By James Blears
Mia St John- the most glamorous star of womens boxing is poised to retire.
Mia, who's record is 44-9-2 with 18 KOs, started her ring career on February 14th 1997. Saturday night she's fighting rugged Colombian Dary Pardo, in the Mexican vacation resort of Cozumel.
Mia who's never run from a ring challenge, and has swopped punches with toughies like Christy Martin, Jennifer Alcorn, Jessica Rakoczy and Holly Holm said: "I'm already there. It's already been one fight too many. I need to retire after this fight, or after I fight in Zacatecas. That will be my last fight. The end is almost here. It'll take a lot of convincing from my team to persuade me never enter the ring again. Someone must convince me!"
But when Mia does take off the gloves, she won't stay directly connected with boxing. She stressed: "This sport has done so much for me. It's enabled me to establish a charity for children (El saber es poder-to help schools). But to stay in a business like this, requires a heart of stone. I have my endorsements with my fitness equipment, my fitness workouts, my dvds and my books.
"I have a book called The knockout body plan coming out in April. It's all about lifestyle. I'm a business woman. I'm always going to make money. You'll always see me in the spotlight."
Mia who gained fame for her Playboy photo shoot, has kept her distinctive good looks in spite of some hard ring buffets from some of the toughest women on the planet. She recalls with a rueful grin and a slight shudder, that her toughest fight of all was against Lightweight Champ Jessica Rakoczy. Mia said: "I fought her twice, and I think it was the only time in my career that I was actually in fear for my life. I wasn't sure if I was going to make it our of the ring alive. I fortunately did...but it was truely terrifying!"