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Interview with
WBC Jelena Mrdjenovich
September 23, 2007

I just want to say that I had a great time doing this interview with not only a world-class athlete but a phenomenal person as well. I hope this is not the last interview I do with her, as Jelena is very well spoken and an enjoyable person to be around. Thanks J!

TSC: Hi Jelena. Before we begin I just want to say thank you for taking some time out of your busy schedule to sit down with me and to talk about your upcoming fight this Friday, September 28 at The Shaw Conference Center in Edmonton, AB, dubbed "On Dangerous Ground" against Kelli Coffer 13-5-4 (3 KO's)

Jelena: No problem.

TSC: Most people in boxing and MMA have nicknames associated with their name. It can add to the athlete's overall aura and to their marketability factor. Where would Chuck Liddell be without his moniker "Iceman" or even "Iron" Mike Tyson? So why don't you have one? I know unofficially it is "The Serbian Princess", right?

Jelena: I don't have a nickname. Today it is a big production, but when I started nothing stuck and I didn't give myself one. However, my name is really different and unique like when I say Laila you know I am talking about Laila Ali, or Christy you know I am talking about Christy Martin. I don't really need one as I am referred to by my first name and people know they are talking about me.

TSC: Before we get started with the rest of the interview, lets get to the all-important tale of the tape. Please fill in.

Jelena:

TSC: What was your biggest win? Surely it must have been your last fight against Japan's Emiko Raika (16-3-0 & 6 KO's)

Jelena: That is tough. I learn something from every fight and that makes them all memorable. But my 6th fight comes to mind, as it was in Winnipeg, MB VS. Olivia Pereira - we were the Butterbean under card. She was kicking my ass in the first four rounds. It was the first time I was being booed and losing a fight and then in less than a round and a half I KO'd her in the 7th. It was a big KO as she was on the canvas for 10 minutes and it was the first time I have been able to come back from a fight in someone else's hometown.

TSC: Your record clearly speaks for itself. What is your main challenge facing Kelli Cofer?

Jelena: Well Kelli is a south paw, which means she leads with her right foot and her left hand is her more dominant hand. I have never fought against that style before. It will take some feeling out and get comfortable with her. Also she is taller than me at 5'9" and I have never fought someone of her size. I know physically I am stronger than her but I have always been the bigger girl.

TSC: What are your strengths?

Jelena: I am first a power puncher and versatile. I am very solid technically and have good base work. I feel I can adjust well during the fight and think well in the ring. I feel I train harder than anyone!

TSC: On Facebook you mention that your training is going better than expected. What does this mean in the sport of boxing? I know in Powerlifting its all about percentages and where you have to be, but in combat sports such as boxing, what is the barometer you use to determine where your training is at?

Jelena: My judge is my coach [Milan Lubovac]. We've been working together for the last 5 years now. I know how I am supposed to feel and have felt. My nutritionist, Pat Lessard, has really made a difference. I have never felt better and camp was almost too easy. For example, on Thursday my workout got cut short after only 3 rounds of sparring and 2 rounds of bike. Always, I never want to over train. The fight is the easy part - all the hard work is done in the gym.

TSC: How far out of the set date do you start training for a fight?

Jelena: It varies. This fight is a 7 week training camp 2 times a day. But before it was only 3 times a week for a few weeks as I took off 3 months to become a normal person again this summer and catching up with some old friends. It wears on you [constantly being in training] and I needed a mental break from it all. Now I am punching harder than ever and after 23 fights if I don't know what I am doing now I should get out of dodge. This coming up Wednesday will be my last workout in the gym and just sweat a bit, and shadow box a couple of rounds.

TSC: What kind of training do you partake in? Walk us through a typical day of Jelena's training.

Jelena:

This is done 5 times a week.

TSC: You are known for being a power puncher, although you adapted against Emirko Raika. Was this due to your evolution of training?

Jelena: I started when I was 19 years old as a young adult training with others. We just pushed each other - like running in 30 degree weather outside and have added good people around me. I have learned the right and wrong ways of training. One of the right ways is that my sparring partner was flown in from New York for 3 weeks. In sports in general I think nutrition is overlooked and people are telling me since I have a nutritionist that I look my biggest but yet weighing in at my lightest. In the off season I worked out with Quinn [Quinn Sekulich- Q-school] a couple times a week. Everything affects the final outcome.

TSC: How much game tape, err... should I say fight tape do you personally study for each opponent? You must have some sort of crib sheet or mental checklist of things to look out for before you face each opponent?

Jelena: My coach mainly watches the film. I probably only watch it a couple times and leave it at that. In my mind I am a World Champ and there is a reason for it. They have to have their game plan out and have to watch me!

TSC: What do you say to people that blatantly state that MMA is going to swallow boxing whole?

Jelena: Nothing is going to swallow up boxing. Boxing has been around forever and in the fight game, one encourages the other hand in hand. Some people think it's a competition but really it isn't. People that watch it [boxing] is because they love fighting. Boxing is going through a transition right now as the bigger boxers are retiring but still the 156 lbs or 165 lbs guys can still punch really hard. Everyone loves to see a KO though and in [MMA-UFC] you have a what 4 oz glove and get to use your elbows and knees? In boxing it is so technical and it is very exciting seeing someone work to a KO. Like I have seen a fighters at their most dangerous when they are hurt and down than when someone is ahead and trying too hard for the KO.

TSC: What do you think boxing has to do to, if anything, to regain its supremacy of combat sports? If you look at it on the individual purses, they still make way more money. Look at Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Oscar DeLahoya - they reported got $8M and $12M respectively plus a percentage of PPV, compared to the top guys in the UFC, Chuck Liddell or Randy Couture, who get about $250K plus an unknown percentage of PPV.

