Name:  Roxy Richardson

Fight Name (how does the fight world know you)? 

Roxy Balboa

How did you get your name?

A girl from the Muay Thai Academy (in North Hollywood) who announced at the smoker fights would always call me that when I fought, so  it just stuck. I am also told that I have a tough chin, and although I try to avoid it, I can take punishment and keep coming hard, like Rocky.

What got you into martial arts?

I was 24 years old and an old boyfriend of mine was into Muay Thai, he trained me a little and I instantly loved it, but it wasn’t until I moved to Los Angeles, the martial arts Mecca that I took it more seriously. I joined a Muay Thai gym as soon as I moved to LA and trained almost every day. 6 months later I was fighting.

What styles do you train in?

Muay Thai (for 6 years now), and Combat submission wrestling with Josh Barnett at CSW.

What is your typical daily training routine?

My day either consists of two 90-120 minute fight training sessions that include grappling, wrestling, Muay Thai, shoot boxing, technique drills, pad work, sparring, etc. It varies greatly, whatever the team or my coach tells me to do I do.

Or I do strength and conditioning, which includes circuit training, Olympic weight lifting, kettle bells, sprints and plyometrics. Depending on where I am in my fight training progression I will just do one session on those days, or do a second session of bag drills or a light run. Saturdays are a free day. I choose what I want to do depending on my mood: sparring, spin class, weight lifting or hills sprints are some of my favorites on Saturdays. Sundays are always off.

What is your current record?

My complete amateur record is currently 9-5-2 (5 wins by KO)

I plan on going pro into MMA by spring 2009!

What is your occupation?

I am a personal fitness trainer and Muay Thai instructor.

Being that you train people as well as teach them how to live right and eat right is there extra pressure you feel you put on yourself prior to a fight?

Perhaps, but I can’t know what other people’s pressure feels like. I know that I just want to perform to the best of my ability. I know what that is and so I put a healthy amount of pressure on myself to live up to that ability – that’s what drives me further. My students are just happy to see me out there doing my thing. I fight for me and my own personal gratification and sense of accomplishment.

What do you think sets you apart from other fighters?

I have a unique personal style. Whether it’s my tattoos, my “bad-girl” looks, my buoyant personality, or my constant driving energy for my work and my training, people tend to remember me. Plus I can knock girls out. I’ve proven that. And a girl with powerful hands always gets noticed.

What would you say your most memorable moment has been since you got involved in martial arts?

What was most memorable to me is not what is most memorable for my fans… When I flew to Canada to fight Sandra Bastian who has been ranked 3^rd in the world in her weight class I was coming off a hiatus of over a year. It was the first fight I’ve had with elbows and knees to the head and I heard this girl was super strong and had many KO’s under her belt. I was anxious and ring rusty and I knew I was expected to loose the fight. It was the hardest personal challenge I have had ever, mentally more than physically. The fight went four rounds and although I lost the decision to a top-notch home town girl, I felt I did well and more importantly I had fun. I was awarded best visiting fighter of the night and fight of the night. The Canadian fans loved it and I was smiling from ear to ear when I stepped down form the ring.

What are your long term goals for this sport?

I want to turn pro this coming year and continue to fight in both Muay Thai and MMA. I want to support myself as a fighter and continue to teach and run a personal training business. Developing RoxyFit into a national personal training business is a long term goal of mine after my fight career.

You have a fight coming up on November 22^nd; can you give me some more information on this fight and what you are doing to prepare for it?

The fight is at the Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood, CA at 8pm. Dennis Warner is the promoter. He is the top Muay Thai promoter on the west coast. I am defending my US IAMTF Women’s lightweight belt against Kristin Shepard from Brian Doppler’s gym. This fight is a rematch from a draw that we had in early September.

I’ve been training very hard with my coach Josh Barnett, Jaime Fletcher and Erik Paulson’s CSW team in Fullerton, CA. I also train with Chad “Savage” George and Ed Wedding at PKG in Culver City. I travel an hour each way to CSW 3 times a week to train. It’s worth it to me to be with a world class trainer like Josh Barnett and a big team of pro fighters. They are like a big family to me.

My strength coach is Kris Germain. I work with Kris twice a week at Kor Health and Fitness in Hollywood, where I also train my personal clients. He is amazing at motivating me and making me stronger and more explosive.

If we were to have a day in the glimpse of Roxy what would be one thing that would surprise your fans?

I’m full of surprises once you get to know me. I may have tattoos, listen to rock and love to fight, but there’s a softer, more creative side to me. I just prefer to save that for my close friends…

I guess my fans would be surprised to know that I eat chocolate and ice cream often. I believe in everything in moderation, even moderation. ;)

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Sure!  If you are interested in training with me please visit www.roxyfit.com for more info.

Also I’d like to thank my sponsors: Toe 2 Toe www.toe2toe.tv and Revgear www.revgear.com