Mia St John: Second Round TKO Loss

By Bernie McCoy

10.11.01 - Mia St John was involved in another mismatch tonight in San Antonio, Texas.
She stepped into the ring with yet another fighter with a losing record. St John, 22-0-1, was matched against Rolanda Andrews, a fighter who had won three of her eight bouts. While facing a fighter with a losing record was typical of St John's career, the Andrews fight represented a departure in several significant areas. Andrews was the first St John opponent who had been in against formidable oppostion. Andrews had fought and lost to Sandra Yard, Dee Dufoe and Melissa Salamone. Additionally, this was the first time St John was stepping into the ring without the watchful eye of promoter Bob Arum, the Top Rank promoter, who had carefully handpicked the long list of St John opponents .

However, the fight did result in a mismatch. The first round saw Andrews and St John engage in a "feeling out" first minute, with Andrews able to parry most of St John's awkaward, lunging punches. In the final minute of the first round, Andrews gained noticable confidence and started throwing meaningful punches. The second round began with Andrews clearly more aggressive and St John continuing to lunge after her opponent. With about a minute left in the round, Andrews connected with a right hook, from her southpaw stance, landing high on St John's temple and depositing her on her side, on the canvas. She arose, shakily, and Andrews swarmed all over the retreating St John until, backed against the ropes, St John was rescued by the referee who called a halt with :18 seconcs remaining in the round.

It is no coincidence that St John had trouble with the first fighter with boxing skills she has fought. She was clearly over-matched and lasted into the second round only, in my opinion, because Andrews was tentative in the first round given St John's record, reputation and notoriety. Once Andrews realized the quality of St John's boxing skills, it was only a matter of time until Andrews ended the bout.

In one sense it is fortunate that St John's first defeat came against a fighter such as Andrews. There had been negotiations for St John to fight Christy Martin and based on the knockout by Andrews, such a bout would have approached farcial levels. More important, St John could have been seriously hurt in a bout with the heavy handed, hard hitting Martin.

Thus, if a bout with Martin is no longer a realistic possibility, what does the future hold for St John? She has gained significant notoriety in the sport, ranking along with Martin and Lalia Ali, as the best know Women fighters. She has made a significant amount of money throughout the several years she has been fighting. It is apparent that her future does not include bouts with seasoned fighters. She could continue as before, fighting opponents with little or no boxing experience and skill, but the spectre of the knockout at the hands of Andrews would seem to temper the interest in such bouts. Another option would be to "hang up the gloves" and get on with the rest of her life. Mia St John had a nice run in the ring, made decent money and survived without serious injury. There are many Women boxers toiling in obscurity, with considerably more talent than Mia, who will never approach her in earnings. The differnce is those women are fighters. In contrast, Mia was a celebrity who fought. Mia never achieved the skill level to be labeled a fighter, she simply played one on TV