By Dean Parr

'Hotstuff' Hollie Dunaway (22-8-1 10KOs) is one of the most successful female boxers of recent times.  She's a four-time world champion, and has held belts at both minimumweight and flyweight.  She caught up with BoxingScene.com to discuss her next fight, future plans, and more.

Unbelievably, Dunaway has achieved all she has without any amateur experience whatsoever.  On whether this hindered her pro career, Hollie admitted.  “Yes, it did affect me, but only early in my career.  I lost three times the first year I boxed, and to opponents I would have beaten easily if I had some amateur experience.  Even though I went back and avenged the losses in rematches, those marks will forever be on my professional record, and unfortunately, I will always have to explain them.”

In spite of this, as mentioned earlier, Dunaway has gone on to do great things, although one win in particular stands out in her mind.  “Maybe beating Krisztina Belinszky in Hungary was my sweetest victory to date,” Dunaway revealed. 

“One American after another was going to Hungary only to come back with a defeat at the hands of Belinszky, so when I travelled there and took her two world titles, I felt like I was on top of the women's boxing world.”

Dunaway also told of how much women's boxing has evolved in recent times.  “I think it has definitely changed over the years,” she commented.  “Women are finally approved to fight in the Olympics, and that's proof women are becoming more accepted in the sport of boxing.  I've seen my career go from always fighting on the undercard of Joe Blow, to having all the men fight on my undercard!”

In her last outing, Duanaway defeated Mayela Perez (then 8-10-1) via unanimous decision.  On this fight, she said: “I was pleased with my last performance.  I had a ‘little Margarito’ in front of me, throwing lots of punches and applying constant pressure which forced me to keep my hands busy and fight smart.”

Despite a long, seven year career, Hollie also thinks she's still got a whole lot left in the tank.  When asked if we have yet to see the best of Hollie Dunaway, she replied, “Absolutely!  After 7 years, I still have my hunger to learn and push myself to my limits.  I realise that I will never know it all, and if I think I do, I need to go back to the basics.”

“Retirement has crossed my mind though; and weighed heavily on it, especially after losing an unfair decision,” Dunaway continued.  “I've won four world titles, but if politics didn't outweigh what goes on in the ring, I would be a 9 time world champion. 

“For a title fight, you give up months of your life to dedicate to training camp, then to go out and beat a champion nearly every round in their hometown or country and have the beaten fighter's hand raised at the end, nothing is more crushing.  I just have to focus on all the wins instead of feeling like a victim, since there is nothing that can be done about it.  Even with proof.

“At least I can watch those fights with my friends and family and be proud, unlike my opponent, who still undeservingly holds that belt but cannot let anyone see the fight tape cause they don't want anyone to see what really happened.  Like I said, focus on the positive.”

Hollie's next fight will be on 28th January in Oklahoma.  On that, Dunaway had this to say.  “I'm fighting on ‘Oklahoma City Charity Fight Night’, which will be hosted by Buster Douglas.  My opponent is Chantel Cordova (7-0-1).  Training camp is going perfect so far with no setbacks.”

As to if there's anyone in particular she would like to fight after this, Dunaway quite simply declared: “I would like to rematch Carina Moreno; only on neutral territory.”

To finish, Hollie wanted to put this out there.  “First and foremost, I want to thank my team.  Thank you to everyone that has helped me and looked out for me in my seven year fight career and last but not least, I want to thank BoxingScene for letting me tell it like it is.”