights, won 22 with one draw, 3 KOs and 9 TKOs. All fights were four-rounders and most were televised gaining her national attention. St. John was crowned the "Queen of the Four-Rounders", a title she hated. St. John’s opponents were selected by Top Rank without her input.
After her 20th bout, St. John was injured in a skiing accident that threatened possible amputation of one of her legs. She underwent two operations to remove a blood clot.
In November 1999, St. John appeared on the cover of Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
magazine and in an 11 page pictorial. She wanted to show that she was a feminine woman as well as an athlete. Critical of her career, the boxing press added the term "Bunny Boxer" in describing St. John.
St. John did not renew her contract with Top Rank in 2001, becoming her own manager and promoter. On November 9, 2001 she lost her first fight to Rolanda Andrews with a TKO in the second round, St. John’s first contest after parting with Top Rank.
Eduardo & Roberto García
St. John turned to trainers EduardoEduardo Garcia
Eduardo García is a Mexican trainer in the sport of boxing. García is considered one of the best trainers in the history of Mexican boxing.-Training career:...
and Roberto García
Roberto Garcia Cortez
Roberto García Cortez, , is a retired Mexican-American professional boxer in the Lightweight division and is currently considered one of the best trainers in boxing. He is also the former IBF Super Featherweight Champion and was trained by his father Eduardo Garcia at the popular La Colonia Youth...
to learn proper punching techniques, footwork, and defensive strategies. St. John won her next four bouts, one by TKO.
On December 6, 2002 St. John fought top boxer Christy Martin. Martin had a record of 44 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws. The press laughed at the match-up and predicted St. John would be knocked out early in the bout. St. John, coming up two weight classes, lost the bout but fought toe-to-toe with Martin all ten rounds for a credible performance.
IFBA Lightweight Championship
On June 12, 2005 and after 47 professional bouts and 9 years, St. John was given a title bout with Liz Drew. St. John won by unanimous decision, earning the IFBA Lightweight World Title. She followed this win with a unanimous decision over Donna Biggers in August, winning the IBA Continental Lightweight Title.St. John has fought top opponents Christy Martin, Jenifer Alcorn
Jenifer Alcorn
Jenifer Lynn "All-American" Alcorn is a retired, undefeated WIBA, IWBF, and IBA World Champion female professional boxer. Alcorn was one of the hardest working and hardest punching fighters in women's boxing....
, Jessica Rakoczy
Jessica Rakoczy
Jessica Rakoczy is a professional boxer and professional mixed martial arts fighter from Hamilton, Ontario. She is as a 3 time WIBA World Champion and NABAW Light Weight Champ.-MMA record:- Championships :...
, Holly Holm
Holly Holm
Holly Holm is a female boxer, mixed martial artist, and former kickboxer currently contracted under Fresquez Productions promoted by Lenny Fresquez.-Biography:...
, and Jelena Mrdjenovich, fighters in their prime. In these high-profile contests, her critics predicted early stoppages or that St. John would run from her opponents. Promoters, with cameras rolling, planned and expected knockouts of St. John. She proved them wrong and fought toe-to-toe for the distance with the best fighters of the time. St. John has competed in 20 states in the U.S., Canada, China, and Mexico.
St. John’s most recent boxing match was held on April 4, 2009 in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
with Chicagoan Brooke Dierdorff. St. John and Dierdorff fought on April 20, 2007 in Merrillville, Indiana outside of Chicago where Dierdorff received a controversial hometown split decision. Controversy plagued the rematch. Dierdorff was awarded the close decision (79-77, 77-76, 77-75).
, St. John’s boxing record is 45 wins (18 by KO), 10 losses, and 2 draws. She has been stopped twice, by TKO; the contest with Rolanda Andrews and by a head butt and resulting cut in her second bout with Jessica Rakoczy
Jessica Rakoczy
Jessica Rakoczy is a professional boxer and professional mixed martial arts fighter from Hamilton, Ontario. She is as a 3 time WIBA World Champion and NABAW Light Weight Champ.-MMA record:- Championships :...
.
MMA career
On January 26, 2008 in Honolulu, Hawaii, St. John’s fighting career took yet another turn. “Returning to her roots” in the martial arts, she competed in her first mixed martial arts contest and, with a combination of kicks and punches, defeated her opponent Rhonda Gallegos with a first-round knockout. St. John expressed respect for the dedicated athletes of this fast-growing sport and may compete in future events.Charity work
St. John spoke at the AAPRP (American Association of Professional Ringside Physicians) annual medical conference in Las Vegas at Ballys Hotel on October 17, 2008. St. John recommended changes to improve safety for fighters with which other boxing professionals in attendance concurred.St. John created the non-profit foundation "El Saber Es Poder" to aid Latino schools in the U.S. St. John, accompanied by her mother Maria Rosales, visit schools to stress the importance of family, education, self-empowerment, and voting.