Jelena: There will always be boxing. It has been around forever and always will be, as the fans always want to support somebody. The problem is in boxing, especially in the men's heavyweight class no one is really marketable right now. In the UFC, not everyone sees there favorite guy win and he could get KO'd. [Example Chuck Liddell loosing to decision over Keith Jardaine in UFC 76] The UFC could help boxing and visa-versa as these sports help each other.

TSC: Comment on Mark Pavelich's quote: "We didn't crush boxing. The people that ran boxing ran it into the ground. I mean, look at the situation in Edmonton, the most popular fighter in the city is a girl (referring to Jelena). And no offense to her but that tells you a lot".

Jelena: To me its funny how a promoter has to stoop that low to make his event look better. Only fighters know what other fighters go through and I was at his last event [MFC-Lucky 13 at the River Cree Casino in Enoch, AB] to support some of my friends. People didn't run boxing into the ground - a few others and I have really revived it here in Edmonton. After Scotty ["The Bulldog"] Olson retired, boxing in Edmonton was dead and we have worked extremely hard to get it back. Plus how many people were at the MFC? 1500 maybe tops. At my last fight at the Shaw there was like 3500-3700 people. If that is dead then I would love to see boxing when it is alive. After hearing his comment I was embarrassed for Mark, as this is not the first time he has put his foot in his mouth through the media. I love some of his fighters like Jay [Jason MacDonald-UFC competitor] who do well in his sport.

TSC: Going back now, explain to me how a beautiful, intelligent girl like yourself got involved with boxing? How did your passion ensue?

Jelena: Well I was on the U of A Basketball team, but at the very beginning of the year during the first practice, I blew my ACL and had to go through rehab and things went extremely well. I still had to pass my medical so I was looking for something to do and looked at boxing for something fun to do. This was before Box or Fit craze and I went to a boxing gym and loved it. I became a gym rat and a couple punches led into a couple fights, which turned into me becoming a pro. Looking back, I would have never thought I would be where I am at today but I have a blast doing it.

TSC: When did the switch go off in your head that you were committed to pursue this into a career?

Jelena: I just went with it. My coach is a family friend and he said to my dad and me that I could be a challenger for a world title in 2-2.5 years! My first fight I not only won but I won by KO. Then I realized I am actually a fighter and this was not some phase I was going through. It really hit me though when I was invited to go to Mexico for the WBC Night of Champs and met lots of past and present World Champions like Lennox Lewis, Mayweather, Ken Norton, etc. and I was like these people knew who I was and I was not just there but actually a part of the event.

TSC: That is very cool.

TSC: What do you see in the future for yourself? Any big goals or fights still out there for you? You seemingly have accomplished everything in this sport. Technically you hold 2 world title belts.

Jelena: My goal is to stay on top. I want to continue fighting for titles, either defending or gaining new World titles. I really enjoy it and it is not a job for me. Okay I lied - sometimes waking up at 5 am seems like a job - but for the most part I sound like a broken record, I really love to box.

TSC: It must be frustrating a bit to see Female boxing in terms of combatants - is it hard for your team to find you worthy adversaries?

Jelena: It is hard work to find good oponents. I don't hear most of the phone calls. I trust my coach and basically stay out of it - but I do know what goes on for the most part but I just don't deal with it.

TSC: Do you have any input on who you fight?

Jelena: Yes, I tell them I want a rematch with so and so like Anne Saccurato who I lost to in a split decision - still don't know why but I did. Its not a secret that I want to fight her or Chevelle Hollenbeck, who was originally the #1 ranked challenger, but after a series of contract breakdowns she is no longer listed as the number one as her side has ducked our contract even after we have bent over backwards agreeing to her wild demands. And she was talking a bunch of shit about me.

TSC: Well if either Saccurato or Hollenbeck read this interview, I suggest they put their fist where their mouth is and back up that smack.

TSC: What do you think of the future of female boxing? Do you think there needs to be a big name/celebrity to bring it into more of a North American spotlight like a Tonya Harding? Also, Muhammad Ali's daughter, Laila, is in it now - is that good exposure?

Jelena: The movie Million Dollar Baby has helped create a big explosion in terms of female boxing. Laila Ali is a good ambassador for the sport and is a good role model. But people like Tonya Harding are detrimental to the sport, as they do nothing positive for the exposure of female boxing. There are some really good girls out there that are good fighters and skilled and that is what should be exposed and it will gain more popularity. Look at female professional tennis it is so huge now.

TSC: Yeah, Women's Professional Tennis is arguably more popular than their male counterparts.

TSC: First off, I just want to thank-you for being supportive of our site. Version 2 is becoming operational in the next week, and we'll be seeing you at our launch party at Union Hall Saturday, September 29th. We are looking forward to seeing you there the day after your fight. Version 2 is for TSC members being able to create their own profiles, complete with training logs, blogs, and picture & video albums. Members will be able to interact and swap ideas with other members and hopefully be able to learn and improve their own respective disciplines. The question is will you, Jelena Mrdjenovich, join up and become a TSC member?

Jelena: Yes I will.

TSC: Any last comments? Like any good interview the final word is yours.

Jelena: Thanks for the support from everyone. Athletes truly wouldn't be where they are today without them. I really appreciate it!

TSC: Best of luck to you in the upcoming fight this Friday, September 28th. For all of you people out there that still don't have a ticket there are some still available. I highly suggest you go purchase a ticket from the below link and go and cheer this amazing girl on.

Click here to purchase tickets on TicketMaster

**UPDATE**

Jelena disposed of her worthy challenger in a one-sided unanimous decision on Friday night. Congratulations Jelena!

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