Hollie “Hotstuff” Dunaway. “When I put on boxing gloves, I become terrible”:

“Mediamax  Sport” continues to represent “Sports beauty of the week” series.

Women's boxing first appeared in the Olympic Games during London Olympics, 2 years ago. The fact that the attitude towards this sports is not somehow non acceptable, is a fact. Thought stereotypes exist,  that women involved in this sports, are not feminine,  this interview will prove the opposite.

Hollie “Hotstuff” Dunavay. 4 time world champion, who had more then  30 professional fights. These fights were organized in 5 different countries. This ring queen continues to shine today and she doesn’t even think about leaving ring.  She also develops her  modeling  career, and her  beautiful photo shoots decorate the covers of many famous magazines.

- “Women must not become pro boxers”. This attitude was common for everyone for a long period.



- I grew up in such society. I was raised in a farm  and was not allowed to play any sports while growing up. Boxing was the first sport that I have tried and I never regret for that decision. Shortly after turning 18, I began to train seriously. I had always wanted to compete in sports and that was the time to make my dreams come true. Boxing was addictive, I stayed in the gym 7 days a week and never thought I could try anything else.

-Who was your toughest opponent?

- Regina Halmich would definitely be my toughest opponent. The  fight was one of the earliest in my career and was overmatched by Regina's experience. I had been fighting less than 2 years and she hadn't lost any match over the last ten years. I boxed her in the first couple of rounds but hardly  survived in the last 8 rounds.

-What’s your best memory connected with ring?

-Winning a couple of my world titles in Budapest, Hungary was a moment that cannot be forgotten. I felt like I was on top of the world.

-How do your friends and family react to your ring career?

-Surprisingly, everyone in my life supports my ring career and believe in everything I do. Of course, my parents were a bit disappointed the day when I said "Forget those college plans, I'm a pro boxer now and I'm going to become a champion one day."

- How do you prepare yourself mentally and physically in the days before you fight?



- I don't have active social life for 6-8 weeks before a fight. I split my training into 3 times a day so it forces me to focus on camp.

-What is your main aim as a boxer?

- Even now, after a decade of being professional boxer, I still strive to be the best. I'm still eager to learn and I see the female pro boxing gains popularity, which is really encouraging and inspiring.

-How well is women’s pro boxing developed in USA?

-In USA as in every other field, boxing gives you lots of opportunities too. But I must also notice, that  my country has failed to really grasp women's boxing due to major television networks never  broadcast worthy, attractive, title fights of female boxers.

-What’s the regime of Holly Dunaway?

-I fight in 4 weight divisions, so the food must be good and contain high-energy.

I do not reduce my weight. Training consists of roadwork, rotating between sprints & distance. I don't lift weights but do plyometric type exercises using my own body weight artificially, I just do some helathy exercises. . I listen to hip hop, rock or rap music during workouts. Anything upbeat that gets my adrenaline pumping.



 -Worst injury you’ve got in the ring.

-Not any. I am a fortunate girl.  The only injuries I've received in the ring are a couple of gashes near my eyebrow caused by accidental head butts. But I injuried others lots of times. Iremember the fight against Dee Hamaguchi, in St Louis, USA. I knocked her down and bloodied her face… She couldn't answer the bell in later rounds.

- What are your strong sides while being inside ring?

- My specialities are my hand-speed, tricky footwork & defense. I'm very calm tempered but when I put on boxing gloves, my whole demeanor changes and I become  terrible.

- Is boxing a way for you to release your inner aggression?

- Sure, and yes, you need to release your inner aggression from time to time.  You see, we have found one more boxing priviliage.

- What goes through your head when you’re boxing?

- I have fun when I'm boxing. I am constantly thinking of making my opponent miss, then pay. Boxing is like a chess match, I am good at  chess and know how I'm kicking her ass.

- Do you feel offended about stereotypes people have of you as a woman boxer?



- Sure. A couple of common mis-conceptions about woman boxers are that we are abusive to our boyfriend or we can be very explosive and will be involved in a fight anytime. It’s a lie.

- Tell us something funny from inside the ring moments.

- Usually in the dressing rooms at the arena back stage, everyone is getting into fight mode, so seeing me glove up and working mitts usually brings a lot of goggles, but, then they go back to work. (laughing)

- Hollie, you are also a model and have done lots of photo shoots for different journals.

- I've done mostly bikini modeling for magazines  and online media, but I did pose nude for Penthouse Magazine. I wanted to prove that strong women can also be feminine.



- Men or women are more aggressive?  

- These days, women are as aggressive as men. Especially in the ring due to the short 2 minute rounds in women's boxing so we are forced to waste less time in the ring and be more aggressive than men.

- Have you ever used your boxing know-how to defend yourself outside of the ring?

- Fortunately, I've never had to fight or defend myself outside the ring. But having the confidence that I could defend myself in nearly any situation, is priceless. I am a pretty agreeable personality and firstly try to understand people and not hit them.

- Why did you chose the ring name "HotStuff"?

- My first trainer named me "HotStuff". I like that because it's a feminine ringname and I believe women in this sport should try to set themselves apart by showing their femininity. I've grown comfortable with the name and wear it proudly.



- Everyone knows that  ring girls exist during the men fights.  When females box, do you think there should be “ring boys” between rounds?  

- Yes! but the roundcard men should be sexy. (laughing)

- Athletes, who inspire you.

- One of my favorites would be Roy Jones Jr. I think my fight style resembles Roy Jones Jr. Even though Roy worked at my opponent's corner against me in my last fight, grrr! Can't forget Emmanuel Agustus. He dances as he fights, frustrating his opponents.

Women are becoming more skilled boxers over the years due to fighting tough competition regularly so there are so many females I admire. I've been a long- time fan of Layla McCarter.

-Any Armenian athletes you know?

- There are many good Armenian pro boxers. Suzi Kentikian is an established Armenian champion that I would love to fight one day!

-Holley, we would like to hear your advice to those girls, who are eager to try themselves in professional  boxing.

-Fight often and if you did not get into the sport for money, don't make it top priority by pricing yourself out of fights. Believe in yourself and take chances. Special thanks to “Mediamax Sport” for  your support to women’s boxing.

Hollie Dunaway was interviewed by Narine Daneghyan