CHRISTY MARTIN "OKAY" IN UNDERDOG ROLE AGAINST ALI

INSPIRED BY BRITISH OPEN CHAMPION BEN CURTIS

23.07 - For the first time in her illustrious career, Christy Martin, long considered women’s boxing most celebrated and best ‘pound-for-pound’ boxer in the world is rated a decisive underdog as she prepares to meet unbeaten Laila Ali in their pay-per-view fight on August 23 in Biloxi, Miss.

From her training camp in Orlando, Fla, Martin (45-2-2, 30 KOs) says she is “calm” and “feels no pressure” in preparing for the fight, but admits that it is strange to be a 3-1underdog in Las Vegas sports books.

"People are surprised I'm not predicting a knockout against Laila,” says Martin. “You have to understand this is a totally new position for me. Ever since I first become known as the best female fighter on the planet I've always been the favorite. Now, I'm considered a heavy underdog, which I’m okay with, but some people are saying that I have no shot at all against her. She may say she's going to knock me out within five rounds, but I'm just going to keep quiet except to say I will win the fight."

The 5’4” Martin shrugs and claims she’s fought taller and heavier opponents before and whipped them.

"Even though I'm giving away seven inches in height and possibly as many as 25 pounds, you have to remember, Roy Jones was at a similar disadvantage against John Ruiz and he surprised everyone by dominating him to win the heavyweight championship. Certainly if Roy Jones is the best male fighter "pound-for-pound," and I'm the best female fighter "pound-for-pound," than you can see the situations mirror each other."

Martin says upsets happen in sports all the time and points to the stunning British Open victory by relatively unknown Ben Curtis on Sunday.

"I want to acknowledge and congratulate Ben Curtis on winning the British Open. He pulled off the greatest upset in golf history when nobody, and I mean nobody gave him a chance. He slayed the giants of golf in Tiger Woods, Davis Love III, Sergio (Garcia) and Vijay Singh. Ben came out of a small rural town in Ohio, to shock the sports world, just like I came out of a similar small town in West Virginia.”

Martin says she would be thrilled to have Curtis come root for her in Biloxi.

“Watching him win was inspiring to Jim (husband and trainer) and me and I would love for him and his fiance to be ringside as my guests as I try to upset Laila on August 23."